Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Folanos Market Cooking Classes



From time to time, I will try to feature local business that continue the spirit of Italian food even if they branch out to other types of cuisine. I had the pleasure the other day of enjoying one of these local shops, at Folanos Market in The Plains, VA. Nick and his Wife Molly not only serve great food but feature excellant cooking classes and feature local foods and produce.

Forlano’s Market is a deli, butcher, and bakery with a focus on locally raised meats, produce and cheese. Chef and owner Nick Forlano supports area farmers where possible, providing a high-quality, hormone-free alternative to the factory-farmed poultry, beef, and pork found in large grocery stores. Nick believes that buying locally spares the environment, supports family farms, strengthens the local economy, and protects open space and farmland.

The 2001 recipient of an impressive Zagat Survey rating of 25 (out of a possible 30) for his outstanding menu, Nick takes pride in offering only the finest products at Forlano’s Market: homemade bread baked daily; a butcher case featuring locally raised corn-finished Angus, free-range poultry, and handcrafted charcuterie; an array of sandwiches made to order, daily soups, and gourmet takeout meals.

Forlano’s Market has a well-edited selection of food-friendly wines and boutique beers from around the world, and we’re more than happy to help you pair your selection with any menu.
Gourmet catering for up to 45 guests is available for such occasions as point-to-points, the Gold Cup races, and picnics. Nick also gives cooking instruction on an array of topics such as pizza making, bread making, and regional Italian specialties.

I have included a little bit about them and their current cooking class schedule below.

A native of Queens, New York, chef Nick Forlano was born into a family of restaurateurs. His mother owned a popular American-style restaurant in Delaware called the Eagle’s Nest, and Nick felt the pull of the kitchen early on. At 14 he became a dishwasher, after which he worked his way around the kitchen, quickly developing proficiency in prep work, line cooking, menu development, and meat and fish preparation.

At 24, after five years in the Air Force, Nick enrolled at the Restaurant School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1997. He took his first executive chef position in 1999 at The Gables, a contemporary fusion restaurant in southeastern Pennsylvania, stepping into the shoes of his mentor, chef Mark Eastman.

While at The Gables, Nick meet Molly who later became his wife. Molly is a graduate of the hotel and restaurant curriculum at Sullivan University in Louisville. She majored in professional catering, culinary arts, and hotel-restaurant management.

In 2000 Nick moved with Molly to Middleburg, Virginia, where he became chef of the Ashby Inn, a boutique bed-and-breakfast. With Nick at the helm the Ashby Inn was awarded a prestigious 25 (out of a possible 30) from the Zagat survey for its outstanding menu.

Molly, an avid foxhunter and steeplechase rider, became manager and sommelier at the Lightfoot, an eclectic fine-dining restaurant in Leesburg. She earned the Lightfoot its first Wine Spectator award with her skillfully compiled and globally diverse wine list. Molly and Nick were married in 2004 and now live in Warrenton with their daughter, Lauren.

An epicurean venture that taps into years of combined culinary expertise, Forlano’s Market, with its hearth-baked breads, culinary instruction and catering, is the realization of a lifelong dream.

Cooking classes are small, hands on if you wish or just watch if you like.

January - March 2009 Cooking Class Schedule

Please call early to reserve - they sell out fast! $75 per person, per class. $65 per class for a set of three classes. Prepayment is required to reserve a seat. Price includes recipes, and a taste of wine to those over 21 years of age. Classes are participation and demonstration, and we always eat what we make! All Classes Start at 6:30 pm, and usually go until 9 or 9:30pm.540- 253-5456 or e-mail at info@folanosmarket.com
In order to properly plan for food and accommodate all our guests’ needs, a 72 HOUR CANCELLATION OR CLASS SWAP POLICY APPLIES. We will do our best to accommodate your requests to move to a different class but cannot make guarantees as most of our classes sell out. Thank you.
Tue. January 20th - Pizza Making your own homemade dough and pizza
Tue. January 27th - Super Bowl Stromboli and Finger Foods for the big game
Tue. February 3rd - Duck Class Handling, preparation, confit and entrees
Tue. February 10th - Valentine’s Day Wine, chocolate, oysters and more…
Tue. February 17th - Vietnamese Calamari, dipping sauces, pork belly
Tue. February 24th - Beef Stew and Potato Dumplings Warm food for cold days!
Tue. March 3rd - Healthy Cooking Cous cous and vegetarian dishes

Book a private party today!

