For me, eating in Italy is a bittersweet experience. The sweetness comes from knowing that virtually everything I taste – from the morning’s first expertly-pulled espresso to the dolce in the restaurant at evening’s end – will be intensely memorable. The bitterness comes later, when you return home and realise how much you miss the flavours of the country.
Italians, who are masters of elevating simple tastes and textures into the realm of the extraordinary, also manage to make the whole process look effortless. This is the reason why recreating some of these memorable dishes is not such an easy task. That’s why I decided to pick up a few techniques and learn to cook some Italian staples with Stirred Travel (a specialist in Italian cooking classes) while visiting Veneto.
Located at the foothills of the Dolomites in the northern part of Veneto just an hour north of Venice, the cooking course took place at the spectacular Villa Casagrande, a fifteenth century villa. It’s a place for the true foodie, with a state-of-the-art kitchen decorated in a classic Venetian style, huge open fires, hand painted frescos and incredible ingredients from miles around. All the classes that Stirred organises are taught with an emphasis on technique and becoming acquainted with regional ingredients. Using locally-sourced seasonal produce and ingredients from the Venetian markets, guests can expect expert cookery classes from professional chefs in an intimate setting.
