Cooking for Gail's Great Escapes for a week in Montisi will be a new and exciting experience. There will be 16 people sharing a villa for a week, and I am in charge of preparing a few dinners and a party!
Step 1: Plan menus...DONE ( I will be blogging from Italy, but I don't want to give the guests a "sneak peek" of what they will be eating.)
Step 2: Bring my recipes...they are neatly typed, and in plastic sleeves in a binder.
Then it occurred to me...the amounts are in English measurements (cups, ounces and tablespoons), not grams, liters, or ettos, or kilos! Hmmmmmm...
I retyped everything with BOTH measurements, and I will pack my collapsible measuring cups and some measuring spoons. I "practiced" ordering what I will need in Italian.
Step 3: Setting and Equipment
It is one thing to cook for Brad and I or our friends in MY kitchen, with ingredients I know, and all the tools and gadgets I have at my fingertips. I have all the cookware, bakeware, bowls, baking dishes, serving pieces, conveniences, and a stove, cooktop and BBQ I have lots of experience with. Though Brad says I ALWAYS make too much, I am NOT accustomed to 16 or 17 for dinner.
I was able to peek at the kitchen last summer, and I recently did a little research into the kitchen in the villa. It is GORGEOUS, and since the owner loves to cook, it is well-equipped. There is an island, a 5-burner gas stove with oven, travertine counters, and TWO sinks and dishwashers (not counting Brad)! There is even a wood-burning indoor grill! This is NOT a tiny Italian "one-butt" kitchen!
I do know that there is no KitchenAid or heavy duty stand mixer.
There is no Cuisinart or food processor.
I am packing a few NECESSITIES!
I have a favorite knife, coffee scoop, collapsible measuring cups, measuring spoons, my plane grater (think lemons), an egg separator, and aprons. I may need to improvise when I need THREE springform pans on the same night, (there is one in the kitchen) but there is always the Coop or Esselunga!
I understand Jerry is bringing a martini shaker, so we are covered there!
But the kitchen WILL be equipped with a charming Sous Chef: MY very own slicer, dicer, stirrer, chopper, kneader, schlepper, "Brad'll Do It"!
Comments (14)
I've heard of Professor Gadget, and even Inspector Gadget but does this mean I'm "Kitsch'n Gadget"?
Love you,
Brad'll Do It
Posted by Brad | April 29, 2008 10:14 AM
Posted on April 29, 2008 10:14
You'll be surprised what's different. Unless you've a padlock for the fridge... now what happened to that thing I made last night, that cheese I bought for today...
But with a cute assistant, all is possible.
Posted by Judith in Umbria | April 29, 2008 11:35 AM
Posted on April 29, 2008 11:35
That kitchen IS gorgeous! And you're wise to pack some of your own favourite utensils. And perhaps a back-up metric conversion chart?
Mind you, you'll have so much good help in the kitchen, I'm sure it'll go extremely well!
Posted by sandrac | April 29, 2008 12:10 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 12:10
Palma, you are always SO well prepared for parties!
Looking forward to the blog entries while you are there!
Posted by nancyhol | April 29, 2008 1:00 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 13:00
Between kitchen utensils, food, and jewelery~ do you have room for clothes?
I can't wait! We are so lucky.
Note to self...Pack 'don't eat this' stickers.
Posted by sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | April 29, 2008 3:56 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 15:56
Cute Brad!!!
Posted by ida | April 29, 2008 5:43 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 17:43
Great kitchen and great sous chef! I also really like those collapsible measuring cups, I don't think I have seen those before. I wish I could be in that kitchen eating the food!
Posted by Chiocciola | April 29, 2008 6:30 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 18:30
I love a man in an apron! Have fun you two - I'll be following your blog.
Posted by teaberry | April 29, 2008 7:50 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 19:50
This sounds like so much fun. You can't go wrong with the preparation you are doing and who needs machines when Brad'll do it!
I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Posted by Marta | April 30, 2008 3:08 PM
Posted on April 30, 2008 15:08
I never knew I was bringing a martini shaker! Heck - we can stir them in a bucket - they still taste as great.
Posted by Jerry | April 30, 2008 4:55 PM
Posted on April 30, 2008 16:55
Jerry, I distinctly remember...maybe it was SAVANNAH?
Posted by Palma | April 30, 2008 5:26 PM
Posted on April 30, 2008 17:26
So is Brad for rent for slicing and dicing? :)
Posted by girasoli | May 1, 2008 1:18 AM
Posted on May 1, 2008 01:18
Palma, next year I will have a picture of YOU in that gorgeous kitchen! It will look even better....
Posted by Gail Hecko | May 1, 2008 6:23 AM
Posted on May 1, 2008 06:23
Susan, In Hawaii??? I think it could be arranged! May I come too?
Posted by Palma | May 1, 2008 6:50 AM
Posted on May 1, 2008 06:50