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The Art of Italian Living

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magic lemon pudding on blue plate

PROOF IN THE PUDDING
MAGIC LEMON PUDDING {GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE RECIPE}

savory-easter-tart

SAVORY EASTER TART
TORTA SALATA PASQUALE

bittersweet love salad

BITTERSWEET LOVE {SALAD}
Blood Orange, Arugula & Red Onion Salad

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February 15, 2020 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

PROOF IN THE PUDDING
MAGIC LEMON PUDDING {GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE RECIPE}

magic lemon pudding on blue plate

Once in a blue moon, I come across a recipe that surprises me. This Magic Lemon Pudding is one of those. When my food writing mentor and friend, Tori Ritchie, posted a genius recipe for Lemon Meringue Pudding on her blog, I was intrigued. She found it in her mother’s recipe box and it was an…

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April 18, 2019 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

SAVORY EASTER TART
TORTA SALATA PASQUALE

savory-easter-tart

Easter is a time of new beginnings. Of transformation and rebirth. So, why not give a traditional dish new life with a modern update? That’s precisely what I was thinking when I did a riff on the classic Italian Easter pie, Torta Pasqualina, to create my Savory Easter Tart. Don’t get me wrong—I love Torta Pasqualina with…

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February 14, 2019 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

BITTERSWEET LOVE {SALAD}
Blood Orange, Arugula & Red Onion Salad

bittersweet love salad

For lovers around the world, Valentine’s Day is a giddy time to celebrate shared love with hearts and flowers, candy and candle-lit dinners. But what about those of us who are love-less? The ones who lost love, were betrayed in love, or for whom love never even bothered to show up. You know, the kind…

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January 21, 2019 By Deborah Dal Fovo 2 Comments

Ribollita
Tuscan Bread & Vegetable Soup

ribollita with spoon

Brrrr, it’s cold outside. The perfect time to make a big pot of Ribollita, the iconic Florentine soup that appears on every restaurant menu in Tuscany and beyond each winter. In fact, it’s so popular that the entire Tuscan region has adopted it as its own. Ribollita is the queen of la cucina povera Toscana—Tuscan peasant cooking—and…

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February 13, 2017 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day Dinner:
Beet Pasta Ravioli with Ricotta and Radicchio Filling

Beet Pasta Ravioli with Ricotta and Radicchio Filling

How do I love thee? Let me count the ravioli. Seriously, there’s no better way to say “I love you” than with a plate of handmade pasta lovingly crafted and offered as a token of your affection. After all, you put a little bit of yourself into every bite by kneading, rolling and shaping the…

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January 27, 2017 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

Patience and persimmons
Persimmon and Pecan Bread

Persimmon and Pecan Bread - Hachiya persimmon pulp is the star ingredient in this irresistibly fragrant fruit and nut bread.

It’s often said that patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait. This is especially true when it comes to Hachiya persimmons, an obscure and misunderstood winter fruit known as kaki to the Japanese and cachi to Italians. These persimmons are often confused with the flatter Fuyu variety that is eaten firm…

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December 20, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo 2 Comments

Sweet Italian Christmas:
Panettone Filled with Whipped Cream, Chocolate and Hazelnuts

Most Italians would agree with me when I say that it wouldn’t be Christmas without Panettone. This golden dome-shaped sweet bread studded with raisins, candied orange peel and citron, that traditionally makes its appearance for Christmas and New Year, is a must to celebrate the holidays in Italy. You see them everywhere from artisan bakery windows to specialty stores and supermarkets, wrapped in…

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November 5, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

Tuscany in California: Schiacciata con l’uva
Tuscan Grape Focaccia

Grape Focaccia - Schiacciata con l'uva: A sweet wine harvest flatbread from Tuscany made with layers of bread dough filled and topped with wine harvest grapes and sugar. When baked, the grapes and sugar meld together to create a jammy center with crunchy seeds. Simply deliziosa!

