What we’re about
This is a group for anyone interested in Italian food, wine, travel, culture and meeting new people with same interests. It is fun to cook together while drinking good wine and enjoy the food we created in a fun, casual and relaxed atmosphere. It is not necessary to have any culinary skills and may be, at the end of a Meetup, you will be able to make one of your favorite Italian dish!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I started this group because I love food, good wines, friends outside my regular job (personal chef) and I like to have fun and laugh cooking and sipping wine without the stress of working always under pressure. Now, I also do dinners, wine tastings, cooking classes at my house in lafayette.
Since 4 years, I started to bring some of you in adventurous "detouristing" small group trips to the west coast of Tuscany. The trips are intimate, personal, fascinating, adventurous and fun!!!!!!!!!.You will be part of Italy, not visiting it. I will be there for you every day making sure you experience the meaning, customs, traditions, food, wine, as I do every time in this part of Tuscany.
Some of the activities of these trips are, besides site seen unknown part of Tuscany including islands, hiking, kayaking, boating, fishing, wine tastings, mushrooms hunting, cooking together, hot springs bathing, snorkeling. Come with me and explore!!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao, Valerio
http://www.meetup.com/Italian-food-and-wine-lovers/
https://www.facebook.com/RomaPss/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chef-valerio-castellano-lafayette?osq=private+chef
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Italian dinner and blind worldwide wine tasting hopefully al frescoNeeds location$78.00
In this dinner I will make some of new regional dishes combined with a blind tasting of 6 different wines from France, Portugal, Italy, USA, Spain and Argentina and hopefully we will be able to be outside.
The cost is $ 78.00 per person including everything and PREPAYMENT IS REQUIRED at moment of signing.
NEW POLICY : please, don't rsvp and not pay , you will be removed from the list . NO EXCEPTIONS!! ( If you are removed, you can always pay and get back in)For payments, go to my website https://lvitaly.com/ and click on Paypal or on the cc logo at the bottom of every page. Enter 78 or 156.00 for 2 people on the item price ( no $ symbol) if you have a paypal account just send the $ 78.00 to castellano233@gmail.com or if YOU DON'T HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, click on pay with debit or credit card, enter your info.
You can also use Zelle using my email castellano233@gmail.com and phone 310-993-2703
Cancellation Policy
If the cancellation is in within 48 hours from the dinner date, you will forfeit the cost of the dinner ( $ 78.00).
If the cancellation occurs prior the 48 hours from the dinner date, you will have a credit with me and be able to use it for any other event I will make.The dinner will be at my home in Lafayette and I will email the address later to the attendees.
By attending, you agree to hold harmless and release all host / venues from any liability including COVID 19 RELATED ISSUES. Please behave in a responsible/appropriate manner while attending the wine tasting.
Dinner menu
Insalata di arancie, rughetta e finocchio con noci, Blue , condimento ai frutti di boscoMixed greens, arugola, fresh fennels, orange segments, toasted walnuts, blue cheese ( optional) mix berries house vinaigrette
Misto ai frutti di mare e pesce alla Favignanese
Mixed seafood Favignana style fresh fish of the day ( Alaskan Cod or Halibut or Rock fish) mussels, shrimps, squid, potatoes, fresh tomato sauce , Sicilian oregano, touch of Japanese curry
Tagliolini fatti in casa alla Trapanese
Hand made fresh Tagliolini alla Trapanese with home made basil pesto confit cherry tomatoes, touch of ParmigianoPere cotte al Primitivo con cioccolato fondente
Zinfandel poached pears with melted dark chocolate and Zin reductionWine menu not in order of tasting ( six different wines)
.......USA
......Portugal
......Argentina
......France
......Spain
......Italy - Be Italian! Italian Cooking class with recipesNeeds location$80.00
Do you like Italy, Italian food, Italian culture? Do you want to learn how to make some of the favorite Italian dishes or just improve your cooking skills?
We are going to make some great courses together, totally hands on, having fun while sipping some wine.
You also are going to receive the printed recipes of the class.
I am not providing an apron, so, if you wish to use one, bring your own.This is not a dinner with the usual 1 or 2 people helping me. This is a class for only 14 people with a good pace of working, drinking and chat. We are still going to eat the courses we make, don't worry.
You would be cleaning during the class after using your cutting board, utensils, pots , pans, etc....
YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO BRING A BOTTLE OF WINE.
I AM NOT PROVIDING AND SERVING WINE DURING THE CLASS.The cost is $ 80.00 per person including everything and PREPAYMENT IS REQUIRED at moment of signing.
NEW POLICY : please, don't rsvp and not pay , you will be removed from the list . NO EXCEPTIONS!! ( If you are removed, you can always pay and get back in)For payments, go to my website https://lvitaly.com/ and click on Paypal or on the cc logo at the bottom of every page. Enter 80 or 160.00 for 2 people on the item price ( no $ symbol). If you have a PayPal account just send the $ 80.00 to castellano233@gmail.com or if YOU DON'T HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, click on pay with debit or credit card, enter your info.
You can also use Zelle using my email [castellano233@gmail.com](mailto:castellano233@gmail.com) and phone 310-993-2703
Cancellation Policy
If the cancellation is in within 48 hours from the dinner date, you will forfeit the cost of the dinner ( $ 80.00).
If the cancellation occurs prior the 48 hours from the dinner date, you will have a credit with me and be able to use it for any other event I will make.
The dinner will be at my home in Lafayette and I will email the address later to the attendees.Class menu
Bruschetta bianca con aglio alla Toscana
White bruschetta Tuscany style no recipeGnocchi fatti in casa alla Sorrentina
Hand made from scratch Gnocchi Sorrentina style home made tomato sauce, Mozzarella,fresh basil, Parmigiano with recipeLombo di maiale al forno con patate arrosto
Pork tenderloin medallions with roasted potatoes with recipeCiao,
Valerio Castellano
