Tuscany Supper Club.. My last one :o(

Last night was my last supper club held by Massimo Bruno.... Each month I enjoy the anticipation of going to Massimo's Kitchen Studio, where he would bring back great memories of home cooked Italian food and the atmosphere to match.

This evening measured up to all others with a great crowd and Massimo's wonderful stories about Italy and how he is so passionate about Italian food.

Starters included his delicious Focaccia, Salami with figs that melted in your mouth, Florentine steak sprinkled with sea salt, olive oil, arugula and dusted with cheese.

Just warming up and getting into the motion of 'just how much can I eat', the big guns start to come out. Chicken with Rosemary, Fish baked in salt and one of my favourite dishes - Pappardelle with a mushroom sauce... this sauce is just plain 'stupid' which in my language means you need a cigarette after.

Although the crowd is loud throughout the evening, when a dish is set down in front you, there's a silence amongst them when they have that first bite... BAM - that's when Massimo has you - and when you leave, you just want more of it..... He was my 'dealer' of Italian food and cooking and I have a feeling I'm going to go through withdrawls next month and the month after that. I'm trying to convince him to fly to Edmonton with his gang so my family and friends can finally experience "Massimo" :o)

I'm not sure if Massimo knows what an impact his supper clubs had on me, and I thank him and his hard working team each time, but I'm not sure THANK YOU is even close to how I feel.

BUT... Grazie Mille to Massimo, Enzo, Giovanna and Valeria. You not only shared your love of food and cooking, but made me feel like I was part of your family.

Ciao for now...who knows,  I may just fly out for one event next year :o)
Daniela

 

Italian Supper Club - Al Fresco

July 19, 2012 was my first Italian Supper Club since my return from Italy. I know, it even sounds stuck up when I'm typing it. But, Rome was an experience never to be forgotten and changed my life completely. It made me appreciate just how wonderful Italian cuisine is and how much I've taken it for granted all these years.


The supper club was held at The Manor House and the event was called "Al Fresco"...which is really eating outside, Italian Style. Massimo and Enzo out did themselves once again - as Giovanna was in the kitchen doing her magic.


We were greeted with Bruschetta, as we walked out to the backyard where we would be enjoying this dinner under the stars. You can smell the charcoal heating up on the BBQ with Enzo on 'coal' alert and perfecting his already perfect system.


I brought a virgin with me that evening and warned him in advance to eat very little during the day, because this was going to be a feast.


Our appetizers were his famous Focaccia, figs with prosciutto and salami and oyster mushrooms. We all lost focus on the big picture and just dived in... Eyes bigger than our stomachs really !!!!!


Then one of the two dishes I have been looking forward to all year... Homemade sausage - just off the grill and served with green onions which were also lightly grilled. I'm ruined for life with their sausage... I can never buy store bought - the first bite and the sausage bursts in your mouth with flavour and the freshness of the meat is insane. The spices just there to bring the ride your mouth is feeling to a whole new level.


Rainbow trout was next -served with a breadcrumb crust. I always say, this part of the meal is really just to cleanse you and get you ready for 'main event'.


Fresh pasta served with tomatoes - simple and delicious. Just what Italian cooking is all about.


Now....part 2 of my anticipation - Steak Florentine. Watching Enzo grill these is like watching a Maestro during a concert. This meat is cooked rare - sliced very thinly, then drizzled with olive oil and sea salt sprinkled on top. It melts in your mouth........ As I always say 'It's so good, it's stupid'.


We finished off with watermelon sorbet and cannoli's with a shot of cold espresso.


At the end, like all supper club evenings, we sit back, take a deep breath if we can and just smile.


My rant for today:
For all the people out there who are on a low carb, no carb, 'I only eat protein shakes'.... You are missing out on life.


You can't look back on your life and wish you had one more protein shake..... I'm 100% for taking care of our bodies and treating it like a temple and giving it all the love we can. The Italian Supper Club is reminder that you can have it all. I don't sit down to a feast like this everyday, but events like this teaches you that you can take simple fresh ingredients, and make something wonderful, tasty and even healthy.


