Pasta with the Grandmas: An Airbnb Online Experience
“Making Pasta with the Grandmas” offers virtual cooking classes for various types of pasta. Each Zoom meeting is hosted by one of five Italian grandma/granddaughter duos. My lasagna class began with lively Italian music and was lead by Nonna Angela and her granddaughter Mariana. The event started at 5:00 PM Philadelphia time. Palombara Sabina was six hours ahead, but the time difference didn’t show on the presenters’ faces. Nonna Angela was an attentive instructor, and Mariana translated the directions for the nine guests in an upbeat manner.
In an effort to bring Italy to their students, the hosts played a video montage containing footage from the in-person version of the experience and scenes from the town. I imagined that the stunning Lazio landscape was right outside my window. We rolled dough by hand, made sauce from scratch, and, an hour and a half later, finally put our creations in the oven. The guests thanked Nonna Angela and Mariana for the delightful evening, releasing them from their teaching duties. My husband and I enjoyed our lasagna with salad, Chianti Classico, and S.Pellegrino. Dinner was straight from Italy.
I’ve spent a bit of time researching Palombara Sabina. Here are a few sights that piqued my interest:
- These four restaurants: Gran Pizza di Silvia Valerio + Trattoria Basta La Mossa + Agriturismo Eirene + La Locanda Sabina
- These three churches: Chiesa di Sant’Egidio Abate + Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Biagio e Sant’Egidio + Abbazia di S. Giovanni in Argentella
- Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Lucretili / The type of park that city dwellers should visit more often.
- Castello Savelli / The town’s castle.
- Azienda Agricola Silvi Sabina Sapori / A local olive oil producer worth visiting.
- Rovine di Stazzano Vecchia / The ruins of the abandoned town Stazzano Vecchia; not to be confused with Stazzano in the Piedmont region. (Speaking of ruins, my husband and I made a virtual pitstop in Pompeii to tour the ancient city with Roberto, the host of “Uncover Pompeii with an Archaeologist.” The memorable experience was informative and entertaining.)
Works Sighted: Antimo Caputo 00 flour; eggs; Corelle bowl; Anchor Hocking measuring cup; Trader Joe’s Tunisian fouta towel
