Today was a day worth talking about. Not only do I continue to realize that I live and learn in Italy, but I am able to reflect on the fact that this has been just the most incredible journey.
Today, in particular, stood out to me. We made something that I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to make but have either taken the shortcut or moved on to another recipe. Today’s theme?
Donuts.
All donuts.
5 hours on donuts.
I had the most incredible donuts that I have ever eaten in my entire life.
And it wasn’t just one donut; I ate 3 DIFFERENT donut recipes that were the best I have eaten in my entire life.
An Italian style donut that is flavored with orange and lemon zest, cut into small pieces, rolled, fried, and drizzled with honey, sugar, and pistachio crumbs.
Italian “Bombolinos” flavored with lemon and orange zest in the batter, than fried to a golden crisp and doused in granulated sugar.
The inside of a Bombolino donut hole.
The filling of the Bombolinos, as if the taste of the donut alone wasn’t enough.
I mean, really?
Yes. Give me one of those.
“American” style donuts, as they were called. Let me tell you, I have NEVER tasted any American donut as good as this.
Pink glaze: compliments of Colleen.
Decoration: compliments of me.
And to add with the good vibe of the day, the wax paper that fell below of the decoration even looked beautiful.
I’m telling you, these Italians…they know what they are doing in the donut category.
Today was just…fun. I wasn’t stressed, I wasn’t annoyed with anyone, I wasn’t thinking about other things. Pastry lab was fulfilling and peaceful and I was doing something that brought pure joy to be; Joy that can only be expressed in the form of tasting such incredible products and coming to the realization that I made them and can continue to make them over and over because I now have the resources and knowledge to do so.
I had so many foodgasms today that I was very disappointed when it came time for snack.
Rice cakes absolutely SUCK after tasting blow-your mind donuts.
And honestly, it wasn’t just the lesson. The instructor, Simone, was brilliant with his methodology and preparation. It was fun to learn and be confident enough to repeat the process. He even surprised me with an excellent come back while I was leaning in front of a draw that he needed to access.
Simone: (To class) Isn’t Lauren just a wonderful girl?
Lauren: Oh, gee thanks!
Simone: Especially when she is sleeping.
Dad, have you morphed yourself into Simone’s body?
..erie how he follows me everywhere.
And after class, when we were preparing to venture into Italian class, I saw a sight that I wish I would have been able to physically record. Simone and his sous chef had no way to get the desserts to the restaurant across town, so they strapped 10 boxes high and Seran wrapped it to the back of a bicycle.
That sight made my whole entire day.
Sadly, I’m not sure how the system worked; it may have gotten even more amusing.
In Italian class, Dario (our teacher) gave us back our tests and I didn’t even fail!
Woah.
Then he decided that making us play a game to challenge our knowledge would be beneficial.
However, before the game even started, I was lost.
In Italian he told us to split ourselves in groups.
He started saying “Cinque, Cinque, Cinque.”
Colleen, my friend, and I looked at each other and said, “What does cinque even mean?”
It means the number 5.
And….yes, I have quite a long way to go in the Italian department.
And now, after a beautifully delicious and fulfilling day, I venture off to see my sweety off the coast of Spain on a little island called Menorca.
How blessed am I?
And…I just..love…donuts.
Ciao for now!