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February 16, 2008 The Club Chefs of Connecticut enjoyed a Gastronomic/Educational tour through Italy in early February and would like to thank a number of individuals for whom this trip would not have been possible, First and foremost, Chris Pappas from Dairyland whose great producers in Spoleto, Umbria and Parma treated us like family. John Epprecht and the fine people at Slocum & Sons who were instrumental in setting up some delicious tastings at Lamborghini Winery in Panicarola where Margherita Alberati gave us the full tour and the Badia a Coltibuono in Chianti where we held a hands on cooking demo with Chef Guido Stucchi Prinetti. Marcos Petrini for organizing our accommodations in Spoleto, Zefferino Monini and his staff Raffaella Bassitto and Michele Labarile where we held a tasting of seasonal olive oils, lecture/slide show and tour of their facility. Olga Urbani, Owner of Urbani Truffles in Umbria who pulled out the red carpet as we enjoyed a great lunch made with the famous Urbani Truffles and who cares more about her family history, employees and quality products than anything else. Urbani Cooperate Chef Angelo Maria Franchini for your warm welcoming at the Frantoia Farmhouse in Spoleto where we prepared our first feast together of garlic studded leg of lamb, prosciutto-provolone wrapped radicchio and milk braised fennel. Carlo and Mirella Galloni of Fratelli Galloni Prosciutto in Parma gave us an incredible tour of their amazing facility and cellar that can only be likened to a fine wine cave surrounded by thousands of the finest Prosciutto you’ve ever seen. Carlo hand sliced his precious commodity on a Berkel while Italian music wafted through rows of the finished product, we raised a glass of Prosecco as if to give a final farewell after a long 18 month stay and cheered to its success. Gloria Morosillo our guide through Rome who’s knowledge and passion made us all want to live there, Nicola Zangi, who saved our trip in more ways than one, Saige Decker for her hours on the phone and countless e-mails, Annette our Travel Agent, Jeff Seiden for being a friend and a middleman only because he knows us, and Alessandro our courteous driver for this trip would not have been possible. Words cannot describe the experience we now hold with us as well as the newly found relationships forged along the way, for those that were not able to attend we’re sorry and understand that time is precious, perhaps in the future. Keep an eye our website for all of the great photos that were taken on the trip!
Our Next Educational Journey will take place on: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Bob Richter, owner of Empire Coffee at Waterfront Coffee Roasters in Port Chester NY. will be hosting a presentation to our group. We will tour the roasting facility and spend time in the “cupping lab” with a certified coffee grader to observe the art of grading, blending and cupping coffees. This is an art that all chefs should know. Afterwards we will enjoy a three course luncheon at Sonora Restaurant which is owned by Executive Chef/Author Rafael Palomino who is also chef/owner of the Pacifico Restaurants in Port Chester and New Haven. He has recently taken over the former Boxing Cat in Riverside to open his newest venture, Palomino. Chef Palomino has worked with some of the industry greats, from Michel Guerard in Eugenie-les-Bains to Jonathan Waxman at Jams and at Larry Forgiones’ American Place. Time: 9:00 A.M. As always, thank you for your ongoing commitment to our great organization. Mark LeMoult
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