When I lived in Tuscany, autumn’s arrival each year was heralded by a sudden flurry of activity in the countryside. The spell of summer’s lazy lull was broken by a revived energy as locals awakened from their sleepy trance eager to return to normal routine. One of the first signs of this risveglio was the annual wine harvest called la vendemmia. As if beckoned by the waving of a flag at the starting…

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October 16, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

An Ode to Pasta:
Straw and Hay Pasta with Truffles

An Ode to Pasta - Handmade egg and spinach pasta ribbons simply dressed with butter sauce and adorned with fragrant truffle shavings is the ultimate delicacy and ode to pasta.

Today, October 17, is National Pasta Day! To celebrate, I’m honored to partner with premier Italian cookware maker Lagostina for my first ever giveaway. I’m giving a Lagostina Martellata Hammered Copper Pastaiola, like the one you see in this post, to one of lucky readers/followers (a $249.99 retail value!!). Lagostina gave me one of these beautiful pots to make my recipe for pasta day…

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October 14, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo 12 Comments

Lagostina Giveaway:
Martellata Hammered Copper Pastaiola

Lagostina Martellata Hammered Copper Pastaiola

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER LACRECIA AND STAY TUNED FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS ON THE BLOG… Happy National Pasta Day! I’m excited to be celebrating by partnering with premier Italian cookware maker Lagostina for a giveaway of one of their prestigious products. This gorgeous Lagostina Martellata Hammered Copper Pastaiola will look great in your kitchen. Better yet, you…

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September 23, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo 2 Comments

Sweet September:
Pork Tenderloin with Figs and Balsamic Sauce

A funny thing happened last week while I was thinking about writing this recipe post: my friend Dorothy invited me to an impromptu dinner at her house. I jumped in my car and headed down the hill before remembering her mention that the fig tree in her garden was particularly bountiful this year. So I turned around and went home to grab…

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August 30, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo Leave a Comment

Savoring Summer
Baked Sunset Peaches with Amaretti Filling

Baked Sunset Peaches with Amaretti Filling - Yellow peach halves are filled with fragrant ground almonds, sugar and fruit pulp then baked until luscious and gloriously golden with ruby red rims.

When I was a little girl, I used to play a secret game at the dinner table. I would identify my favorite food on the plate and save a bit of it off to one side to enjoy last. I wanted the special taste to linger in my mouth—and in my mind—after the meal ended. When dinner was almost over,…

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August 27, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo 3 Comments

Love & Pasta
Spaghetti all’Amatriciana

Spaghetti all'Amatriciana - This world reknowned dish hails from the town of Amatrice and was adopted by Rome as one of its signature dishes. It's made with cured pork jowl bacon, tomatoes, garlic and - of course - spaghetti or bucatini. Simply deliziosa!

Everyone knows the world famous Pasta all’Amatriciana. You’ve most likely eaten it at your favorite Italian restaurant or (if you were lucky) during a trip to Rome, the city that adopted it as its own. But you probably didn’t know that this pasta dish—one of Italy’s greatest—originated in the ancient, hillside town of Amatrice located in central Italy 140 kilometers from Rome….

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August 15, 2016 By Deborah Dal Fovo 2 Comments

The Sweet Taste of Summer
Peperonata Crostini

Peperonata Crostini – Colorful, sweet and tangy Peperonata makes a vibrant and tasty topping for toasted bread as an irresistible appetizer.

When life gives you peppers, you make Peperonata. Then you make Peperonata Crostini to accompany a pre-dinner glass of wine to tease the taste buds and get the party started. That’s exactly what I did this summer in Italy. We invited last minute guests to dinner and I needed bite size appetizers to serve with the aperitivi. When my friend…

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ABOUT ME:

Ciao, I'm Italian chef & cooking expert Deborah Dal Fovo and welcome to my world! In this blog I share my art of creating the beautiful lifestyle known as "la bella vita". Enjoy! Read More…

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“TASTE TRENTINO!” CULINARY TOUR:

collage-trentino-500 Join me for TASTE TRENTINO CULINARY TOUR, my 7-day/6-night gastronomic adventure in the breathtaking Italian Alps from September 6-12, 2020. Reserve your spot now!
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Get Inspired! Follow La Bella Vita.

