A day without pasta?!

I don't like having class in the evening.
It was nice to go to the city center first thing and not be exhausted from cooking, but it meant that by the time I went to class, I was pretty exhausted.

This morning I went to the Museo di Bargello. The Bargello was previously a jail, but now houses numerous sculptures and works of art. My favorite was the ivory collection and the various sculptures by Donatello, Cellini and Michelangelo. Having visited so many museums lately, I have truly started to appreciate the art of the museum itself--how everything is arranged, displayed, etc. is crucial. Overall, this museum was very well done.

After a few hours I grabbed lunch and gelato (cinnamon and rosa), and then walked to Piazza della Signoria to visit Palazzo Vecchio. I arrived at around 2:00 and just my luck...the museum was closed today from 2-7pm because of a European Union Conference taking place in Florence this week. I did get to walk around the main floor (and gift shop!) and I am excited to go back tomorrow.

courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio

So I ventured to the next stop on my list and walked through the Orsanmichele--a gothic church with a huge tabernacle in the middle. The church is still used as a place of prayer so no photographs were allowed.

I didn't have enough time before class to do any more stops, so I had a leisurely walk back to the kitchen. I recently found the Florence Bottanical Gardens, which I added to my list of places to visit. Had I known that Palazzo Vecchio was closed in the afternoon and how close I was to the gardens, I would've done that instead, but alas...good things I'm here all month!

Both Marcella and I were tired during class today which was unfortunate. The lesson was vegetables.

1. We made two soups: Minestra di Lenticchie Delicata (Delicate lentil soup) and Minestrone

-both easy, hearty and yummy :)

Lentil soup

Minestrone

2. Timballo di Parmigiana di Melanzane (eggplant parmesan timbale)

-This was a nice presentation of eggplant parmesan, using ramekins and blanched eggplant skin as a casing

ramekins lined with eggplant skin

out of the oven

the final product

3. Bomba di cioccolato alla mousse di melanzana, quenelle di ricotta alla menta (eggplant mousse in chocolate bomb, quenelles of ricotta and mint)

-Interesting: you couldn't tell it was eggplant at all--both the flavor and texture were lost in the cream and sugar.

-it was also very rich--yummy, but I just wasn't read for it

Eggplant Mousse in Chocolate Bomb

Photo of the day

the original Playmobil, Museo di Bargello

Lesson(s) of the Day

1. Don't sleep with the window open--you will wake up with a mosquito bite on your cheek...and ankle...and arms
2. Visit The Duomo at lunch time--there is no line! I was on my way to Palazzo Vecchio so I didn't stop to go in, and by the time I had come back that way after realizing Palazza Vecchio was closed, the lines were enormous again.

The Count

Glasses of wine drinken: 24

Gelatos eaten: 5

-->Flavors tried: 15

Churches toured: 4 + 1 synagogue

Photos taken: 1087