Chef Cristiano Tomei took followers on a Zoom-powered cooking class from his Tuscany kitchen, creating three traditional meatless dishes. The two-hour online event in Italian and English, organized by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast to promote #TrueItalianTaste, allowed viewers time to cook alongside the chef, listening to his advice – “always tear basil leaves, never chop them” – and the story behind the recipes.

The event featured three authentic Italian dishes: Panzanella, Scarpaccia and Pappa al Pomodoro, all relying on locally grown produce – tomatoes, zucchini and onions, plus herbs – and resourceful use of Tuscan bread,  made without salt, so it goes stale quickly.

Tomei, known for hosting a variety of cooking TV shows in Italy, also has a restaurant, L’Imbuto, located in the historic city of Lucca. His cuisine enhances locally grown products, recalling his grandmothers’ cooking methods, as well as his deep connection with his Tuscan roots.

Products for the participants were provided by Luna Park at Brickell City Centre. Look for more Italian events here.