7 February 2014

Workshop in Provence April 2014


Do you love Provence? Do you love wandering in nature, admiring flowers and wild herbs?
Would you like to learn a bit of wildcrafting? Learn to forage for wild edibles
and how to turn all their earthy goodness into amazing meals?

Then "come get some dirt under your nails" in the Luberon.
— Saturday, April 26 - Friday, May 2, 2014 —

Five days of learning, cooking, eating, sipping, and much more
with Giuseppina of Venice in Provence Cookery School in Goult
and Terresa of la cucina di terrESa in Paris.
                
                   For more information and bookings please contact Giuseppina or Terresa.
                                                                              ::      ::
What we'll be cooking :

Cooking classes will be centered around wildcrafting, featuring dishes that "celebrate the vegetable kingdom”—both wild and cultivated, but not strictly vegetarian. Upon request a simple meat or fish dish can be included in mealtime menus, but will not be part of the cooking classes in Provence.

All dishes taught will be inspired by Provençal and regional Italian cuisine, as well as our own creative additions.



Program : April 26 - May 2, 2014

Saturday, April 26

Arrival day. We’ll welcome you with a scrumptious dinner and an assortment natural wines from the region to compliment our meal

Sunday, April 27

We’ll head off in the morning to the Coustellet farmer’s market, one of the best in the region, where you’ll meet local producers and learn how to choose the choisest fruits and vegetables from their seasonal offerings. We’ll return to the school and cook up a light lunch. You’ll have time for a short rest before heading out for our first wildcratfing trip

Giuseppina will introduce you to her “secret gardens.” We’ll fill our baskets with wild vegetables and herbs. Then back for a late afternoon cooking class where you’ll learn how to transform the wild plants we’ve gleaned into a savory dinner.

Monday, April 28


The day will be dedicated to discovering and learning about natural wines. TerrESa will initiate you into the world of natural wine and share with you her knowledge of this fascinating, poetic world.

We’ll have lunch at La Tour Cassée, a typical bistrot de pays, with great artisan fare. Then on to visit a couple natural winemakers to taste and procur our wines for the week. We’ll also visit an artisan cheesemaker and bring home an array of cheeses for dinner.

The evening cooking class will focus on how to improvise a savory dinner with “what’s at hand.” We’ll sip on some of the wines from our morning excursion and TerrESa will talk about paring natural wines with vegetable dishes.

Tuesday, April 29


We’ll start the day with a tour of the farmer’s market in the nearby town of Apt, visit a small farm or artisan goat’s milk cheese producer. Then a late morning cooking class and afternoon picnic (weather permitting).

The evening you’ll be free to get some rest, take a stroll around the village, and have dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Wednesday, April 30


We’ll start the day with a cooking class, preparing pasta, bread, pizza dough for Thursday’s gala dinner. After lunch we’ll spend the afternoon foraging then return to the kitchen for the 2nd portion of our cooking class and dinner.

Thursday, May 1

It’s market day in Goult! We’ll meet at 9 am at Café de la Poste, in the heart of the village, for a typical café-croissant breakfast then on to the marketplace to buy victuals for the day. We’ll take a tour of the village before heading back to the school to cook lunch.
You’ll have time for an afternoon rest before the evening cooking class where we’ll prepare an amazing “Italian Fiesta” for our last night together: antipasti of all sorts, delicious home-made pizzas, Italian sweets and more.

Friday, May 2


Five days have quickly come and gone. We’ve met people, made friends, learned many a culinary secret to add to our treasure of kitchen knowledge. It’s now time to bid each other farewell… But beforehand we’ll have a last café-croissant at Café de la Poste then say arrivederci !








The school :

Located in the village of Goult, the school sits perched on the top of the hill, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and villages. It comes complete with an authentic Provençal garden and meandering olive grove.
Goult is a charming village situated between Gordes, Menerbes and Bonnieux, in the center of what is called the “Golden Triangle."






The teachers : 
— My name is Giuseppina Mabilia, I was born near Venice: my roots, my culture, everything I am comes from there. I stumbled on Provence some years ago, fell in love with the land and I decided to stay. That brought on a real change to my life. My greatest passion has always been cooking. One day someone asked if I could cook for them during their holidays. That’s how my story
began.
Today I'm a well-known personal chef in the Luberon and I’d love to share with you everything I’ve learned and experimented through these years: cooking delicious, elegant and tasteful recipes that highlight the gorgeous ingredients of the region with a touch of Italian lifestyle. I’m also very engaged in using local ingredients. My primary sources for food are local farmers, les marchés paysans, and what I call “my supernatural market:” wildcrafting in nature.