LATEST INSTAGRAMS:

Italian “Polpette di Lesso” ~ or meatballs mad Italian “Polpette di Lesso” ~ or meatballs made with boiled meats instead of raw ~ are an ingeniously way to repurpose meats leftover from homemade broth making that are usually discarded. I prepared these flattened meatballs with the boiled chicken and beef from the broth I made for my recent Classic Italian Soups class. Chopped finely and mixed with mashed boiled potato, bread, milk and bound with egg and Parmigiano, the meatballs/patties are formed, coated in breadcrumbs and fried until deep golden and crisp on the outside and soft and savory on the inside. Served as is or to dip in a zesty tomato sauce, these are often served with a pre-dinner glass of wine or ~ as per their origin during lean times ~ a poor man’s protein-rich second course. 

Italians are famous for “l’arte di arrangiarsi” (the art of making do) and know how to stretch ingredients to produce multiple meals. It’s an art that was born out of necessity and perfected by savvy, creative cooks 💚. 

See the procedure in my IG Stories/Highlights.

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#polpette#meatballs#polpettedilesso#italiansdoeatbetter#recycle#leftovers
Started 2021 on a healthy note by teaching my “C Started 2021 on a healthy note by teaching my “Classic Italian Soups” class yesterday online. That left me with not one, but three delicious and nutritious soups* to savor all week. Talk about a health win-win. In Italy, a popular rhyme goes: "per campare quanta vuoi, zuppa prima e zuppa poi”, meaning if you want to live a long life, eat soup first and again later. I agree and especially when made with homemade broth (that contains lots of miraculous nutrients), organic vegetables, and Parmigiana Reggiano (an Italian superfood). So, give your body the love it deserves ~ in a bowl and eaten with a spoon 🥣. 

Make some homemade Italian soup this week and stay safe and healthy! 💚

*soups from my class seen here are: minestrone di verdure, pasta e ceci, and stracciatella.

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#soup#zuppa#italiansoups#eatyoursoup#zuppeitaliane#foodislove
I’m “pazza per pizza” (crazy for pizza 🤪) I’m “pazza per pizza” (crazy for pizza 🤪) and thrilled to host my 3rd “Neapolitan Pizza at Home” online cooking class on Saturday, January 23 ❤️. It’s one of my most popular classes and I get great satisfaction seeing photos (and thank you notes) of my students’ results in the days and weeks following class. They simply can’t believe it is so doable to get authentic pizzeria quality results at home. All it takes are basic ingredients (you provide those), good recipes (I provide these), and lots of pizza-making insider knowledge and skills (I teach you these). 

So...if you’re crazy for pizza, join me on Jan. 23 and learn how to turn your home kitchen into an Italian pizzeria 🇮🇹👌🍕. 
Link in bio for details and tickets. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#onlinecookingclasses#italiancookingclass#pizza#pizzeria#pizzaiolo#neapolitanpizza#pizzamargherita#pizzarecipe#reels#cookingvideo#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#nytcooking
Join me this Sunday, January 17 for my online cook Join me this Sunday, January 17 for my online cooking class “Classic Italian Soups” when I will teach you how to make 3 iconic zuppe italiane to nurture your body + soul all winter long.
🥣
First on the menu is Minestrone di Verdure, the “big” pot of mixed vegetable soup that is a rich cornucopia of colors, flavors, textures and delicious + nutritious one-pot wonder of goodness. Minestrone changes with seasonal vegetable offerings and is very versatile with additions of rice, pasta, and day-old bread. Never boring, it’s the one soup recipe you should have in your cold weather cooking repertoire. 
🥣
There are more beloved soups on the class menu, as well as homemade broth making tips, so click on the link in bio to participate and I’ll show you how to cook up some Italian this winter 💚. See you on Sunday!

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#soup#soupmaking#recipes#zuppe#minestrone#vegetablesoup#vegetarian#vegan#eatyourvegetables#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#eater#learntocook#healthyliving
Soup’s on🥣! Join me on Sunday, January 17 for Soup’s on🥣! Join me on Sunday, January 17 for my online cooking class “Classic Italian Soups” when we will cook up 3 beloved Zuppe Italiane that are absolute musts in your winter cooking repertoire. These comforting classics are healthy, hearty, and nutrient rich with variations that stretch into multiple meals and all #vegetarian friendly. 

