Mimma and Franca

When word got around that we were going to be offering a cooking class taught by two of the four women who make up Tutti A Tavola, a destination cooking program in Tuscany, the response was overwhelming.  The roster of registrants quickly filled up, as did the waiting list.

It was easy to see why.

Mimma and Franca are endearing, lively, and funny in only the way that sisters who are best friends can be. Their passion comes through in the way they relate to their guests and in the care with which they treat each ingredient. In the course of several hours with the ladies, guests got a taste not just of Tuscan cooking but of Tuscan warmth: nicknames were penned, hugs were given often and spoons were passed around to offer a taste of the various works in progress. Students chopped fennel, roasted melanzane, squeezed lemons and oranges, and listened to Mimma and Franca as they discussed the importance of using quality ingredients as a foundation for good food.

After class, the ladies joined the group for a feast that showcased all of their hard work:  Insalata di farro (spelt salad with roasted vegetables), riso verde (rice with spinach and gorgonzola cheese), maiale all’uso di caccia (pork loin hunter’s style), finocchi e cipollotti brasati (braised fennel and spring onions) and gelato alla crema e vaniglia (Italian vanilla ice cream) topped with a delectable citrus sauce that, it’s safe to say, was licked clean from every plate.

Gracing our dinner was a slow-rising moon outside.