— My name's Terresa Murphy and I'm on a mission to undress vegetables, which I've been doing since 2008 during my vegetable cooking classes in my cozy kitchen in Paris, where wanderlust brought me many a year ago
It's all about coaxing the sublime flavors from the local produce I procure from marketplaces across the city and mingling them with other artisan ingredients—as close to their pristine selves as possible—to create delightful dishes of layered textures, savors and colors that will sing on the plate and palate.
Nothing too fancy, as “down-to-earth” is my touchstone, reflected in the inspiration I draw from the inventive flare of Italy's rustic regional cuisine and its many medieval recipes that I've gleaned over the years.
                :: ——————————————————————————————— :: 
Tuition and payment :

Tuition is 1850 euros per person.

A 40% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. Classes are limited to 8 students.

If we must cancel the program for any reason, we will refund all fees and deposits in full. Related travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Paypal is our preferred method of payment, as it is safe, easy to use, and allows for payment in your local currency. A request for payment will be sent to you through Paypal at the time of your registration.

What's included :

— 1 to 2 cooking classes each day.

— Outings each day (wildcrafting, farmers’ markets, artisan cheese producers, natural wine vineyards). We will have a mini-bus at our disposal for these excursions so that we can all travel together.

— All lunches and dinners except for Tuesday evening, which will be a free night for participants to do as they wish.

— Café-croissant breakfasts on Thursday and Friday

— Beverages (mineral water, coffee, tea, herbal tea) during the classes.
Natural wine from the Luberon and Ardéche regions with all meals, specifically chosen for each menu.

— Recipes from the classes in PDF form, list of the wines and related links, as well as any information gleaned throughout the week to be sent in a follow-up email to the class.

— Pick up and drop off at the Avignon TGV train station if coming by train from Paris. There will be one pick up and drop off scheduled (train information sent upon reservation).


For those arriving on an earlier or later train, there is bus service from the TGV station to Goult. Tickets are 2 euros (bus information and schedule sent upon request), with pick up at the bus stop in Goult.


For those preferring to rent a car, there are rental agencies at the TGV train station, as well (driving directions to the cooking school sent upon request).

What’s not included :

— Train tickets to the Avignon TGV train station.

— Lodging for the week. Upon reservation, a list of accommodations in the village (BBs, hotels, small apartments) will be sent to you, as well as any further information needed to help make booking as simple as possible.

Legal liability :

Students must sign a legal waiver (standard to the industry) upon arrival freeing Giuseppina, Terresa and their staff from any legal liability. We assume no liability for injury, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, loss or damage to person or property or additional cost resulting directly or indirectly from the following causes: fire, acts of government, thefts, delays, cancellations or for any other events over which we have no control.

No refunds will be given for any excursions or meals a participant misses or decides not to take.

Travel Insurance :

 We recommend that you purchase separate travel insurance in the event you must cancel your trip, as well as accident and health insurance, baggage and personal effects loss or damage.





5 February 2014

Workshop in the Luberon: 5 days of cooking, discovering natural wines and much more

Do you love Provence? Do you love wandering in nature, admiring flowers and wild herbs?
Would you like to learn a bit of wildcrafting? Learn to forage for wild edibles
and how to turn all their earthy goodness into amazing meals?

Then "
come get some dirt under your nails" in the Luberon.
— Saturday, April 26 - Friday, May 2, 2014

Five days of learning, cooking, eating, sipping, and much more
with Giuseppina of Venice in Provence Cooking School in Goult and Terresa of la Cucina di TerrESa in Paris.

For more information and bookings please contact Giuseppina or Terresa.
What we'll be cooking :

Cooking classes will be centered around wildcrafting, featuring dishes that "celebrate the vegetable kingdom”—both wild and cultivated, but not strictly vegetarian. Upon request a simple meat or fish dish can be included in mealtime menus, but will not be part of the cooking classes.

All dishes taught will be inspired by Provençal and regional Italian cuisine, as well as our own creative additions.
top