Start 2021 on a clean, conscious-eating path with delicious and nutritious classic Italian soups that are just what the doctor (and mamma) ordered : ).

Tap the link in my bio for more info and to reserve your spot https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#soup#itsliandoups#classicitaliancooking#soupson#zuppeitaliane#yum
Happy New Cooking Classes! I’m excited to get b Happy New Cooking Classes!

I’m excited to get back into the kitchen after a brief yet restful holiday break and have added lots of delicious online classes to my winter calendar, including all time favorites and brand new topics. 

The winter season kicks off with next Sunday’s “Classic Italian Soups” class on Jan. 17 to warm your hearts and souls during the chilly months. From there it’s pizza, pasta, new Italian Sunday Suppers (home cooked family dinners), Italian Carnevale Sweets (chiacchiere + tortelli oh my!), and a Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner to romance your special someone (or yourself!). 

Hope you will join me and, as always, I look forward to cooking with you. Tap the link in my bio to see all classes and reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

❤️ from my kitchen to yours,
Deborah

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#homecooking#onlinecookingclasses#onlineclasses#italiancookingclass
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ITALY CULINARY TOUR:

taste trentino Join me for TASTE TRENTINO CULINARY TOUR, my 7-day/6-night gastronomic adventure in the Italian Alps from September 6-12, 2020. Reserve your spot now!
See More →

RECENT POSTS:

  • PROOF IN THE PUDDING
    MAGIC LEMON PUDDING {GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE RECIPE}
  • SAVORY EASTER TART
    TORTA SALATA PASQUALE
  • BITTERSWEET LOVE {SALAD}
    Blood Orange, Arugula & Red Onion Salad
  • Ribollita
    Tuscan Bread & Vegetable Soup

POPULAR POSTS:

magic lemon pudding on blue plate

PROOF IN THE PUDDING
MAGIC LEMON PUDDING {GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE RECIPE}

savory-easter-tart

SAVORY EASTER TART
TORTA SALATA PASQUALE

bittersweet love salad

BITTERSWEET LOVE {SALAD}
Blood Orange, Arugula & Red Onion Salad

ribollita with spoon

Ribollita
Tuscan Bread & Vegetable Soup

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Italian “Polpette di Lesso” ~ or meatballs mad Italian “Polpette di Lesso” ~ or meatballs made with boiled meats instead of raw ~ are an ingeniously way to repurpose meats leftover from homemade broth making that are usually discarded. I prepared these flattened meatballs with the boiled chicken and beef from the broth I made for my recent Classic Italian Soups class. Chopped finely and mixed with mashed boiled potato, bread, milk and bound with egg and Parmigiano, the meatballs/patties are formed, coated in breadcrumbs and fried until deep golden and crisp on the outside and soft and savory on the inside. Served as is or to dip in a zesty tomato sauce, these are often served with a pre-dinner glass of wine or ~ as per their origin during lean times ~ a poor man’s protein-rich second course. 

Italians are famous for “l’arte di arrangiarsi” (the art of making do) and know how to stretch ingredients to produce multiple meals. It’s an art that was born out of necessity and perfected by savvy, creative cooks 💚. 

See the procedure in my IG Stories/Highlights.

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#polpette#meatballs#polpettedilesso#italiansdoeatbetter#recycle#leftovers
Started 2021 on a healthy note by teaching my “C Started 2021 on a healthy note by teaching my “Classic Italian Soups” class yesterday online. That left me with not one, but three delicious and nutritious soups* to savor all week. Talk about a health win-win. In Italy, a popular rhyme goes: "per campare quanta vuoi, zuppa prima e zuppa poi”, meaning if you want to live a long life, eat soup first and again later. I agree and especially when made with homemade broth (that contains lots of miraculous nutrients), organic vegetables, and Parmigiana Reggiano (an Italian superfood). So, give your body the love it deserves ~ in a bowl and eaten with a spoon 🥣. 

