Sawgrass Country Club couples are mastering Italian cuisine

While traveling through Italy, five couples from Sawgrass Country Club planned a culinary vacation in the heart ofTuscany. The villa was quiet and secluded, with a view that seemed endless, yet relatively close to Arezzo and Cortona.

The school was run by Tuscookany, an internationally renowned company with three locations. Our training location was Villa Torre Del Tartufo. The villa predates 1800 and is named for the Truffle Manor surrounding it. In cooking classes, we were taught cooking and serving techniques, with an emphasis on Italian recipes. We used only products produced in Tuscany, and if a recipe called for ingredients from elsewhere (such as Marsala wine from Sicily), we sought substitutions.

S Sly and Mark McCall, Tom and Sam Harklerroad, John and Samantha Brantley, Bill and Nancy McPherson, Frankie and Jerry Felty, and four other couples worked with fresh vegetables, fish, and poultry from local markets. Each day began with breakfast prepared by the school. Cakes, fruit, sausages, eggs and bacon (on request). All meals were served outdoors. Lunches and dinners (four-course meals) were prepared by the group, and all meals were served by Chef Franco and his staff.

During the preparation, which began at 3:00 p.m. and lasted until 7:00 p.m., students were divided into four groups and given specific assignments. Appetizers, side dishes, main courses or desserts. The recipes were challenging, but Chef Franco was always willing to help.