Corsi & Eventi

I had the most delightful time spending a day cooking with Monica (Tortellini & Co) while we were in Italy. Not only did Monica go through the steps for making some beautiful traditional dishes but she talked about the history of them, the local farming and food supply networks, something I am very happy to learn about. We chatted and cooked and I came away with so much knowledge and some new skills. I was very appreciative of her time and so happy I went. Well worth it!

Such a great day! Cooking, eating, shopping… and all with Monica’s informative narrative of Bologna, its architecture, customs, and of course: il cibo! Monica is a treasure. Molto divertente!!

This was the highlight of our recent visit to northern italy. The day before the cooking class we met Monica at a local sunday morning market in the Piazza Aldrovandi in the quadrilatero. Our first stop was at a local coffee shop where we got to know Monica better, sample coffee and pastries, and got a feel for the local vibe before doing our shopping for the next day. Everywhere we went we met friends and neighbours of Monica, and, frequently their dogs as well. She seems to know everybody in her neighborhood. We had decided to cook local seasonal offerings, and found everything we needed at the stalls. Because Monica knew all of the stall owners and the market wasn’t too busy we were able to talk to the producers and take our time wandering around without a huge crush. There seemed to be very few tourists in this market early on a sunday morning amd it felt good to be with a local resident and to engage with the people we met ( and their dogs!)

The next morning we made our way to the country house for our cooking lesson. We were made to feel very welcome in this magical place that is an oasis just a few kilometers from the City. The weather was perfect, so we were able to relax in the garden with coffee and pastries, including some homemade by Monica, while we discussed the menu for the day. Once the class started we moved to the kitchen and made a lunch with several courses. Monica taught us in english, using stories of cooking with her mother and nonna amd local traditions to highlight her recipes and help learn more about the local cuisine. We ate our lunch in the old dining room and then adjourned back to the garden for a dessert of strawberries and gelato. Lunch was delicious and accompanied by a selection of very nice local wine The day flew by, we didn’ want to leave. We were very impressed with Monica, her enthusuasm is infectious, she made us feel welcome in her home, and she created an incredible experience. Monica was assisted by her friend, Francesca. We enjoyed watching Monica and Francesca work together and listening to their conversation. We are planning to return as soon as we can. The taxi got us back to central Bologna in about 30 minutes.

I brought a group of 12 women to Bologna from the US to experience the cuisine and culture of Emilia Romagna. Monica hosted a spectacular lunch for us, teaching us throughout the meal about what we were enjoying and its place in the food history of the region. My guests and I were welcomed with open arms by Monica, a warm and consummate hostess and storyteller. Later in the week she took us to Modena where we explored the market and learned about this fascinating and charming city. For lunch she shared a very special, almost “hidden” restaurant that was everything you want a trattoria to be. Monica’s extensive, passionate knowledge is infectious and upon arriving home to our kitchens we are all saying “what would Monica do?” I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is an incredible human, teacher, and guide. She is a rock star!