ALMA Gala Dinner

the benefits of having a school in the same building as a culinary school, maybe the most prestigious in Italy especially, is making friends with the culinary students.

yes, we've had the students cook for us before - but it wasn't anything Arina or I couldn't do with our eyes closed. We can boil pasta. We can open jars of tomato sauce and peel back plastic wrap of pre-sliced pancetta. We were not overwhelmed with their display of Marchesi plate art work.

no, i did not choose to eat lunch at ALMA every day, wanting to have more control over my food choices and flexibility but regardless of missing out on the various foods the students are studying and the techniques they are practicing that week, I don't regret this decision. occasionally though, if a student is away or sick, we sneak in to lunch in their place. 

But, in this particular instance, some of the American ALMA kids came back from their stages across Italy for graduation and we were so kindly invited to their last gala dinner. Cooked by Chef Tiziano Rossetti with the help of the Clase Superiore, we had an elegant 5 course dinner with wine pairing. The company was fantastically full of laughs, the food was beautifully presented and our glasses were never even half empty - thank you Sommelier Course.

Crunchy chicken oysters, Broccolis, anchovies and chili pepper, cannoli with shrimps and chickpeas paired with Prosecco 52 DOCG Valdobbiadene - Santa Margherita

(chicken oyster is a nugget-sized piece of dark meat from the rear of the chicken. no seafood involved)

Endive envelope filled with truffles and carrots topped with sea scallops and truffled foam

(complimentary dish, a little bland, prosecco continued)

Cooked and Raw Mushroom Cannelloni paired with Chardonnay 2008 Maso Reiner Alto Adige - Kettmeir

Nobody liked this at all. 

Pheasant Breast in its sauce and seasonal vegetables served with Nero d'Avola - Syrah 2008 - Terrliade

Looks kinda boring, but it was cooked.

 Gorgonzola & Walnut Ice Cream

Trifle aka Zuppa Inglese served with Moscato Rosa 2007  Alto Aldige - Kettmeir

reflection.

 Nobody liked this at all. 

 No, really.

And to end....Espresso illy

As a going away gift, they were presented with engraved silver pots, which may not have fit into their already-packed suitcases, but nonetheless were very handy in being filled with beer later that night at the Pub. They may not miss Colorno, but they sure will miss the Pub.