A relaxing morning walking around Florence. After the shock of walking out to about 8 degrees. I feel like I know the main parts of Florence now and know where I am going - sad to be leaving as it is a place i could spend more time easily. Didn't have to clutch on to my map like all the other tourists!! I visited most of the main piazzas again today and then had an early lunch - my last margarita pizza in Italy! Travelled by the fast train back to Rome Termini ...

Last morning waking in the Chianti hills. The sun was out and it was warmer this morning after our day of rain yesterday. A late breakfast and one of the couples that joined the cooking classes yesterday returned today. Just the three of us today. Today we made beautiful fresh focaccia bread (focaccia con patate) topped with tomato and oregano. Along with this was ricotta stuffed capsicums, an eggplant sauce (salsa alla norma) with penne, bocconcini (small p...

Woke up this morning to the sound of soft rain. Upon looking out the window could not see past the first few rows of olive trees and the temperature had dropped as well. Cooking class started at 9:30 with people from Vancouver, Seattle, and a mother and 10 yr old son from Yamba. We made a yummy basil pesto served on crunchy bread, tagliatelle with a creamy mushroom and pancetta sauce, turkey cooked in milk (sounds different but was sooooo tender and the milk ch...

Another great day at cooking school. We met the other participants today in the township of Gaiole. We visited the local butchers and he showed us his separate building where all the prosciutto (pork legs) hang for curing until they are ready for cutting and selling. We also visited a vege market and a bakery. Our menu for today was bruschetta, pasta (macaroni but more like extra large penne to me) with ragu ( a form of bolognese made with beef and pork mince),...

Lovely late start to the day. Opened up my shutters and said "Buongiorno to Chianti!!!" Others, from NZ, South Africa and USA arrived around 9:30am for our cooking class. Today's menu: pizzettes, gnocchi alla salsa agli aromi, Tuscan chicken and Tiramisu. Great pizza dough that was soooo crunchy, the best gnocchi I have ever eaten and the tiramisu so fresh and light at the end of a big meal. When serving the gnocchi, Paola also served some with a gorgonzola sau...