A Special Birthday Celebration for Mike

 A Couple's Cooking Class with Chef Olli Cigliano

 

 

 

 

 

This afternoon we continued the weekend celebration of Mike's birthday. Our daughter Aria and her family gifted Mike a wonderful afternoon's private "couples" cooking class taught by Long Beach Chef Olli Cigliano. The class took place at Ollie's lovely beach front home on the peninsula. 

 

 

 

 It was a beautiful afternoon filled with festive drinks, ocean breezes, and laughter in the kitchen as Ollie guided us in preparing a wonderful array of seafood (Frutti di Mare), salad and dessert recipes. 

 

 

Our cooking stations neatly set up. We are ready to cook!

Chef Olli Cigliano*

Mike and Ollie prepping all the seafood for the Frutti di Mare

Lobster, mussels, shrimp, baby octopus in an Arrabiata sauce

Making limoncello Tiramisu

 

We dined al fresco on her lovely patio overlooking the sparkling blue Pacific. 

 

 

 Peach bellinis made from fresh peaches and the chef's antipasto board

Buon Apetito

Bucatini Fruitti di Mare 

 

Buonissima

 

Insalata mista and Autumnal Citrus Vinaigrette

 

Italian music filled the air. Ollie's family is from the Island of Ischia and her love of cooking is obviously in her genes though she has twenty plus years experience in the culinary arts working with such reknown chefs as Alice Waters during Ollie's years in the Bay area.

It was such a perfect way to celebrate Mike's birthday. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to our dear family Aria, Daniele, Sofia and Rocco. It was a wonderful and most memorable birthday gift!

 

*for more information on Chef Cigliano cooking classes:

 https://www.olliegeorgecooks.com/