Al Dente: Pomodorista: The Adventures of a Globetrotting Culinary Student

Pomodorista: The Adventures of a Globetrotting Culinary Student

by StellaCadente* on December 07, 2009

Have you ever wondered, while nestled in the comfort of your cubicle, what it would be like to quit your day job, in the middle of one of our country's biggest recessions, and follow one of your life-long dreams, like say, going to cooking school Italy? Well, me, too. And this past February I decided, to do just that.

I wasn't making a rash decision (this had been on my bucket list since the age of 24), I had saved up enough money to cover most of my expenses up front, and, I was starting to feel, rather emphatically, that my right-brained particles needed to be exercised to their full extent or they might die off for good. At 39 years-young, I had nothing to hold me back but myself. No kids, no husband, no boyfriend, no teacup chihuahua. Of course, I was surrounded by some well-intentioned naysayers. My parents likely topped that list ("You can't quit your job during a recession!"), and many politely choked on their Starbuck's lattes when I announced the timing of my future plans ("But you have a great job. Why would you quit now?). But, for every misanthrope there was a cheerleader. I was bolstered by the enthusiasm of friends and strangers who saw me (me?) as courageous and inspiring. As I revealed my burgeoning agenda to my hair stylist, various retail clerks, taxi drivers, neighbors, aunties, and even my doctor and her nurses during a mammogram, they expressed both envy and encouragement for my upcoming adventure. As it turned out their exuberance gave me just the push I needed to finally put my plan into action.

So that brings me here, to you--well, sort of. Of course, a lot has transpired between February and today. I have spent the better part of this year being a student again. I divided my time between classrooms in New York City and Northern Italy, and I completed a stage, or apprenticeship, in a bona fide Italian kitchen in the Campania region. As I look back on 2009, I am grateful for the new friendships forged, the train trips, the ferry rides, the serenading chefs, the screaming matches, the cooking lessons, and the life lessons; the topsy-turviness of it all. There are moments when I think I imagined it. But then I see the burn marks on my forearms, and I know it really happened. I really did it.

My only regret is that it went by much too fast. That's why I plan to relive it by sharing some of the highlights and lowlights (and recipes, too!) with you. So, bookmark the pomodorista tag if you'd like to take the ride with me. I hope you'll follow along.

--StellaCadente*

Al Dente's flickr Pool

Topics

February 2012