dishes

herbes
Program : April 26 - May 2, 2014
Saturday, April 26
Arrival day. We’ll welcome you with a scrumptious dinner and an assortment natural wines from the region to compliment our meal.
Sunday, April 27
We’ll head off in the morning to the Coustellet farmer’s market, one of the best in the region, where you’ll meet local producers and learn how to choose the choisest fruits and vegetables from their seasonal offerings. We’ll return to the school and cook up a light lunch. You’ll have time for a short rest before heading out for our first wildcratfing trip.
Giuseppina will introduce you to her “secret gardens.” We’ll fill our baskets with wild vegetables and herbs. Then back for a late afternoon cooking class where you’ll learn how to transform the wild plants we’ve gleaned into a savory dinner.
Monday, April 28
The day will be dedicated to discovering and learning about natural wines. TerrESa will initiate you into the world of natural wine and share with you her knowledge of this fascinating, poetic world.
We’ll have lunch at La Tour Cassée, a typical bistrot de pays, with great artisan fare. Then on to visit a couple natural winemakers to taste and procur our wines for the week. We’ll also visit an artisan cheesemaker and bring home an array of cheeses for dinner.
The evening cooking class will focus on how to improvise a savory dinner with “what’s at hand.” We’ll sip on some of the wines from our morning excursion and TerrESa will talk about paring natural wines with vegetable dishes.
Tuesday, April 29
We’ll start the day with a tour of the farmer’s market in the nearby town of Apt, visit a small farm or artisan goat’s milk cheese producer. Then a late morning cooking class and afternoon picnic (weather permitting).
The evening you’ll be free to get some rest, take a stroll around the village, and have dinner in one of the local restaurants.
Wednesday, April 30
We’ll start the day with a cooking class, preparing pasta, bread, pizza dough for Thursday’s gala dinner. After lunch we’ll spend the afternoon foraging then return to the kitchen for the 2nd portion of our cooking class and dinner.
Thursday, May 1
It’s market day in Goult! We’ll meet at 9 am at Café de la Poste, in the heart of the village, for a typical café-croissant breakfast then on to the marketplace to buy victuals for the day. We’ll take a tour of the village before heading back to the school to cook lunch.
You’ll have time for an afternoon rest before the evening cooking class where we’ll prepare an amazing “Italian Fiesta” for our last night together: antipasti of all sorts, delicious home-made pizzas, Italian sweets and more.
Friday, May 2
Five days have quickly come and gone. We’ve met people, made friends, learned many a culinary secret to add to our treasure of kitchen knowledge. It’s now time to bid each other farewell…
But beforehand we’ll have a last café-croissant at Café de la Poste then say arrivederci!
top

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The school :

Located in the village of Goult, the school sits perched on the top of the hill, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and villages. It comes complete with an authentic Provençal garden and meandering olive grove. Goult is a charming village situated between Gordes, Menerbes and Bonnieux, in the centre of the so-called “Golden Triangle.”

A bit off the beaten path, it has managed to preserve its authentic village life. The Café de la Poste, just off the town square, is where locals and visitors alike meet. English newsprint is on sale inside. The main street, Rue de la Republique, is lined with small boutiques: a brocante, wine shop, corner food store, butcher, baker…
top

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The teachers :

My name is Giuseppina Mabilia, I was born near Venice: my roots, my culture, everything I am comes from there. I stumbled on Provence some years ago, fell in love with the land and I decided to stay. That brought on a real change in my life.
My greatest passion has always been cooking. One day someone asked if I could cook for them during their holidays. That’s how my story began. Today I'm a well-known personal chef in the Luberon and I’d love to share with you everything I’ve learned and experimented through these years: cooking delicious, elegant and tasteful recipes that highlight the gorgeous ingredients of the region with a touch of Italian lifestyle. I’m also very engaged in using local ingredients. My primary sources for food are local farmers, les marchés paysans, and what I call “my supernatural market:” wildcrafting in nature.
My name is Terresa Murphy and I'm on a mission to undress vegetables, which I've been doing since 2008 during my vegetable cooking classes in my cozy kitchen in Paris, where wanderlust brought me many a year ago.
It's all about coaxing the sublime flavors from the local produce I procure from marketplaces across the city and mingling them with other artisan ingredients—as close to their pristine selves as possible—to create delightful dishes of layered textures, savors and colors that will sing on the plate and palate. Nothing too fancy, as “down-to-earth” is my touchstone, reflected in the inspiration I draw from the inventive flare of Italy's rustic regional cuisine and its many medieval recipes that I've gleaned over the years.
top
Prices and payment :

Tuition is 1850 euros per person. A 40% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation. Classes are limited to 8 students.
If we must cancel the program for any reason, we will refund all fees and deposits in full. Related travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Paypal is our prefered method of payment, as it is both safe, easy to use, and allows for payment in your local currency. A request for payment will be sent to you through Paypal at the time of your registration.

