Today we want to announce a great initiative that we’ll announce soon also in official form: the partnership between Academia Barilla and US top culinary center Sur La Table for a series of culinary events in the United States and Italy. 

The partnership is part of a Sur La Table initiative called A Taste of Italia, a full calendar dedicated to Italian cuisine, and initiatives in partnership with Academia Barilla that include food tasting and Italian regional cooking classes in the United States, and an Easter 2009 Culinary Tour of Parma, Italy. 

Sur La Table, the place for Chefs to shop, has been working with the Academia Barilla US Team to design all the exclusive gourmet initiatives for A Taste of Italia, that include food tasting of Academia Barilla Italian gastronomy specialties across 63 Sur La Table stores across the United States, Italian regional cooking classes at 25 Sur La Table locations across the United States, and a 6-days gastronomic and Culinary Tour of Parma, Italy, scheduled for next Easter 2009 (April 5-10).

In-Store Gourmet Product Sampling

For the entire month of September 2009 Sur la Table, who showcases the entire lines of Academia Barilla and Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla gourmet product lines, offers free gourmet food tasting of Academia Barilla products at 63 Sur La Table stores across the United States.

Authentic Regional Italian Cuisine – In-Store Gourmet Cooking Classes

Sur La Table and Academia Barilla introduce four Italian culinary classes celebrating the best of regional Italian cooking, exploring local recipes from four of Italy’s richest culinary regions: Emilia-Romagna, Sicilia, Liguria and Toscana.

Participants to the cooking classes will use classic recipes and the best artisan Italian ingredients to prepare signature dishes steeped in the traditions of this food-loving nation.

The in-Store cooking classes will be held at 25 Sur La Table locations across Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

More information, full class schedule and booking are available at the Sur La Table website, awhile we created a Google Map with all the Sur La Table locations where you can sign in for the Authentic Regional Italian Cuisine classes.

To interact with a larger Google Map please follow this link

A Taste of Italia – Sur La Table Culinary Easter Tour of Parma, Italy

Academia Barilla and Sur La Table are proud to introduce the ultimate Italian culinary experience, a 6-days culinary and gastronomy tour of Parma, Italy.

Scheduled for Easter week (April 5-10, 2009), this culinary tour designed by Academia Barilla exclusively for Sur La Table is a must for those who love the food culture and cuisine of Italy, who will spend 6 days in Italy’s Food Lovers Mecca.

Participants will learn how to prepare traditional Italian Easter and regional menus, working hands-on with local artisanal ingredients and Academia Barilla chefs. The 6-days gastronomic and hands-on cooking tour is designed by Academia Barilla and Sur La Table to allow tour guest to explore the rich culinary and cultural heritage of this 2000-year-old city, linger over meals in courtyard gardens and participate to tour workshops with producers of local artisanal delicacies including Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico, Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello, while exploring castles, historic landmarks and Medieval villages in Italy’s richest culinary area, Emilia-Romagna.

Register soon for this unique ultimate Italian culinary experience - space is limited and selling out fast; due to the popularity of this trip, only a few spots are left.

For more info and online booking please visit the Sur La Table website. You can also call the US toll free number 866-392-3302 or email academiabarilla@surlatable.com to learn more about this amazing gastronomy trip to Italy.

Barilla America and the New York Wine and Culinary Center are pleased to present the 2nd annual Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend.

Check out the New York Wine and Culinary Center website to discover the full program of cooking classes, gourmet demos and guided tours designed for the NY Italian food Lovers for this weekend. 

We already blogged last year about the first Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend, but this year the culinary program is really inspiring. and it is for a good cause, too! 

All of the classes listed below are sponsored by Barilla with 100 percent of the ticket price for the classes being donated to Foodlink to support the food banks in our area, the goal being raising $10,000 for Foodlink. Each participant will also receive a Barilla gift bag filled with the Barilla products we all enjoy.

COOKING CLASS: DINNER IN TUSCANY WITH BARILLA EXECUTIVE CHEF LORENZO BONI
Sep 19 2008 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Chef Lorenzo Boni
Cost: $50.00 - Ticket price donated to Foodlink - Sold Out

Chef Lorenzo Boni’s menu for this special event is influenced by the food culture of Italy’s Toscana Region. We may not be dining in a quaint restaurant in Florence (or Firenze) enjoying a beautiful sunset, scenic gardens, renaissance fountains or breathtaking art, but we can enjoy the delicious cuisine of the region.

We will begin our evening with a glass of Prosecco served with an antipasti of Crostini con Salsa ai Ceci, Scampi e Cavolo Nero (Bread Croutons with Chick Pea Sauce, Scampi and Cauliflower), followed by Mostaccioli al Ragù Toscano (Mostaccioli with Tuscan Sauce), Tagliata di Manzo con Salsa ai Funghi Porcini (Beef Tenderloin with Porcini Sauce) and Cannellini con Salvia (Cannellini Beans with Sage). Each course will be served with a pairing of Italian and NYS wine.



