Little Penises and One Huge Meatloaf

---

After the usual morning coffee and trip to the market, we started off the day making yet another shaped pasta-- this one's name translates to little penis, and looks kinda like a joint. What does it mean, exactly, that Sandy was the best in the class at making them?? These were served at lunch with a sauce made with garlic, pancetta, red pepper flakes and tomato sauce, and the sauce was definitely an example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts--delicious! We also made a ratatouille type main dish for lunch and in between pickled and canned three crates of green beans. It was a busy morning!

At 6 pm we met a local woman, Simona, for a guided tour of many of the classic Lecce sights. We had already seen most of them, but it was great to get the inside scoop from someone so knowledgeable about history and architecture. An unexpected treat was a visit to a paper mâché artist's studio, and getting to watch a bit of the process.

Back again to the cooking school, where the staff had prepared dinner for us while we were on the tour. Our primi was spaghetti with "olio and aglio" (olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes). Then they served us the largest and most delicious meatloaf we had ever eaten, stuffed with spicy salami and smoked cheese! It was accompanied by incredibly delicious San Marzano tomatoes, dressed with olive oil and chopped basil, and some of the green beans we did not pickle earlier in the day. And I keep forgetting to mention that every meal is accompanied by yet another local wine and a chalk talk about that variety. tonight we had a couple of guests-- the lovely Rosa, a friend of our instructor/cooking school owner Silvestro, and Davide, a former staff member and his charming girlfriend Ruth, who is from Colombia. We enjoyed the chance to get to know some of these locals who were exceptionally good English-speakers, as well as being world travelers.

Sharon:GOOD THING-- Getting to visit with our charming dinner guests. BAD THING-- Too much food and wine, too little time (and too little stomach capacity)!

Dave: GOOD THING-- The meat loaf! BAD THING-- Broke my sunglasses and unable to find any that cost less than a hundred or so dollars...

Sandy: GOOD THING-- Learning to make--and getting to eat--more fantastic food. BAD THING-- Not having built up my wine tolerance before coming here!

---