Molly M. K. Forlano
Forlano's Market
540.253.5456
cell 540.905.2931
6483 Main Street
The Plains, Virginia 20198
www.forlanosmarket.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Limoncello




1) 1 gallon of the very best plain vodka you can afford.
2) Zest of 8 lemons. Use a vegetable peeler.


Add the zest to the vodka and let it rest in a dark place for 4 weeks, after 4 weeks shake well and let rest for 4 more weeks.
3) Make simple syrup by mixing 3 cups sugar with 3 cups of water. Dissolve the sugar in the water and bring to boil for 1-minute stir constantly to keep from burning.
4) Let the simple syrup cool.
5) Remove the lemon zest from the vodka and discard.
6) Add the simple syrup to the lemon flavoured vodka and let rest for ten more days.
7) Chill in the freezer before serving.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Wedding Favors

Just released wedding favors, now available in any pattern. Choose your favorite pattern, the shape you desire and we can do the rest. None of your friends will have these at their wedding be the first. Prices range from $12.00 to $15.00 per piece Contact us for a quote and ordering times.
barbara@latavolabella.com




Thursday, November 13, 2008

Beer In Italy?

I liked this because not everyone is a wine drinker!

Travel
Savoring Italy, One Beer at a Time
By EVAN RAIL
Published: November 2, 2008
In the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont, a nascent craft beer scene has begun to emerge, bringing well-made brews into the dining rooms of some of the country’s best restaurants.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/travel/02Beer.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Friday, November 7, 2008

Ricotta Cookies

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Ready in: 35 mins
Ingredients
1 cup butter softened
2 cups sugar
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon milk
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Red and green sprinkles

Cooking Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease large cookie sheets.
In a large bowl cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add ricotta vanilla and eggs and beat until combined. Add flour baking powder and salt and beat until dough forms.
Using two tablespoons drop dough onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies begin to turn golden. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool.In small bowl stir confectioners sugar milk and lemon juice until smooth. With a small metal spatula or knife spread icing on cookies and top with sprinkles. Set aside to allow icing to dry and harden.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Frascati

Okay so everybody asks why Frascati? It is simple actually, I love Frascati wine. So what better place to sample the local wine, than Frascati. We arrived in town after a easy drive from Fumacino Airport although the official exit was closed on the highway, we managed to find our way. The maps provided online by the hotel Colonna were great, although they don't mention that the center of town is closed from Friday night to Sunday night and you have to drive around the police barricade to get to the hotel.



So like any good tourist we found a lovely spot to eat, parked the car and asked a local waiter where is our hotel? Turns out it was on the other side of the barricade and all we had to do was drive around the police to get to the hotel. Ah that's all.



This turned out to be a lovely spot for a view of Rome, from what the locals call the Panorama. The restaurant was perfect and the view even better for two tired travelers who had just arrived from JFK. We were lucky enough to stumble across the Belvedere 1933 Restuarant. The website is http://www.belvedere1933.com/index.asp
We sampled the local grilled meat plate and some fresh grilled vegetables as we enjoyed the perfect weather that followed us for our week in Italy. In some ways it felt like Ground Hog Day, slightly cool and foggy in the morning, followed by the sun peaking out about noon. Just in time for a lunch outdoors on the patio, as evening approached the temp would drop into the 50's. Not to cool and not to warm. Perfect sleeping weather. Only to start over again the next day in the same perfect sequence.

New Patterns Coming Soon








Three new patterns will be available on our website soon. A Springtime, Lemon and a Pumpkin Plate. Code QZN = pumpkin black LA ZUCCA NERA Code Qpg = Spring PRIMAVERA Please email me at mailto:barbara@latavollabella.com if you are interested in these new patterns.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Airfares & Autos

Auto Europe
Auto Europe for airfares, rental cars, cell phone rentals and pre and post hotel reservations. We have found that Auto Europe consistently provides competitive rates with excellent service. Click on the links below for more information on Auto Europe's services. Insurance for damages and theft is included in the price of your rental in Italy.

If you pick up your car at the Fumicino Airport, the rental cars are on the fourth floor of the parking garage. The service on our last trip was good. They actually went over the damage on the car when we picked it up and when we returned the car. Staff was friendly, spoke enough english to be helpful but not too pushy. Be prepared for some crazy turns when getting in and out of the parking garage and remember: the clutch you are driving, won't like it when the van in front of you stops to back up. When returning your car, to get back into the garage get in the far left lane to make your life easier when entering the parking deck.
http://autoeurope.com/

Euro Fly USA
Flights and Trips not directly from DC but add a Cheap flight to JFK and the cost of Airfare goes down $400.00 a person for most Departures. Allow at least 3 hours between flights from DC to JFK and JFK to Rome as flight into JFK are always late arriving. But a family of four saves $1,600.00 by using this trick.

