What a fabulous time we had during our pasta making class! We weren't sure what to expect when we walked in and were completely surprised to find how welcoming the staff were. They immediately made us feel at home. Chef Bruno Amato and several of Il Fornaio's staff are from southern Italy's Calabria region. They are a lively bunch whose banter both in English and Italian helped everyone relax and be ourselves.
Here's a little of what we learned.
Make flour into a circle with a hole in the middle. Drizzle 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the flour. Crack both eggs and place the egg white and yolk in the hole. Beat the eggs with a fork until they are no longer separated but blended as one. Slowly begin to scoop the flour from the sides of the pile working it into a ball. You will know when it's ready as it feels a little dry and the dough no longer sticks to your hands/fingers.
Cut with a knife into 4 smaller pieces of dough and begin to flatten.
Or bite into it like Kristina wanted to do.
If using a pasta machine start on the #1 setting and repeat until flour is well blended and smooth at each setting. We were instructed to stop at level 5 on the pasta machine.
Chef Bruno showing us how to be forceful with the dough.
Here's the result of my first ball of dough through the pasta maker.
Here's the results from my last ball of dough. Big improvement don't you think?
The final step and product. Voila! Fettucini!
Chef Bruno teasing Kristina about letting her Fettucini get tangled.
Chef Bruno giving his stamp of approval to our Fettucini.
Ready to take home.
He also showed us a few techniques of cutting pastas by hand.
We sampled a red and a white wine while we learned to make Pescatori Calabrisi sauce. Oh so yummy!
Ingredients include: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), Shallots, onions, green olives, capers, shrimp, muscles, clams, calamari, squid, white wine, fresh chopped tomato, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Add a little more EVOO to finish and bring out more of the flavors.
We even learned the art of tossing the sauce in the pan with the flick of our wrist. The secret is it's all in the whistle!
What a great instructor!
Buon Appetito!
16 comments:
That looks like so much fun. I would have totally loved the pasta making, but I don't do seafood, so the sauce would have been a bust. The pasta looks so easy to make, it's a wonder that more people don't make it at home. I think my dad made it a couple of times and I liked it a lot. I might have to try it, but cut it by hand! Thanks for sharing all that.
Oh how fun!!! Looks like it was a great day. I love going to classes like that. I was given a pasta machine for christmas. I love it, but had such a hard time with the fettucinne and spaghetti - all the strands just stuck to each other. I had a better time with the ravioli and will definitely do those again.
You look like a natural!! I bet this was sooo much fun! It seems easy enough....but I'm still too much of a chicken to do this at home!
This is just amazing. I love your sweet smile, my friend! My hubby, who is sooooo Italian, would just love this!
Blessings to you today!
Wow! What an awesome opportunity! That looks like so much fun and sooooooooo yummy!!
oh, my goodness, that looks like a fun class!!
I'm impressed with your homemade pasta!!
Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!! :) I could so go for some homemade pasta and that delish sauce right now.
Your pasta looks great! And the class looks like so much fun. I would love to go to such a cooking lesson. Good job!
this is the best...and now, i must have fettuccine!!! and, you def must come and make some noodles for me...i'll make coffee and we'll drink it while you work on making the noodles!
Fantastic! I love that you've made one of your long dreams a reality!
Looks like such a fun thing to do. I have thought about doing it at home by hand, but have never tried. I remember my mother making it when I was young. I am sure it tastes so much better than the packaged dry kind.
Woohoo! Sounds like it was a blast. So glad you gals had fun...when's the next class?
This seems like sooo much fun!! Cool...I still want info on Napa VAlley and where you stayed!! ;-)
Trit
Yummy fresh pasta! What a fun thing to do with a friend!
That looks so fun! It's not as hard as I thought it would be. Well, at least from looking at it. :)
Looks like alot of fun and Yummy!
Post a Comment