I’m just back from my Culinary Journey to Italy, and to say that it was magical is an understatement. Everyone loved Villa Valentina in the beautiful and quaint village of Vorno, just outside of Lucca, Italy.
It was early April in Tuscany and, just like any spring morning, it was chilly when we got up in the morning. After breakfast, we started our first class and cooked up a storm in our villa’s gorgeous kitchen. David, my fantastic assistant, came to me and said “I think we can eat lunch outside!” I didn’t believe it, but as I took a few steps out the door I realized that he was right. The temperatures must have risen 20 degrees within an hour. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the weather was perfect.
We set the long table and there we sat for a couple hours enjoying the fruits of our labor and basking in the sun. Even the simplest dishes, like a plate of Prosciutto di Parma and fresh fruit, tasted better than I could ever remember.
There’s something about dining alfresco that awakens your senses and reminds you that yes, life is good! Embrace springtime and make any or all of these recipes to enjoy outdoors with friends:
Buon Appetito!
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