After dinner in the Theater, we will continue the evening in the Wine Tasting Room with coffee and Chef Lorenzo’s famous Gelato (and more wine of course!).

Please join us as we kick off our Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend with this special Tuscan Dinner!!

 Sold out!!

GUIDED TOUR: BARILLA PLANT TOUR - AVON, NY

• Sep 20 2008 - 11:30am - 2:00pm
• Sep 20 2008 - 2:30pm - 5:00pm

Cost: $10.00 - Ticket price donated to Foodlink

In 2007, Barilla opened its second US based manufacturing facility in Avon, NY, where pretty much all of the Barilla products sold in America are produced (with only a few exceptions), following the original Italian recipes and the exacting standard and processes that have been used for generations in Italy.

Join the New York Wine and Culinary Center next Saturday, September 20, as Barilla opens its doors at the Avon plant and discover all the secrets of Barilla’s commitment to quality in the manufacturing process.

Travel by motor coach bus round-trip, originating from the New York Wine and Culinary Center, to and from the Barilla Plant in Avon, NY. This is a unique opportunity to tour the Barilla manufacturing plant. At the plant, you’ll be guided through the state-of-the art food manufacturing facility.

The Barilla plant must adhere to all standard regulations to ensure the utmost safety for guests. To make your tour more enjoyable, please visit the NYWC website for travel and safety tips in advance of your upcoming visit.

COOKING CLASSES: PASTA 101 AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
Cost: $10.00 - Ticket price donated to Foodlink
Instructor: Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend Chef Instructors

Class Schedule:

September 20 2008

• 11:00am - 12:00 - Mario’s via Abruzzi Executive Chef Paul Maytag - recipe to be announced
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Rochester Institute of Technology Executive Chef Stephen Kingston - Shrimp Pasta
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Linguine with Clams and Leeks
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Linguine with Clams and Leeks

September 21 2008

• 12:00 - 1:00pm - Casa de Pasta Executive Chef Dominick Dardano - Egg Fettuccini with Prosciutto, Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic and Pecorino Gran Cru
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Senior Executive Chef Steven Miller, Cornell University - Penne with Broccoli Rabe and Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Linguine with Clams and Leeks

TASTING CLASSES: TASTING OLIVE OILS, BALSAMIC VINEGAR AND MUCH MORE
Instructor: Chef Italo Besseghini
Cost: $10.00 - Ticket price donated to Foodlink

Class Schedule:

September 20 2008
11:00am - 12:00
12:30pm - 1:30pm
2:00pm - 3:00pm
3:30pm - 4:30pm

September 21 2008
12:00 - 1:00pm
2:00pm - 3:00pm
4:00pm - 5:00pm

Aceto Balsamico of Modena is as precious and difficult to produce as fine wine, bringing hundreds of years of artisanship to the table. The preciousness of Balsamic Vinegar comes from the quality of the grapes, the length of the aging process and the types of casks used. The best Balsamic Vinegar is made exclusively from grape must, and is aged 12 to 25 years. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - like wine - requires a proper tasting technique to discover how surprisingly delicious and flavorful a good olive oil can be.
 

In addition to understanding these products and learning the proper tasting techniques of Academia Barilla regional Italian olive oils and balsamic vinegars, Chef Italo Besseghini will prepare a tasting of other Italian culinary specialties. You’ll be delighted with this creative 4-course tasting and you’ll receive plenty of useful tips and recipes!!

COOKING CLASSES: INTERACTIVE COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
Instructor: Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend Chef Instructors
Cost: $10.00 - Ticket price donated to Foodlink

Class schedule:

September 20 2008

• 11:30am - 12:30pm - Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Barilla Campanelle with Lobster and Sautéed Porcini Mushrooms
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm - Wegmans Executive Chef Mark Makovec - recipe to be announced
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Barilla Campanelle with Lobster and Sautéed Porcini Mushrooms - Sold Out

September 21 2008

• 1:00pm - 2:00pm - Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni - Barilla Campanelle with Lobster and Sautéed Porcini Mushrooms - Sold Out
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm - Wegmans Executive Chef Mark Makovec - recipe to be announced

Last Friday Academia Barilla announced with an official press release some gourmet news we have partially anticipated here on Italian Food Lovers over the last weeks: the launch of a new series of authentic Italian gourmet food products that enrich the existing Academia Barilla Italian gastronomy food line.

