"Live with no regrets" is a hard thing to do when you've studied abroad. My one regret about this experience: coming home. One of the major problems I've faced is being able to re-accustom myself to Italian-American cooking. Coming from a long line of Italians, (many of which are terrific cooks) I can't stop longing for authentic Italian cuisine.
I studied abroad in Florence, Tuscany and took a course in food in wine pairing. This experience was purely for my own experience rather than a school requirement so I chose to take a course I'd enjoy. Giancarlo Russo was the instructor for my course and I wish I could have brought him back in my suitcase. Not only was he a great teacher, but he was also the best chef I have ever met. He has traveled in Europe, Asia and the Americas and has learned how to create all types of amazing delicacies.
Although he was well versed in several types of cuisine, we focused on Italian (specifically Tuscan) cooking. We made all types of dishes, spaghetti alle vongole or spaghetti with clam sauce, spaghetti alla carbonara, pappa al pomodoro or potato tomato soup and much more. One of the lessons he stressed most to the class was that Italian olive oil is good for you. As nave Americans, we assumed it's oil, so it must be inherently unhealthy. However, Giancarlo made it very clear that it is one of the few oils that can be consumed daily and actually benefit your health.
Naturally, this wasn't something I was willing to believe right off the bat. Instead, I decided to research further and make a decision for myself. The Global Healing Center published an article discussing this issue. The piece "The Health Benefits of Olive Oil" by Dr. Edward Group, lists the multiple benefits and uses of olive oil. I couldn't believe the old coot was right after all! Digging deeper, the Unaprol website provided me with even more information about the beneficial characteristics of the product. The Italian based company creates a high quality product full of Vitamin E and antioxidants.
I'll never forget the look everyone in class, including myself, gave Giancarlo when he walked around pouring a generous amount of oil into our pappa al pomodoro. He would always say, "trust Tio Giancarlo, trust!" And trust you should.
I studied abroad in Florence, Tuscany and took a course in food in wine pairing. This experience was purely for my own experience rather than a school requirement so I chose to take a course I'd enjoy. Giancarlo Russo was the instructor for my course and I wish I could have brought him back in my suitcase. Not only was he a great teacher, but he was also the best chef I have ever met. He has traveled in Europe, Asia and the Americas and has learned how to create all types of amazing delicacies.
Although he was well versed in several types of cuisine, we focused on Italian (specifically Tuscan) cooking. We made all types of dishes, spaghetti alle vongole or spaghetti with clam sauce, spaghetti alla carbonara, pappa al pomodoro or potato tomato soup and much more. One of the lessons he stressed most to the class was that Italian olive oil is good for you. As nave Americans, we assumed it's oil, so it must be inherently unhealthy. However, Giancarlo made it very clear that it is one of the few oils that can be consumed daily and actually benefit your health.
Naturally, this wasn't something I was willing to believe right off the bat. Instead, I decided to research further and make a decision for myself. The Global Healing Center published an article discussing this issue. The piece "The Health Benefits of Olive Oil" by Dr. Edward Group, lists the multiple benefits and uses of olive oil. I couldn't believe the old coot was right after all! Digging deeper, the Unaprol website provided me with even more information about the beneficial characteristics of the product. The Italian based company creates a high quality product full of Vitamin E and antioxidants.
I'll never forget the look everyone in class, including myself, gave Giancarlo when he walked around pouring a generous amount of oil into our pappa al pomodoro. He would always say, "trust Tio Giancarlo, trust!" And trust you should.
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For more information related to olive oil, for Italian cooking or otherwise, please consult Unaprol.
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