The Italian Cook-off at APB Studios.

I was being transported from the sets of Rachel Allen bake, to reliving the Scarlett Johansson Jon Favreau’s famous ‘Chef moment and after a while I felt like I was at a cheeky teenage slumber production. That’s pretty much sums up my experience at the Italian Cook-off at The APB Studios hosted by the celebrity food blogger Rushina M Ghildiyal and Ritu Gorai JAMM’S founder.

The Rachel Allen Bake experience.. I am someone who loves watching foods shows over soaps. One of my favorite is the Rachel Allen Bake.. where the cookery school students have their own little portions of dough to work with. I always wanted to be able to learn like that. The cooking experience at APB was just not a demo with a bla recipe but we got to cook our own little focaccia. I was literally breaking bread with Rushina and 4 other mommy bloggers… 

 

 The Scarlett Johansson and Jon Favreau’s food seduction experience…  So Rushina takes center stage and announces. Toady am going to teach you a recipe that will get your man to do anything that you want.. EVER…. Discussions about solitaries and trips to the Alps were followed by the classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. She added her little variation of adding green garlic and green chilies by staying true to the use the produce in bloom philosophy . Soon we got to cook off our personal batches and sat down for lunch.

The teen age slumber production moment.. I blame it on the Garlic.. the infamous aphrodisiac, had 7 women who pretty much were strangers until few hours ago were busy discussing all things sex and boys.. Food really does that to people. It brings them closer and an impersonal space like the APB Studios is instrumental in creating food memories. 

  

This was my second visit to the APB and am such a fan of the sheer versatility of the space. APB is famous for arranging cook off by chefs from all over the world to hosting book launches. From an hands on, how to cook experiences, to hosting a little cook your own pizza and cupcake party for kids birthdays. The possibilities are endless.. 

Apart from running her pet project, this full time mommy of two is also a gifted artist.

 To get in touch with APB and get on their mailing list of their upcoming events connect them here. And if you are a mom from Mumbai and are looking to be a part of a no- nonsense, socially responsible community dedicated just for moms get in touch with the fabulous Ritu Gorai @ JAMM’S.. 

I went back home with a signed copy of Rushina’s book,

A pinch of this, A handful of that.

From Nonna's Kitchen - Farfalle Al forno.

Last fall, I was in a quaint little ski town of Zell Am See falling in  the Salzburg region of Austria. Bag packing across central Europe this sleepy little town provided the little RnR I badly needed.

           

My last afternoon in Zell Am See and the weather was being unkind. It pored through the day and my plans to hike along the Schmittenhöhe were ruined. Left with no other option I decided to stay in. Seeking the comfort of some warm coco I went looking for my pension owner Petra.

Petra was out for the day and wasn’t expected before sundown, I was informed by a wrinkled old lady in her heavy Italian accent. The thought of spending the entire afternoon with only some German TV to keep me company was not the Zell Am See experience I had in mind. I tried to make small talk with the lady to see if she can fix me up some coco or may be indulge me in some small talk.. I was bored and desperate.

I went in looking for a small talk, but what I got in turn was a close insight into the Italian way of life. Turns out, she was Giulia, Petra’s Nonna, who was visiting her from Maratea, a small town from southern Italy. Sensing my boredom she extended her hospitality by inviting me over for dinner for the night. 

How often do you have an Italian grandmother cooking for you? Now that's what I love about travel, a surprise awaits you at every turn.

Over a glass of wine, we discussed cultures, cuisines and flavors. Time flew by, as witnessed her cook up a storm. I closely took notes as she shared secrets of Italian cuisine, men and marriage. An hour and a half in and our Al forno was already bubbling away in her humble oven. The room was filled with aromas of toasted herbs and fresh basil. My senses get tinted even today as I relive that day. There are meals and then there are experiences. This Pasta Al Porno is one such experience….

A prompt form Del Monte and the motivation for a chance to ride along the Tuscan sun was enough to compel me to document my rendition Nonna’s Al Forno. Keeping all her rules in place I tweaked it a little to suite my palate. 

Use fresh ingredients, never compromise on quality, use sparingly but only use the best, those are rules of Italian cooking. And working with Del Monte meant I stuck to them. The pasta from Del Monte held its texture and was easy to cook. It’s at par with the Gourmet range of pasta from Italy and is made from the best of ingredients. If Nonna was to try my Del Monte Al Forno, she would be proud of the results, for sure..

  

Farfelle Al Forno,

Is nothing but a pasta dish that is twice cooked. Pasta that is once boiled and then tossed into the sauce with addition of proteins or vegetables of choice and baked to gooey goodness. I particularly love this Pasta recipe as it suits the Indian palate perfectly. Plus its versatile, as long as you stay true to the flavors. Just remember to follow the tips to the T and you will do just fine…

Farfalle Al forno with a piquant crème tomato sauce and roasted peppers.

Feel free to download these retro style Recipe cards and share them with your loved ones...

best viewed in a PC or a tablet, if accessing through a cell phone kindly click on each card to enjoy a better view.

*Nonna’s mixed herbs

Like garam masala is to Indian cooking, mixed herbs are to Italian. Every kitchen has a different a permutation and combination of the herbs to suite their liking. Nonna’s combination was just perfect and as was I departing from Zell Am See she handed me a recipe of her secret herb mix. Here you have it....

Below is the video of the recipe to give you a quick idea of how it all comes together…

P.S. this was my first time editing the videos by m self, after a huge let down by my service provider yesterday and some bizarre glitches with my movie maker I managed to get it right, but not before I so embarrassingly published two bloopers...  

The Final Video, the one with everything in place:

#FacePalm1
The video where the Clips got exchanged
the narration Miraculously vanished:

#FacePalm2
And where the sound was just fine but the 

Clips disappeared :

well you learn something new everyday....

Italian food is all about experiences. Slowly savoring amazing food over good company and great conversations. Hope this recipe brings you closer to your loved ones and you make memories for life…