Liz and Frank: A day with Mamma Agata and family

One of the activities we were really looking forward to on this Italian fling was our cooking class with Mamma Agata and her daughter, Chiara. We were up early, didn't have breakfast (as Mamma had suggested) caught the public Sita bus back up to Ravello, and started following the map to Mamma Agata's.

We shared this route with a minute tractor

and continued heading down,

and down,

and down - it just got steeper !

and at this stage the thought of climbing back up this route from Mamma's after the promised 5 course feed !!

did cross our minds - more than once??

We have arrived

Mamma's house, and Pappa's garden from the outside

Chiara (Mamma's daughter) met us (she speaks english, Mamma does not, but during the day I decided Mamma understood every word.)

We started with a cup of coffee and a large slice of Mamma's Lemon cake

In their side garden - delish!!!

and waited for the other 4 class mates.

who we learned caught a taxi down the road from the bus stop - no map directions for them!!

We checked out more of Pappa's garden on the side of a cliff

Mamma runs the final quality control and time to pick - I think!!

Ready to start the class

Mamma smiles as she shows off some of Pappa's capsicums.

Our class mates were great, 2 girls from New York City, and another American and Canadian girl, both based in London.

Chiara's personality was so enthusiastic, and if she happened to forget anything, Mamma was there to remind her (in Italian, or maybe just "the look")

Mamma's approach is "elegant simplicity"

her little grand daughter even took part for a few minutes

Eggplants were at their peak in the garden

so after making the tomato sauce, came the eggplant rolls , tasting along the way of course - just so good.

and eggplant parmigiana

Next in line - the preparation for the sausage and red pepper pasta

many guidelines on what oil, when to add things, just so much info.

Next was Mamma's lemon chicken

and the Farmer's spaghetti

The family's Vigneron joins us, Chiara's husband, Gennaro.

His "vino rosso" had joined us a lot earlier !!!

It was such a good group, and Chiara was alive with information, and fortunately for all of us, we were given a full hand out with all the menus for the day, and Mamma's extraordinary "hints".