We got one of the specials the Euro fly was offering for a few days in Oct for special flights only. NO fuel surcharge.. so for $399.00 + tax round trip we were off to Italy to enjoy La Dolce Vita for a week. Flights were limited so we left on a Friday night from JFK and returned on the following Friday night.

The trip over was a code share with Swiss air, the plane was in rough shape. Several of the seats were missing the controls for the audio and visual and the stewardess were not real interested in doing anything about it. The staff was otherwise helpful, the snack and breakfast was passable but not great. For airplane food average.

The flight boarded and left on time and we arrived in Rome at Noon on Saturday. All the luggage arrived in one piece. Although we packed light for the trip over so, one bag was inside the other to allow for the goodies we purchased to make the return trip. Euro fly allows two bags per person but the JetBlue flight we took to get to New York only allowed one.

The flight back was on a airplane owned by Eurofly and the plane was in much better shape. The line to check in, in Rome was horribly slow. A full flight of students killed the check in process, but they were quiet travelers once boarded. Keep your passport out and your seat stub as they check it as you get on the flight and again at the door of the airplane. No stub no seat.

The return flight arrived in NY an hour behind schedule, the new terminal at JFK had just opened for JetBlue and the airport staff didn't even know it. The elevator to the new terminal has the wrong numbers on the panel so you think you are on the wrong floor the whole time you are in the elevator. So take the elevator to the top, ignore the numbers.

It took the better part of a hour and a half to get off the plane, get our luggage and clear customs and the airport wasn't even busy at 8pm on a Friday night. So beware when scheduling your connecting flight. Even with the trouble of rechecking our luggage everything arrived in one piece. I would do this again for the combined savings of $1,200.00.

http://www.euroflyusa.com/US/

Festivals of Umbria

Spring

When: May

Where: Assissi

Calendimaggiodi http://www.calendimaggiodiassisi.it/
The ancient rivalry between the two medieval wards, the “Parte di Sopra” and the “Parte di Sotto” continues. In a spectacular recreation of days past, medieval and Renaissance costumes bring the town to life. The challenge takes place in the form of theatre shows, songs and choruses, dances, processions, archery, crossbow and flag-waving displays. The districts compete in a singing contest among the incredible floral decorations, torches and candles.

Where: Gubbio

When: May 15th

Ceri Race Festival http://www.festadeiceri.it/
It’s one of the most unusual religious events in Italy. The “Ceri” are three gigantic wooden structures weighing about 400 kilos ( about 800 pounds) each, topped by statues of St. Ubaldo, St. Giorgio and St. Antonio. The young men of the town carry them on their shoulders from the historic part of the town to the top of Mount Ingino, where the basilica of the patron stands.

Where: Narni

When: May 2-3 and two weeks preceding with festival

Corsa all'Anello http://www.corsallanello.it/home_ing.htm
The main feast in medieval Narni was dedicated to the Patron Saint Giovenale, taking place each year on the 3rd of May. During this festival the whole town of Narni contributes to recreate the atmosphere of 1371, year of the first written city laws. Flags and torches adorn squares and streets, taverns and pizza ovens emanate into the streets typical fragrances of Umbrian meals and very good wines. The whole town hosts medieval sounds and colours.
Historical processions, art exhibitions, folk shows, concerts, competitions among the terzieri all combine to transform the town into a medieval picture.The town is divided into 3 parts or terzieri, named Mezule, Fraporta and Santa Maria and each has different colours to be recognized by everyone. The town crier reads the traditional ban and the taverns are open: this is the beginning of the feast, which dates back to the first half of the 14th century.
This festival comes to its highest point on the 3rd of May, when all the people in the town celebrate the Saint Patron of Narni -St.Giovenale. Following the rules and regulations prescribed by the medieval town laws, dating back to the year 1371, the riders participate in the historical “Race to the ring” - wearing their medieval costumes- riding their horses, trying to drive their lances through a silver ring. The riders come to the main square of the town, the present Piazza dei Priori, which once was called “Platea Maior”. Among the main events during the festival, we cannot forget the Offer of the Candles in the Cathedral, taking place on the 2nd of May. This evocative display reminds us of the city's authorities offer of candles (brought also by the representatives of castles and guilds) to the tomb of the Patron Saint Giovenale on the occasion of his feast.
During the two weeks preceding the race, the whole town turns to be the stage for religious and civic plays, and several medieval shows are organised by each “Terziere” (i.e. the part the town is divided into): from the blessing of the riders to the flag throwers’ shows, ending up with the historical procession on the last Saturday, just before the racing day.