What's included :
1 to 2 cooking classes each day.
Outings each day (wildcrafting, farmers’ markets, artisan cheese producers, natural wine vineyards). We will have a mini-bus at our disposal for these excursions so that we can all travel together.
All lunches and dinners except for Tuesday evening, which will be a free night for participants to do as they wish.
Café-croissant breakfasts on Thursday and Friday
Beverages (mineral water, coffee, tea, herbal tea) during the classes. Natural wine from the Luberon and Ardéche regions with all meals, specifically chosen for each menu.
Recipes from the classes in PDF form, list of the wines and related links, as well as any information gleaned throughout the week to be sent in a follow-up email to the class.
Pick up and drop off at the Avignon TGV train station if coming by train from Paris. There will be one pick up and drop off scheduled (train information sent upon reservation).

For those arriving on an earlier or later train, there is bus service from the TGV station to Goult. Tickets are 2 euros (bus information and schedule sent upon request), with pick up at the bus stop in Goult.

For those preferring to rent a car, there are rental agencies at the TGV train station, as well (driving directions to the cooking school sent upon request).

What’s not included :
Train tickets to the Avignon TGV train station.

Lodging for the week. Upon reservation, a list of accommodations in the village (BBs, hotels, small apartments) will be sent to you, as well as any further information needed to help make booking as simple as possible.

Legal liability :
Students must sign a legal waiver (standard to the industry) upon arrival freeing Giuseppina, Terresa and their staff from any legal liability. We assume no liability for injury, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, loss or damage to person or property or additional cost resulting directly or indirectly from the following causes: fire, acts of government, thefts, delays, cancellations or for any other events over which we have no control.
No refunds will be given for any excursions or meals a participant misses or decides not to take.

Travel Insurance :
We recommend that you purchase separate travel insurance in the event you must cancel your trip, as well as accident and health insurance, baggage and personal effects loss or damage.

top

15 January 2014

Semifreddo with amaretti and tonka beans' syrup




Hi, I haven’t been writing for so long: 2013 has been a very special year for us. We relocated in a new house and worked so hard to make it suitable for the Cookery School,  after that I had a very busy summer season as a private chef (I feel so lucky to cook for such lovely people as all of my clients are). So at Fall I felt like emptied but now  here I am and I wish you all a very belated Happy New Year.

What I'm going to propose you a very easy yet delicious dessert: technically this isn’t a Semifreddo as the real one contains eggs but on my Birthday I invited some friends for lunch and I woke up late in the morning so I had just a little time to make a dessert. Happily I had some Tonka Beans’ Syrup already made and Candied Orange Peels which are things you can prepare in advance and stock in your pantry: they are always useful.
This Semifreddo is composed of cream at 30% of fat and mascarpone but you can make it also with a double cream ( 40 % of fat) . Then I added some Torrone, the hard  kind not the smooth one and Amaretti . But you can change completely the recipe by putting in chocolate chips and candied ginger for example or dates etc…..and you can use a ginger syrup instead of Tonka: just change the Tonka with a spoon of  chopped ginger and proceed the same way.
A frozen whipped cream like this is even better than an ice-cream, it keeps smooth and creamy and you just need to take it off the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Ingredients for 8/10 servings, fills a mould of 18cm of diameter and 10 cm high  ( aprox a 2 liters mould that can be also a rectangular one, I just measured with some water)

600 ml of cream 30% fat
500 gr of mascarpone ( or 1,1 liter  of double cream)
150 ml of Tonka syrup
A pinch of salt ( very little one, I used fleur de sel only a few grains)
100 gr of Torrone
1 tbs od candied orange peels
1 tbs of candied ginger
200 gr of Amaretti ( you can find them in an Italian grocery)
1 cup of coffe
 ¼ a cup of rhum

To make the Syrup
6 Tonka Beans
500 gr of crystal sugar
400 gr of water 


Proceeding
First of all it’s better to start with the syrup: I rather tend to make a quantity because it’s easier and it keeps long stored in the fridge: you can use it on yoghurt or even add it in a cup of coffee. Tonka Beans have a fabulous, scrumptious flavour between vanilla and bitter almonds. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it if you don't already know!
Put the water and sugar in a pan with the beans, stir to dissolve the sugar and let simmering as long as it makes equal bubbles on the surface and has the texture of liquid honey ( it will take between 30/45 minutes but if you leave on a very low heat you won’t have to bother about it) then let it cool.
Once the syrup cooled you can start with the Semifreddo: to whip such a quantity of cream you’ll need a Kenwood or a Kitchen-Aid otherwise you can make the half  of it and you'll have 4 /5 servings. Prepare a cup of coffee for the Amaretti, then fold the mould with a film so that you can unmould easily ( I didn’t and I regretted)
Make sure your cream, mascarpone and the bowl are really cold and then pour in the bowl the cream, the pinch of salt, the syrup and whisk till it makes soft peaks and it’s rather thick but not too much. Then add the Torrone ( I put a link but it's not a sponsor ), the orange peels and ginger chopped and the amaretti crushed (they crush very easily I used a mortar) mix very gently with a spatula and pour half of the cream in the mould, even it with a spatula then soak the amaretti into coffee-rhum and make a layer, then fill the mould with the rest and put in the freezer till it’s frozen (approx. 3 / 4 hours for this size) The good thing is that you can prepare it the day before or even two. Take it off 15 mn before serving, unmould on a plate, soak the Amaretti into coffee-rhum and use for decoration. I made the recipe with a small amount of sugar so that you can pour some additional syrup on the top for a very decadent look.


