Experience the “Italian Good Life” on Your Next Girls Getaway

The pasta dish was sheer simplicity and yet so delicious. “Why can’t I cook like this?” I thought to myself, as I tasted Chef Massimo Bruno’s Orecchiette with Rapini
 during a “Taste of Italy” dinner event held in his Toronto kitchen studio.

Made in minutes with only a few ingredients, the pasta was a perfect introduction to what Chef Massimo calls the “Italian Good Life” which he believes must always involve food. The rest of the evening was spent living the life, we ate, we drank wine and we laughed. It was good. In fact, it was better than good it was bellissimo.

If you would like a taste of Massimo’s passion for Italy, you can sign up for a dinner event by visiting his website at massimobruno.com. Better yet, if you truly want to immerse yourself in the Italian Good Life, join Massimo as he tours through his home region of Puglia. He is leading an eight-day tour in September for a small group of 10 to 12 guests.

You’ll be able to travel off the beaten path, eat rustic food, drink vino with new friends, and relax knowing there’s no place else to be, but at a table somewhere in southern Italy, stuffing your face. With luxurious accommodations provided by Masseria Furnarola, a visit to Massimo’s mom’s taverna, olive oil tasting, cooking classes and Massimo’s charming company you’ll definitely be living the good life.

Here’s a quick glimpse of the itinerary:

• Seven night’s accommodation in 4-Star Masseria Fumarola, based on double occupancy

• Daily Italian breakfast (pastries, meats, cheeses, coffee)

• Welcome dinner at a local pizzeria

• 2 Hands-on cooking classes (after shopping locally for ingredients)

• Olive oil tasting at Caroli Olive Farm

• Cheese making demonstration at a local dairy

• Wine tasting at Albea Winery with cheese and salami

• Excursion to Matera with lunch at a local Salumeria

• Excursion to Lecce with lunch at an important historical home

• Italian feast at Massimo’s mom’s house (homemade pasta and more!)

• Panzerottata dinner at the farm with family and friends

Massimo kindly sent me the recipe for the Rapini Pasta so we can all enjoy a little taste of Italy at home. Mangi!

Orecchiette with Rapini
 


1 lb Orecchiette


2 Bunches Rapini


4 Garlic cloves
 (chopped)

1/3 cup olive oil


2 tbsp coarse sea salt
 


Bring a large pasta pot filled with water to a boil.
 Remove half inch of stem from the rapini, then cut the bunch in half and rinse with water. 
Once water comes to a boil add the rapini and cover, when the water comes back to a boil  add the pasta and cook according to the cooking pasta instructions for approx 15 minutes (taste to be sure, cooking time may vary). 
Meanwhile add oil into a large skillet at medium heat.  
Add chopped garlic cloves and cook lightly (don’t burn it), lower the heat if necessary.
 When pasta is ready, with a spider or large slotted spoon transfer pasta and rapini into the garlic sauce, cook on medium heat and mix well for a couple of minutes, add a half cup of pasta cooking water if it looks too dry.
 Serve with a nice of drizzle of olive oil!