Manhasset High School students in Maria Mellace, Gabriella Scaldaferri and Christen Visceglie’s Pre-Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement and Level V Italian World Language classes recently participated in an authentic Italian cooking class at The Cooking Lab in Port Washington.
During the workshop, students explored the beauty of Italian language and culture through Italy’s rich culinary history. Students merged Italian regional cuisines by preparing fresh cavatelli pasta by hand, a traditionally Southern Italian pasta, with a sage and brown-butter sauce, a traditionally North Italian condiment.
“I enjoyed learning about the process behind making a great Italian dish,” said AP student Joseph D’Angelo. “There were many important steps that I did not know about. The pasta ended up being delicious and I will definitely share what I learned with others.”
After preparing, cooking, and enjoying their dishes, students connected with cooking instructor and owner Michelle Capobianco, in the target language. They discussed the history of pasta in Italy, the significance of “la cucina povera” and their personal experiences traveling and eating throughout Italy.
“The Cooking Lab was a great hands-on experience for learning more about Italian culture and history,” said AP student Alyssa Kapouralos. “I enjoyed making a dish that merged different elements of the Italian culture/regions and observing the chef step-by-step. The trip was both entertaining and informative and a great opportunity for both listening to and practicing conversation in Italian!”
It was truly an enriching experience that allowed students to connect with the Italian language and culture beyond the classroom.
