“You are what you eat.”
Held Thursdays from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Upcoming Session Start Date: March 7th, 2024
(Only three spots left for the March 2024 session! Call or email to register!)
About:
A six-week program focusing on the cuisine of Italia! Join Chef Kristina Grappo as she spends each week focusing on a certain subset of Italian culture, taking care to highlight regional dishes and their backgrounds. Students will first listen to an initial lecture in the classroom before heading into the kitchen to create three courses of food straight from the Mediterranean Boot. No prior experience required – this series is open to all enthusiastic patrons and paisanos!
Chef and Instructor:
Chef – Kristina Grappo
Kristina Grappo is one of Classic Cooking’s newest staff members and chef instructors. Her passion for cooking started at a young age when she cooked and planned parties with her mother and Italian and German grandparents. She attended Villanova University and graduated with a Bachelors in Arts in 2010. After nearly a decade of working behind a computer doing marketing, consulting, and development for restaurant and hospitality projects in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Austin, Kristina enrolled in the Auguste Escoffier Culinary School to pursue her dream of becoming a professional chef. After completing her culinary degree, she opened a fresh pasta shop and Italian market called Viola’s Pantry – named after her Calabrian grandmother – in Wichita, Kansas, which she still owns to this day. Kristina draws her culinary influence from her Calabrian family roots, and her time living all over the world growing up – from Portugal and Jordan to Oman, Greece, and more. Kristina loves sharing cherished family recipes and traditions and tying them in with the culture and histories of each region.
Curriculum:
Week 1 – North Italy:
- Primi/Antipasti:
- Cicchetti (Venetian Bruschetta Trio Platter)
- Secondi:
- Pork alla Milanese with Agnolotti del Plin in Brown Butter and Sage Sauce and White Asparagus Drizzled with Homemade Pesto Genovese
- Dolci:
- Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream
Week 2 – North Central Italy:
- Primi/Antipasti:
- Tortellini en Brodo (Handmade Tortellini in Chicken Consommé)
- Secondi:
- Chicken Cacciatore (Northern Style) with Frecantò Di Verdure (Italian-Style Ratatouille) and Creamy Polenta
- Dolci:
- Rocciata di Assisi (Umbrian-Style Strudel)
Week 3 – Risotto:
- Three Options:
- Grilled Lemon, Asparagus, and Pecorino Romano Risotto
- Mushroom Herb Risotto
- Nero di Seppia (Cuttlefish Ink) with Sautéed Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Risotto
Week 4 – Central Italy:
- Primi/Antipasti:
- Classic Minestrone Soup
- Secondi:
- Salsiccia (Homemade Pork Sausage) with Roman Cacio E Pepe Pasta and Finnochi in Padella (Braised Fennel with Parmesan Breadcrumbs)
- Dolci:
- Sfogliatella (“Lobster Tail” Pastries with Ricotta Filling)
Week 5 – Southern Italy:
- Primi/Antipasti:
- Classic Arancini with Arrabiata Sauce
- Secondi:
- Sicilian Braciole with Stroncatura (Calabrian-Style Pasta) and Fried Eggplant
- Dolci:
- Cannoli Dip (Fried Cannoli Dough Chips with Sweet Ricotta Dip and Choice of Toppings)
Week 6 – Pizza
- Primi/Antipasti:
- Caesar Salad
- Secondi:
- Custom Pizza
- Dolci:
- Classic Biscotti and Affogato
Cost:
The Italian Series is $600.00 for all six weeks of classes. Students may not sign up for individual classes. No chef jacket fee is added for this program.
Cancellation Policy:
In the event of a student’s cancellation, refunds are based off of the student’s attendance rate. Please contact our staff with questions if you are considering cancelling your spot.
Notes:
- No prerequisite classes or prior kitchen experience required. The Italian Series is geared for beginner level chefs and food enthusiasts!
- If you are unable to attend any class for any reason, you are more than welcome to make it up in a following Italian Series session. Just check our schedule, confirm the date that you need to sit in on, and contact our staff by phone or email so that we can mark you down.
- Certain weeks of the program may be pushed back for other events. Classic Cooking keeps all currently enrolled students updated with any schedule changes.