26. A Day of Cooking and Opera in Florence

Temperatures about 22, walked to the cooking school,

Gathered about seven of us, off to the Mercato Central,

To buy our food for the dinner we will cook

Included is a tour, taste testing and a look.

We bought our vinegar, bread and meat,

Headed to the school to make our treats.

First on the list was tiramisu,

There are so many varieties that you can do.

We got the recipe and made the traditional,

Five basic ingredients go into the bowl,

Separate eggs and beat the whites ‘til they peak,

Add the yolks to marscarpone cheese & sugar for sweet.

Other ingredients include layering bisquettes dipped in coffee,

And unsweetened cocoa for the product finale!

Next comes the Bolanese sauce that is typical,

We carmelized  our vegetables in olive oil on high heat,

Only carrots, celery and onions  before we add the meat.

Pork sausage and beef slightly browned,

Add the wine, an Italian cup goes down.

Peeled tomatoes added after the alcohol dissolves,

And then it cooks slowly, simple, that’s all!

 Brusquetta for snacks with our wine for a break.

Rub the toasted bread with garlic, tomatoes on top you place,

Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper,

Very simple again, before we prepare the super.

Make the dough for our noodles, very easy indeed,

1 Egg, 100 grams of flour and then you knead.

Roll out the dough in a certain procedure,

Fold it and cut it into our noodles galore.

Now into the boiling water they go,

Only for 10 seconds and into the sauce to stir, heat very low.

 A wonderful meal, we all prepared,

All passed the course, chefs did declare!

That evening was another magical evening

I went to St. Mark’s church to see the opera, La Boeme.

A very small, intimate seating in a horseshoe shape,

Around the cast, we did make.

Four main characters, all professional talent from the conservatory,

A concert pianist accompanied them as they sang their story.

Our host came out narrated the plot between scenes

Changed the set and acted as an extra between.

We were not allowed to take photos of the talent or solos

But it was one of the most powerful performances I’ve ever known.

It got out at eleven and I was kind of scared,

I had to walk the streets at night, better beware.

Much to my surprise, the streets were buzzing,

Weather and time do not keep Italians in, they were out by the dozens!

Websites:
Food & Wine Academy of Florence: www.florencecookingclasses.com
Andrea@Florencecookingclasses.com
Opera at St. Mark's 2012:  www.concertoclassico.info