When the sun finally starts to shine for more than an hour at a time, it’s easy to daydream of packing your bags and heading for the warmer climate, laid-back lifestyle and delicious cuisine of Italy. While an impromptu chartered flight to Tuscany might not be on the cards, bringing a little taste of Italy to your kitchen couldn’t be easier.
Centred around the joys of social eating, home-cooked Italian food is the second-best way to take yourself on a summer escape. From the traditional pasta dishes served in Rome to the authentic pizza of Naples, it’s never been easier to find a slice of Italy at a cooking class near you.
So many pasta-bilities!
As someone with Italian heritage, I’m pretty much game for a (too big) bowl of pasta any time of year. Luckily, thanks to its endless versatility, pasta is traditionally popular throughout Italy, making it easy to find recipes to satisfy any cravings.
Some of my earliest childhood memories involve making pasta. Every other Sunday, my whole extended family would gather at my grandparents’ house. We formed a production line — kneading, rolling and cutting sheets of pasta to create huge piles of fresh spaghetti. Even if you can’t gather a small army to help you, don’t worry — all it takes to make your own pasta is a bit of time spent working with your hands.
To make your flight of fancy to Italy even easier, you don’t even need to leave the house: Luca Favorito’s virtual pasta-making class will show you how to make deliciously versatile pappardelle in your own kitchen — no machine required. Slightly wider than tagliatelle, pappardelle is one of the starchy stars of Tuscan cuisine, perfectly suited to soaking up rich ragù and umami-packed mushroom sauces alike.
With your ingredients in place and your laptop ready to roll, Luca will be your tour guide as you learn the origins and regional variations of this simple pasta dish! In his distinctive Italian style, he’ll talk you through the process of kneading, rolling and cutting your pasta like a pro, as well as some top tips for cooking to perfection (hint: save that pasta water!). You’ll also learn how to make your homemade pasta shine with a simple-yet-delicious sauce of pancetta, peas and mascarpone. Bellissimo!
If the weather permits, enjoy your dish outside in the evening sun to really transport yourself — accompanied by an icy cold beverage, naturally.
Top this — Neapolitan pizza in Newcastle
Nothing makes me yearn for Italy more than the prospect of proper, authentic pizza — whether that’s the real-deal, wood-fired Neapolitan variety, light and airy Sicilian-style slices or the pizza al taglio that’s commonly sold by weight throughout Rome.
Hosted by Newcastle’s very own Scream for Pizza — whose founders Victoria and Alex trained in Naples before setting up shop back in the North East — this class is a fantastic opportunity to gain some insight into these ancient, time-tested techniques, as well as the modern twists offered by the “neo-Neapolitan” style.
Alex and Victoria could happily dive deep into the details of pizza production, from dough hydration levels (aka how much water your dough contains) to the pros and cons of different varieties of flour. Suffice it to say, you’ll be in pretty safe hands.
The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the venue is their pride and joy: the enormous, golden wood-fired oven. A sight to behold, this beauty normally runs at a scorching 400°C, so having someone on hand who knows their stuff is pretty important!
But even more important, the ultimate decision: which toppings to choose? Presented with a mouthwatering array of different ingredients, from locally-sourced meats to seasonal veg, this is your chance to concoct the slice of your dreams.
One bite is enough to send you back to the trattorias of your travels — good enough to forget for a moment that you are just outside the centre of Newcastle. Whether you’ve got your eyes on a portable pizza oven for the backyard or you’re using the conventional variety, you’re sure to pick up a tip or two that’ll kick your pizza-making skills up a notch.
Most importantly: enjoy!
It doesn’t matter which toppings or sauces you choose, Italian cooking is all about taking your time, savouring what you make and enjoying the simple things in life with someone you love — the best way to capture a slice of la bella vita for yourself.
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