Until the age of 21, the only international trips I had ever taken were to India. Ok, that is a little bit of a stretch. I did go to Canada and Mexico, and while those destinations are considered “international,” they don’t really count in my book when I discuss where I have gone (at least I got stamps in my passport for those visits to Canada and Mexico, and that counts).

Villa Corsi-Salviati Florence, Italy

I would say my first “real” trip was during my last year of college when I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Barely speaking a lick of Italian and knowing no one, I found my way to the beautiful Villa Corsi-Salviati, which was my home for 5 months. Talk about being taken out of your comfort zone! Over the course of that time, I had the chance to make some lifelong friendships, eat amazing food, travel all over Europe, get better at speaking Italian and most importantly; uncover my very curious and adventurous spirit about the world. I remember my Dad would always ask me if I went to Florence to study or to travel. Ummm, study, right???

So began my passion for international travel as I started to learn the ins and outs of planning and booking (and winging) all kind of trips from a weekend trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, a 10-day trip through Spain to visit my dear friend Suzanne, hiking in the Alps in Switzerland, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea at Cinque Terre and the list goes on. Yes, the classroom portion of my study abroad trip was important, but to me, the know-hows, trials and tribulations I gained from all the travels are what turned out to be the most important. Those are skills and memories I will cherish for a lifetime. Yes Dad, I did “learn” and retain something while I studied abroad!

Eataly Chicago

Fast forward to today, I have not been able to make it back to Italy (yet!), but I have found something here in Chicago that will help me continue my Italian education without having to step foot on a plane. It won’t ever take place of being in Italy itself, immersed in the culture, food and language, but it will come as the next best option. And that is Eataly!

What is Eataly you ask? Taken straight from the Eataly website, this statement really sums it up best:

“We cook what we sell, and we sell what we cook.” Eataly is an original “marketplace” model inviting consumers to be active participants in an innovative food and beverage experience where they shop, taste and savor high-quality, traditional, Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products.

Not only is Eataly in 27 locales around the world, one just opened up a few blocks from where I live in downtown Chicago. Great Italian food and wine + easy proximity = DANGEROUS! I definitely have some favorite food recommendations at Eataly (the margherita pizza and Quadrati  pasta with spinach are fantastic) but I will have to save that for a future post.

Meatless Monday At LaScuola Eataly

One thing most people don’t know is that Eataly has a cooking school called La Scuola. There is an ever-changing roster of classes to learn anything from pasta making, to meals by region of Italy, to wine and language, etc. Trust me that I was ecstatic when I found out there was a “Meatless Monday” class being offered. How right up my alley??!! (Wow Eataly, I’m even more impressed that you are taking care of your vegetarian peeps!)

The Meatless Monday classed is centered around a few core concepts, namely; 1) focus on local, seasonal produce 2) raise awareness about health and environmental reasons for cutting back on meat consumption and 3) continue the tradition of famous chef and owner Mario Batali’s new birthday ritual of celebrating with a meatless meal (he started this tradition on his 51st birthday and has continued every year since).

Chef Alex Pilas Serving Ribollita

Chef Alex Pilas (the executive chef of all of Eataly) led the class, which was more of a demonstration than a hands-on cooking class. That was a bit of a bummer but made sense since the class was only scheduled for an hour and a half.  Three classic Tuscan dishes and one dessert were prepared and served with wine pairings (a white, red and dessert wine). So, we basically got to eat and drink while Chef Alex did all the work! It turned out to be a fun and educational experience as Chef Alex was very engaging and actually quite hilarious. I was impressed at the level of detail he supplied not only about the ingredients and cooking techniques, but also on the geography and culture of Italy. No dull moments here while “learning”!

The four-course meal included:

• Pere al Caramello con Robiola (caramelized pears with Robiola cheese)
• Ribollita (Tuscan black kale and bean soup)
• Risotto ai Funghi (wild mushroom risotto)
• Cantucci (Tuscan biscotti)

Eataly La Scuola Meatless Monday Meal

I loved each course and was absolutely stuffed by the end. My favorite dish hands down was the Ribollita. It was like a very hearty, thick, minestrone soup and was extremely flavorful and delicious. What was nice was Eataly provided the recipes for each dish in a little packet for us to take home. Check out some more pictures of the experience and class:

Class At La Scuola Eataly

All in all, the Meatless Monday class at Eataly’s La Scuola was an insightful, culinary event and an overall great time! Until I can get back to my beloved Italy again, I guess I will just be getting schooled at Eataly in the meantime.

Please Note: I was offered a complimentary ticket to the Meatless Monday class; all opinions are my own.