We are excited to present a day dedicated to Italian cuisine and culture on Tuesday, May 23 at the CIA at Copia (The Culinary Institute of America). Join us for demonstrations and dinner featuring exceptional Italian chefs.
Event organized in cooperation with the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.
All events will take place at CIA at Copia, 500 1st Street, Napa, CA 94559.
PROGRAM
Tuesday, May 23 | 1-2:30 PM
Artisanal Italian Foods for the Modern Table with Viola Buitoni
Balsamico, Burrata, and Bottarga—Uncooked and Fabulous
Italy’s artisanal ingredients are born out of centuries of tradition and the wisdom of tight-knit communities who learned how to the harness the local environment into a sustainable production of long-lasting provision. Even though these products are globally available to chefs, they are still shrouded in mystery for many home cooks. Join Chef Viola Buitoni in the Napa Valley Vintners Theater as she demystifies iconic foods and invites you to open your mind and kitchen to their bold, inimitable flavor.
You’ll focus on three important ingredients—balsamico, burrata, and bottarga—through Viola’s personal stories, professional experiences, and demonstrations and tastings of simple recipes. You’ll get shopping tips and sources, and Viola will answer all your questions. At the end of the event, you’ll receive a handout with the recipes and information on sourcing ingredients so you can try them in your own kitchen.
About Chef Viola Buitoni
Viola Buitoni is an Italian-born, California-based cooking instructor, and food writer. In 2020, the President of the Italian Republic honored her with the title of Cavliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for her work furthering the culture and business of Italian food. Viola teaches Italian cooking at various locations in San Francisco and leads immersive food tours in off-the-beaten-path Italy. Her new book, Italy by Ingredient–Artisanal Foods/Modern Recipe, is available for pre-order and will be released by Rizzoli on September 12, 2023.
$65 per person | Current members of the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco receive a 10% discount. Email: contact.sanfrancisco@esteri.it to get the discount code.
Tuesday, May 23 | 3-4 PM
Gelato: A Sensory Journey with Chef Patrizia Pasqualetti
The process of making gelato with a demo and tasting at CIA at Copia.
From the pungent flavor of chocolate to the sweetness of strawberry, when you make gelato with these ingredients, their taste, color, and smell remain unchanged in your memory. Join Chef Patrizia Pasqualetti, a leading authority on gelato making, for a sensory journey through the process of making gelato—observing, touching, smelling, and tasting the products that are used to create exceptional gelato.
Chef Patrizia will lead a demonstration in our Hestan Teaching Kitchen, taking you from the start to final product, showing you the tools, importance of ingredients, and recipes that can inspire you to make this treat on your own. And, of course, you’ll get to sample some amazing gelato.
About Chef Patrizia Pasqualetti
Patrizia Pasqualetti is a second-generation gelato chef. She learned the art of making gelato from her father, Giuseppe, who, back in 1980, opened his first gelateria in Orvieto, Italy. Even though he tried his hardest to keep his two daughters, Patrizia and Graziella, far from what he considered a man’s job, he had to let his stubborn girls in his lab, teaching them his passion and creating what nowadays is a family tradition. With her sister Graziella, Patrizia has always dreamed of taking her family tradition beyond Orvieto’s walls. In the mid-2010s, Patrizia moved to Northern California and began exporting what today is an internationally recognized brand.
$45 per person | Current members of the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco receive a 10% discount. Email: contact.sanfrancisco@esteri.it to get the discount code.
Tuesday, May 23 | Reception 6 PM, Dinner 6:30-8 PM
Homage to Italy Dinner with Chefs Patrizia Pasqualetti and Viola Buitoni
An exclusive dining experience in the Hestan Teaching Kitchen celebrating Italian cuisine & culture with special guest chefs.
Join us for an exclusive, intimate dining experience in the Hestan Teaching Kitchen celebrating Italian cuisine and culture with special guests Patrizia Pasqualetti and Viola Buitoni. Experience includes reception and dinner. Chefs Patrizia and Viola will be showcasing a menu of authentic Italian specialties using fresh, California ingredients. Price is inclusive of wine, tax, and gratuity.
$95 per person | Current members of the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco receive a 10% discount. Email: contact.sanfrancisco@esteri.it to get the discount code.
At CIA, more than 90 percent of students receive scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Your patronage helps support this important priority, ensuring students can realize their dreams of attending the world’s premier culinary college.