The next event will be held in August (I hope) and will be my last Supper Club :o(... I'm moving out west to be closer to my family, but I hope I can convince them to come out and share this love to my family and friends in Edmonton.


Until next time....


Ciao
Daniela

Pasqua in Sardegna (Easter in Sardinia)

Another Italian Supper Club with Massimo Bruno where he introduced us to Sardinia.

I have to admit that I didn't know very much about this island. Usually when Italians meet for the first time, we ask "What part of the boot are you from"? But Sardinia is that wonderful accessory that matches the boot, for woman, we would call that the perfect handbag.

The 2nd largest Island in the Mediterranean, Massimo wanted us to explore this beautiful island from pesce vernaccia to agnello zafferano and everything in between.

Of course, the supper club wouldn't be the same if Massimo didn't start flirting with us and serving his famous Focaccia. Once the guests took their first bite, they were hooked. But Massimo tells the crowd to pace themselves as he reads through the menu.

I've always said, the best thing about Italian cooking is the simplicity of it all - from the ingredients to how it's cooked. The one dish that stood out as my favourite is the pan fried mushrooms. Beautiful oyster mushrooms - breaded and fried in olive oil - your taste buds are in heaven with that first bite.

The "everything in between" included stuffed empanadas with meat and cheese, crostini melanzane, Tuna carpaccio, fregola with clams and malloredus with sausage and pecorino cheese.

The movie tonight playing in the background was Rimini Rimini and during the course of the evening Massimo did break out in a solo act - singing to his favourite Italian songs.

With every supper club, the end of the evening sees the crowd lean back in their chairs, holding their stomach and almost apologizing for the amount of food you just enjoyed. And once again, we all forget about dessert. You can hear the words "I just can't eat anymore" and then right in front of you is the Sebadas - fresh cheese stuffed ravioli with hot honey melting down the sides of the plate. And in less time that you could say you "couldn't eat anymore" - your plate is empty again.

Massimo and his hard working crew -Enzo and Giovanna, have given us a chance to sit down and experience an island that we may never see for ourselves, but can now truly appreciate.

Massimo Bruno's Italian Supper Club

Massimo Bruno - An Italian chef who has brought his gifted talent to Toronto.  In his kitchen studio, he cooks the cuisine from different regions of Italy and opens your eyes to real Italian cooking.

Last nights menu was from the region of Abruzzo. The loft style studio has tables lined up for one giant family gathering. The setting reminds me of my childhood, with all my family gathered together for a Sunday meal.

Here, strangers become friends and for 4 hours can immerse themselves in Italian living - Eating, laughing and falling in love with each plate that is placed in front of you.  Hearing stories from Massimo about his time growing up in Puglia and why food is so important to him, you feel the passion that he has and how important it is for him to share this with everyone.

In the background you can hear the knives cutting into salami and the sound of Spieducci (lamb skewers) sizzling in the frying pan. Massimo's menu must be taken seriously - pacing yourself is crucial in order to ensure you have room for all the courses. His famous Focaccia Barese is served at all dinner events, regardless of what region is being served. Speaking as a seasoned veteran of these dinner events, I think a riot would start if he didn't serve it. A dish called Pasta e Lenticchie (pasta with lentils), will set your taste buds in motion and proves once again that simple fresh ingredients is what Italian cooking is all about.

The guests are uncorking more wine and approaching both Massimo and Enzo to ask questions about the food and how they've cooked it. At the back of the loft, Italian movies are playing on a screen. The event itself is like a scene out of an Italian movie. If you close your eyes you can hear forks hitting the plates, laughter from the crowd and the smell of another dish just passing by to be placed right in front of you.

By the end of the evening, as everyone leans back, the moans slowly getting louder and the words that all Italians love to hear "I ate too much". The smell of espresso is just starting to brew and just one more dish to serve up - Dessert. As Massimo encourages all of us to have a taste, it quickly turns into everyone now fork deep into the Zeppole.

Delizioso