Last night I put on a “Taste of Italy” for my family and our friends the Sutherland’s. I managed to find everything I needed at Central Market from wine to Pici Pasta! We had three samplings: appetizers, entrees, and Desserts. Mrs. Judy brought me a fun gift of Vodka and Lemoncello Sangria with Raspberries! It really good! It tastes like a lemon drop with a kick.
The appetizers consisted of Cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto (representing the Prosciutto maker we visited in Parma), Portobello mushroom Caps topped with sundried Tomatoes and mozzarella on a bed of lettuce with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, small sampling pieces of the two cheeses we saw made: Parmigiano Reggiano (Parma – blue tipped tooth picks) and Pecorino aged in Ash (sheeps milk – Pienza) (both were Purchased at Central Market and had the IGP Red Circle), and olives from Italy and Greece. 
For the Entrees I made Pici pasta with homemade pesto and Pici with tomato and Basil sauce. I also prepared the Old grain Fabbri Flat Pasta plain so people could dress it with the Extra virgin Olive Oils I purchased in Chianti and Parmesan. (This pasta was purchased in Italy and It is not yet available I’m the US) Mom helped me prepare a Beef Tenderloin with an olive oil and spice rub. I also toasted bread drizzled with oil for Bruschetta that could be topped with diced tomatoes with basil, pesto, or burrata cheese. I am very please with how everything came out and that everyone got to sample everything.
We finished the first two courses then we moved to the Living room to watch the Kings vs. Rangers Stanley Cup Finals Game. During the second intermission we got out dessert. I had made the Grandma’s cake I made in the FUA Dolce Class. It is lemon- vanilla cream between pastry dough topped with almonds. I was really please with how this turned out! We also had strawberries with balsamic, cherries with fresh Ricotta, and gelato. Our gelato flavors were: Tahitian vanilla bean, Raspberry with chocolate chip, and Salted Caramel.
We stayed up late watching the Hockey teams battle it out. Finally, the Kings scored in the Second overtime to claim the Stanley cup! I really enjoyed preparing this tasting and I thought everything turned out great! Thank you to the Sutherlands for joining us and for my Lemoncello Vodka! Luckily we made enough food and we’ll be eating my left overs for a few days!
(Our new wall art from the Lincoln Center Craft Fair)
Follow My Footsteps 