As we generally do here at the Academia Barilla press office, we republish the content of the press release while taking advantage of the blog publishing features to publish also the product pictures, so you can easily recognize them when you’ll see them on top shelves at the top gourmet food shops across the United States and the rest of the world!

We’ll also add direct links to each of the new Academia Barilla products at Academia Barilla online store, where you can order your gourmet specialties and get them delivered home in just two days!

Here we go with the first part of the press release (note: we split the press release in two posts as it was getting pretty long with all the images).

Academia Barilla launches new Italian gourmet food products to expand its authentic Italian food collection.

After launching the Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla Italian gourmet food celebrity collection, Academia Barilla presents a new range of authentic Italian regional food delicacies to bring to the gourmet table - the flavors and traditions of Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany.

Parma, Italy, September 12, 2008 - After the successful launch of the Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla Italian gourmet product line, designed together with Italian Chef, cookbook author and TV celebrity Giada De Laurentiis, Academia Barilla announces a new expansion of its Italian gourmet food product collection with the release of a number of new food specialty products. These new products include rare regional extra virgin olive oils, tasty sauces and pesto, delicious green olives, an herbaceous herb mix and creamy cheese spreads.

Extra Virgin Olives Oils

The first two products added to the Academia Barilla specialty food collection are two Italian olive oils that enrich the already large collection of Academia Barilla estate bottled Italian extra virgin olive oils.

The new 100% Italian Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil brings to dishes a very fresh taste, with strong undertones of green grass, Pachino tomatoes and oregano. 

100% Italian Unfiltered is the most natural extra virgin olive oil produced in Italy with innovative methods that surpass traditional centrifuge processes, leaving the oil’s original flavors and properties intact, with no sediments or pulp.

Academia Barilla also added a 100% Italian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, one of the few organic olive oils available made from 100% Italian, organic olives, that brings a mild taste to the table, with hints of ripe olive, grass and sweet almonds.

Sauces and Pesto

Academia Barilla’s Italian Tomato Sauce is made from premium quality, exclusive Italian Scarpariello tomato variety grown in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Italy’s Food Valley.

With an incomparable fresh and sweet flavor enriched with extra virgin olive oil, this all-natural tomato sauce is a traditional, delicious recipe with an intense red color great for a variety of Italian pasta courses.

Another addition to Academia Barilla is a new Academia Barilla Pesto Genovese, a unique non-pasteurized fresh pesto made in the seaside town of San Remo in Liguria with the freshest basil of the Riviera, top quality extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano and whole pine nuts.

Introducing the new Academia Barilla’s bruschetta and pasta toppings!

Academia Barilla Spicy Sicilian Cherry Tomato Topping and its mild version Sicilian Cherry Tomato Topping are two delicious succulent blends of naturally sun dried cherry tomatoes and chili peppers, from the small Sicilian town of Pachino, made following the authentic Sicilian recipe with local sweet tomatoes, fresh basil and hot chili peppers for the spicy version.

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We split the press release here to announce all the other exciting new Academia Barilla gourmet products at the next blog post! For more info about Academia Barilla and the new gourmet food products, please contact Stephanie Sette in the United States by calling +1 847-405-7564, US toll-free 866-772-2233, or emailing ssette@barilla-usa.com.

Stay tuned with Italian Food Lovers and Academia Barilla!

Of course we are very proud of this, so a blog post is due. Last week Mimi Murphy of Gourmet Magazine listed the Academia Barilla Culinary School in Parma, Italy among the “world’s best cooking schools”!

Gourmet Magazine, who categorizes cooking schools around the world according to characteristics such as “Adventure”, “Healthy” or “Relaxed” in its Gourmet’s Guide to the World’s Best Cooking Schools, actually ranks Academia Barilla among the top 5 cooking schools in the world in the category “Luxury“. Because, as reported by Gourmet magazine:

“What brings the act of cooking to life? For some, it means stepping into a world within a world. Each experience, whether sumptuous (a French château) or simple (a palm-fringed Indian island), should have a certain glamour about it, a certain sense of style.”

The article published by Gourmet Magazine about our Culinary School is very nice, with comments from author Mimi Murphy such as:

“I picked up some over-the-top flourishes, like a “recipe” for a parmesan wafer: spread grated cheese on wax paper, microwave for 20 to 30 seconds (let cool for a few more), then drape around the bottom of a glass to form a cup”. (from: What I learned)

Or also:

“How easy it was to customize a class—via email—based on what I actually liked”. (from: Biggest surprise)

Please visit the link that follows if you want to read the full article on Gourmet Magazine, which includes an exclusive recipe for a Cream of Artichoke Soup with Porcini (the recipe Mimi Murphy learned and cooked at the Academia Barilla Culinary School).

Thank you Mimi and Gourmet Magazine for the wonderful article!