Summer

When: End of June- Mid July

Where: Spoleto

Spoleto Festival http://www.festivaldispoleto.it/
Established by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 with the aim of creating an opportunity for Italian, American and European cultures to meet and exchange ideas. Today is one of the most prestigious international artistic events and offers performances of theathre, dance, prose and lyrics performed in very unusual spaces such as the Cathedral Square, where the final concerts of the Festival take place.

When: June 27-July 13, 2008 & Jan 2-4 2009

Where: Perugia

Umbria Jazz http://www.umbriajazz.com/
Launched in 1973, Umbria Jazz is one of the most important jazz music festivals in the world. The event lasts ten days during which, from morning to night, in the historic center of Perugia , concerts of all types of jazz take place. During the festival Perugia becomes a meeting point for tens of thousands of music lovers from all over the world. Tickets are available online.

When: August

Where: Montefalco

August in Montefalco Festival http://www.montefalcodoc.it/
Groups of strings and wind instruments fill the charming streets and squares of the hsitoric center with melodies, shows for kids and pleasant evenings in the the Taverns of the Town. All ending with a procession, the crossbow contests, the flag-wavers and the choreographic: "Flight of the Ox”. The ox - race takes place every year in Montefalco. It is a bloodless recalling of a folk manifestation quoted in the ancient city chronicles. In that period the game was a violent fight between some men and one furious ox, which, which exhausted by the cruel fight, inevitably was overwhelmed. On Christmas Day its meat divided up among all the families. Now the procession takes place with the absolute respect for the animals. The bull of each quarter, properly trained during the year, competes against the men. Check out the website listed above for lots of places to stay and other festivals. There is a small English flag at the top of the page for the English version of the website.

Where: Foligno

Italian First Courses Festival http://www.iprimidtalis.it/

A Festival promoting quality first courses in Italian cuisine: pasta, rice and soups. It is divided into various sections, such as the tasting of first courses at taverns in the historic center, guided by chefs, and the cooking school of the Great Masters. Shows with comedians and artists in the 15th Century setting of the Auditorium San Domenico, with the tasting of the first course dishes.

When: September 29 – October 5th 2008

Where: Orvieto

Orvieto with Taste http://www.orvietocongusto.it/it/english_summary.html
“Orvieto con Gusto” is a prestigious enogastronomic event that celebrates this fall its 11th edition. “Palazzo del Gusto” (The Palace of Taste), an ancient monastery, will be the center of several gastronomic and cultural meetings. It will offer you the opportunity to taste special dinners with 4/5 course local menus starting Saturday September 29th through Sunday October 7th.Friday October 5th “Palazzo del Gusto” will host a special ethnic evening. You will taste and enjoy Serbian cuisine, Balkan culture, music and entertainment.
Among the cultural events please don’t miss “Pomona ottocentesca”. It is an exhibition of a prestigious collection of wax fruit made by 19th century craftsmen. The exhibition will be inaugurated Saturday September 29th and will be open to the public until Sunday October 7th. The fruits of the season will be celebrated in a special “fruit dinner”. Together with the International Slow Food movement, Good, clean and fair food, the Orvieto event will offer at “Palazzo dei Sette” an exhibition of Slow Food books and magazines along with wine tasting and happy conversation around Umbrian food and wine.
Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th are the most fun days to taste, to meet new friends and enjoy Orvieto life style. “Orvieto con Gusto” promenade will offer food and wine lovers the discovery of 5 major sites of our ancient town, in a very special enogastronomic walking tour around the city tasting a 5-course menu specially prepared in each single location. In those same days, the Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum will host a magic moment: discovering the Etruscan world toasting with a glass of the “Muffe Nobili” sweet wines. A special visit to the ancient Etruscan caves along with a tasting of traditional appetizers and wines will be available in “Pozzo della Cava” and “Pasticceria Adriano”. And through all the “Orvieto con Gusto” period, local restaurants will be offering typical Orvieto menus.

When: October 18-26 2008

Where: Perugia

Eurochocolate http://www.eurochocolate.com/
Eurochocolate a great event dedicated to the lovers of the “ Food of the Gods”, which every year transforms the squares and the historic center of Perugia into a lively open-air chocolate shop. Amateur and semi-professional workshops, tastings, exhibitions and other events are held in the historic town center. This is a unique, varied festival, which features the biggest names in Italian and international confectionary making.