Day 23
My 21 students arrived at our apartment at 8:55 am for our 9 am start time! Following a brief quiz, I lectured on baking, gluten, and leavening – was a challenge since I didn’t have projection in my house, and the students were scattered throughout the downstairs. But we made it work! We began the lab experiment around 10 am and students worked diligently until 12:20 pm. I was exhausted. Brian, Greg, Anne, and Cam went out exploring during the time my students were here but arrived back at noon to cook a pasta lunch at home. At 1:15 pm we walked Anne and Cam to the Biblioteca Firenze to meet their AirBnB driver. Brian, Greg, and I then went in search of chocolate for my tasting in class tomorrow. We found what we were looking for at Vinchi which made it easy. The wind was quite strong and cold today – so they walk me part way to FUA so I could join my students for gelato making. We were treated to 4 different recipes for tasty treats – a cream-based gelato, chocolate gelato, strawberry gelato and a lemon-thyme sorbetta. Unfortunately, the $33K gelato machine was not cooperating, so it took a little longer than expect to freeze the concoctions – nonetheless, we were able to taste the cream and chocolate varieties – we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for the others. Our evening rounded out with a pizza tasting (an AirBnB experience that Anne booked for us all!) across the river in Santo Spiritu (I’Pizzacchiere). Along with Andrew and Emily (a couple we met from Philly), we enjoyed 8 different pizzas, delicious wine from our host (Alfredo’s) family vineyard, plus an outstanding dessert calzone filled with Nutella. OMG. We are stuffed and back home … last day of class tomorrow!