Although I knew this was strictly a marketing promotion for both the region and the workshop presenter, Arthur Schwartz, I thought the occasion of actually being part of something that I had only occasionally watched on the food TV network, would be a novel and curious experience, and it was.
The showroom displayed many products that this southern region of Italy (with Naples being its largest center) offers, such as oil, tomatoes, wines, and cheeses, which form the basis for which its regional cuisine is known. What I didn’t expect was the actual anecdotal talk by Arthur, the self called “food maven” that I had met years ago, and recently stumbled upon while shopping at an international food store in my neighborhood. He made a very delightful and informative presentation about the entire region, including some historical background, while preparing a couple of recipes with tomato sauce and giving hints about what to look for or avoid when shopping for some of the ingredients he was using. His newest book on the cuisine of this region was obviously available, as were tastes of the various products and the two prepared dishes. The region is also known for quite a line of wines, and the one I tasted was excellent!
The lunch that followed was also a delectable event. There was no specific choice planned ahead, and we just picked a nearby restaurant, which, very coincidentally, turned out to be known for its southern Italian cuisine and very fresh fish. The place was crowded, both inside and in its outdoor patio, but we managed to get a table indoors and enjoy a leisure and delicious lunch. We actually were the last ones to leave the dining room at 3pm, and had an unexpected and interesting chat with 2 young waiters that were Albanians, and, to my great surprise, even knew about my family name and history. We surely live in a small world!
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1 comment:
Oh I would have loved that workshop! And isn't it nice to find interesting Albanians wherever you go!
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