15 May 2013

Wild Fennel Panna Cotta


It’s a very long time I don’t write a post: I’ve been very busy with preparing my Cookery School and Supper Club. But a blogger-friend asked me if I could make a recipe for a contest on wild herbs, knowing how passionate I am about this. So here I am, with a dessert made with wild fennel which I adore. I thought about making a very simple Panna Cotta flavoured with this extraordinary herb. Wild fennel gets amazing just cooked in a syrup. I chose raspberries but you can serve it also with strawberries: the acidity and freshness of fruits balances the velvety  sweetness of panna cotta. It is a  light dessert to serve after an elegant dinner.




 



Ingredients for 4 servings
400 ml of fresh liquid cream ( 30% of fat)
10 gr of jelly in sheets
150 gr of caster sugar
300 ml of water
A pinch of salt
250 gr of raspberries
Two branches of wild fennel washed and finely chopped

First of all prepare the syrup: put the water and sugar to boil, let cook slowly for about 15 mn or till the syrup begins to thicken and makes bubbles, add the fennel and switch off the fire. Let cool  and in the meantime prepare the panna cotta: pour the cream in a saucepan, add the pinch of salt and bring to boil, turn off the fire. Soak the gelatine in cold water till it gets soft, then drain it and add to the warm cream, mix very well and add 100 ml of the syrup you’ve prepared before. Stir to combine and pour in silicone moulds, refrigerate for at least 4 hours but you can keep it 1 or two days well covered with a film. Wash quickly the raspberries, put them in a bowl, add the syrup and  mix very gently. To serve: unmould the panna cotta, place in the middle of a dessert plate, garnish with the raspberries and syrup and serve.



E qui sotto in Italiano!

11 February 2013

How to make a light dessert :Chocolate Jelly

I love chocolate. Dark Chocolate.And I love to make light desserts: after a nice meal dessert should be like an evanescent cloud just passing by, leaving a sweet memory .Some years ago I bought a book on agar-agar : I won't mention the author ,as I soon realised that she did not tested the recipes .But I found a new ingredient ,very interesting for its healthy properties so I searched for a milligram scale and began to test. Almost all the recipes containing agar-agar will tell you :a coffee spoon etc....but if you want be sure of results better to use a scale . One day I found here the recipe of a chocolate jelly and I immediately tried it . This was 3 years ago and this dessert has become one of my best-seller has a personal chef . Yes, I re-made the recipe to suit my taste , I tried differents proportions of agar-agar and this is the final result of all my experimentations . With a dessert like this you can indulge !And you can keep it some days in the fridge ,covered . Very useful when you have guests !



Ingredients for 6 big servings or 12 small ones 

200 gr of dark chocolate 70%
500 ml of  fresh milk
A  pinch of  fleur de sel
A  pinch of grounded ginger
gr  of agar-agar
200 gr of sugar ,200 ml of water  and 8 tonka beans a for the syrup or a spoon of  chopped fresh ginger
Cut the chocolate in small pieces, put all the other ingredients in a sauce pan  and bring to boil  , pay attention when milkc omes to boil you’ll have to stir for a minute . Then  turn off the fire and  pour the chocolate into the mixture .Wait  3/4   minutes and then you can mix it well till all the chocolate is dissolved . Pour in the silicon moulds  ( or in cups )and then in the fridge to cool . For the syrup : bring to boil water,sugar and the tonka beans ( or the ginger )and let cook slowly till the syrup thickens  and begin to make  bubbles You can taste it  for consistence , it should not be too liquid . Use the syrup to garnish the jelly


If you’d like  to make  also the white chocolate jelly you can use the same recipe but  instead than 2 gr of agar-agar you’ll use  2,2 gr (seems like nothing but it makes a difference) though if you want make both it’s better to divide the dose  in two  so  200 ml of milk ,50 ml of cream, 1 gr of agar-agar and 100 gr of dark chocolate . For the white one  1,1 gr of agar-agar.