Make some homemade Italian soup this week and stay safe and healthy! 💚

*soups from my class seen here are: minestrone di verdure, pasta e ceci, and stracciatella.

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#soup#zuppa#italiansoups#eatyoursoup#zuppeitaliane#foodislove
I’m “pazza per pizza” (crazy for pizza 🤪) I’m “pazza per pizza” (crazy for pizza 🤪) and thrilled to host my 3rd “Neapolitan Pizza at Home” online cooking class on Saturday, January 23 ❤️. It’s one of my most popular classes and I get great satisfaction seeing photos (and thank you notes) of my students’ results in the days and weeks following class. They simply can’t believe it is so doable to get authentic pizzeria quality results at home. All it takes are basic ingredients (you provide those), good recipes (I provide these), and lots of pizza-making insider knowledge and skills (I teach you these). 

So...if you’re crazy for pizza, join me on Jan. 23 and learn how to turn your home kitchen into an Italian pizzeria 🇮🇹👌🍕. 
Link in bio for details and tickets. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#onlinecookingclasses#italiancookingclass#pizza#pizzeria#pizzaiolo#neapolitanpizza#pizzamargherita#pizzarecipe#reels#cookingvideo#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#nytcooking
Join me this Sunday, January 17 for my online cook Join me this Sunday, January 17 for my online cooking class “Classic Italian Soups” when I will teach you how to make 3 iconic zuppe italiane to nurture your body + soul all winter long.
🥣
First on the menu is Minestrone di Verdure, the “big” pot of mixed vegetable soup that is a rich cornucopia of colors, flavors, textures and delicious + nutritious one-pot wonder of goodness. Minestrone changes with seasonal vegetable offerings and is very versatile with additions of rice, pasta, and day-old bread. Never boring, it’s the one soup recipe you should have in your cold weather cooking repertoire. 
🥣
There are more beloved soups on the class menu, as well as homemade broth making tips, so click on the link in bio to participate and I’ll show you how to cook up some Italian this winter 💚. See you on Sunday!

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#soup#soupmaking#recipes#zuppe#minestrone#vegetablesoup#vegetarian#vegan#eatyourvegetables#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#eater#learntocook#healthyliving
Soup’s on🥣! Join me on Sunday, January 17 for Soup’s on🥣! Join me on Sunday, January 17 for my online cooking class “Classic Italian Soups” when we will cook up 3 beloved Zuppe Italiane that are absolute musts in your winter cooking repertoire. These comforting classics are healthy, hearty, and nutrient rich with variations that stretch into multiple meals and all #vegetarian friendly. 

Start 2021 on a clean, conscious-eating path with delicious and nutritious classic Italian soups that are just what the doctor (and mamma) ordered : ).

Tap the link in my bio for more info and to reserve your spot https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#soup#itsliandoups#classicitaliancooking#soupson#zuppeitaliane#yum
Happy New Cooking Classes! I’m excited to get b Happy New Cooking Classes!

I’m excited to get back into the kitchen after a brief yet restful holiday break and have added lots of delicious online classes to my winter calendar, including all time favorites and brand new topics. 

The winter season kicks off with next Sunday’s “Classic Italian Soups” class on Jan. 17 to warm your hearts and souls during the chilly months. From there it’s pizza, pasta, new Italian Sunday Suppers (home cooked family dinners), Italian Carnevale Sweets (chiacchiere + tortelli oh my!), and a Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner to romance your special someone (or yourself!). 

Hope you will join me and, as always, I look forward to cooking with you. Tap the link in my bio to see all classes and reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/italian-chef-inc-30242848340

❤️ from my kitchen to yours,
Deborah

#italianchef#italiancooking#italianfood#cookitalian#cookingclass#italyincalifornia#deborahcooks#deborahsitaliankitchen#food#foodandwine#food52#nytimescooking#bonappetit#marthastewart#lacucinaitalianausa#homecooking#onlinecookingclasses#onlineclasses#italiancookingclass
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