Valentine’s Day Pasta Tour – 4 Cities, Endless Love! What a fun, novel way to spend Valentine’s Day. I took one of my besties, he loved the idea and has been in the restaurant business in the past – so we both were very excited.They had some nice prosecco to start and cheese, cured meats, crostini, and grapes, while we were getting acquainted. Most of the event goers were couples, so that part was so nice. To see romance in the room with a special twist, learning how to make pasta, specifically Tortellini. This is a complicated pasta to make, but Chef Francesco made it so simple, guiding us through every step! We first had to blend the flour and the egg into a firm ball. Usually, you would get the dough to rest, but once we had ours kneaded, he gave us some other premade dough that was ready to go. Each table had a self-cranking pasta maker. You had to use some muscle to get the dough through this machine. You started on one numbered notch and by the time you were done with your pasta you went through 7 notches. You pretty much have to see your fingers through the dough once it is stretched out and has gone through the pasta making machine. There also are electric pasta making machines, but we did not have that luxury. Once the pasta was ready to go, we cut it down the middle long ways and then made small squares. The filling was kind of a secret, but I figured it was parsley, ricotta cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. So, you fill your squares then fold them into partial triangles then fold them into tortellini. It was super fun and a great learning experience. The Chef then took all of our made tortellini’s to the kitchen, cooked them, and we sat down to a communal table. We first were served 4 tortellini’s with a very simple butter and sage sauce. There was also a nice green salad, filled with lots of exotic greens, and sweet tomatoes. We were allowed to go back to the table for seconds on the pasta, but when I turned back around to view the table the pasta was gone. I did feel very satisfied with the dinner, the only thing I can say that would have been a bonus since it was Valentine’s Day – would have been to had a heart shaped chocolate as a sweet treat at the end. I met some great people, everyone having their own stories of romance.
I loved the hands-on care from Chef Francesco Allegro, he came to every table and made sure that you had his technique of stuffing the pasta. He was very sweet and made everyone comfortable.
Next time you want to cook Italian creations check out Impastiamo Cooking Classes, you too will be so glad you did!
There other V-Day events were:
Tagliolini in New York City with chef Paolo F.
Cavatelli in San Diego with chef Gian Paolo Croce.
Pappardelle in San Francisco with chef Maria Luisa Manca.
I am so hooked, got to find my next class!
Hudson Studios – Hollywood, 1106 N Hudson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA
About The Chef:
Hailing from Canosa di Puglia, Italy, Chef Francesco Allegro learned pasta-making from his grandfather, shaping toasted wheat troccoli by hand. Francesco’s culinary journey took him across Italy’s top kitchens, where he mastered the art of pasta before moving to Los Angeles. Now, as head sfoglino at Rossoblu, he brings authentic Italian pasta to life. Through his company, Truffle Dealers, Francesco shares his love for truffle-packed sauces with the L.A. community, blending his Italian roots with a modern flair.
ABOUT IMPASTIAMO
IMPASTIAMO classes make cooking fun, easy and enjoyable–no matter your skill level.
Whether it’s an online or in-person cooking event, our chefs from around the world will WOW you with tips, tricks and techniques so you can share in their culture and enjoy a mouthwatering dish that you made with your own hands.
Founded in the spring of 2020 by Silvia Carluccio, formerly at Live Nation Entertainment, we set out to pair our love of food with our love of music–a consistent theme in all of our cooking class experiences.
Since then, we’ve hosted over 350 cooking classes. We’ve proudly supported over thirty small businesses including restaurants, private chefs and nonprofits in this time, and that number continues to grow.
OUR MISSION
Our love affair with food drives us to promote sustainability, diversity and culture in our communities–starting in the kitchen. Our goal is to share our passion for cooking with you and to inspire our community to combat food waste. Together, we can make a difference.
Team Building & Private Classes
Private cooking classes and corporate team building experiences are fully customizable.
Ingredients kits available upon request.
Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a couple dinner, Father’s Day, or simply miss your friends, let us set up a private cooking class with you with any chef around the world.
