Sabra and I had always been very curious about the classes and events offered by the school, a local Chesterland establishment, and we both were very much looking forward to the evening’s dinner and festivities. The brochure from the school simply stated that it would be a romantic evening and included the night’s menu.

Thankfully, we have some very good friends who live nearby and were able to divvy up the Gaggle among them. So, my lovely wife and I were able to enjoy the night, just the two of us. This in and of itself is always a big deal.

We arrived with big smiles on our faces at the School, at which point we were told we needed to go down the road to the Institute. Both of us were confused, as we didn’t know of the existence of this other building less than a mile down the road. And it’s a large building indeed. Upon entering the lobby, we were treated to a formally dressed violinist beautifully playing love songs. Sabra enjoyed this, and with each new song she would smile again, telling me the song title, all of which were romantic, or so she told me.³

A hostess greeted us and gave us our table assignment, a carnation corsage for the wife, and a small booklet full of many of the recipes we would be enjoying that evening. We were told to begin with hors d’œuvres which were presented in a room all their own, and instructed to try as many as we wished. Coats hung, and with hands entwined, we walked into a grand kitchen decked out with a stunning array of appetizers. We each grabbed a plateful of some fine fare, made our way to table #22 and met some nice folks.⁴

Let me tell you, the first bite of food (and consequently every bite thereafter) was amazing. These people know how to cook! The entire meal, we were informed, was entirely prepared by the senior student chefs.⁵ Well, I think they’ve cultivated their trade very well indeed.

Loretta Paganini herself stood and welcomed us all to the Institute and thanked us for sharing the evening with them. She mentioned that since the women received corsages, then the men should receive something in turn. At that point, she instructed the women to give us a kiss. Twice.⁶ Cute, eh?

Then the first demonstration began. Throughout the evening something would be demonstrated and then served to us – really fun! The first course was roasted red pepper terrine with arugula sauce. Oh, my – delicious. Good food continued. Next came a small cup of lobster bisque. MMmmmmm….! After that? Artichoke agnolotti.⁷ This demonstration was as fun to watch as the food was good to eat. Loretta’s daughter, Stephanie Paganini, explained how they teach children to cook by using stories; for learning pasta, they told the story of Pompeii. Stories are always Sabra’s favorite part of any celebration.

And then, the main course:

• Salad with caramelized walnuts & chevre with champagne vinaigrette (not pictured).
• Panchetta-wrapped beef fillet medallions with balsamic reduction.
• Roasted asparagus bundles in citrus sauce.
• Potato leek torte.

OOoo-hoo-hoo, my. Thankfully, with the demonstrations and such, the pacing of the meal allowed time to digest so we were never uncomfortably full at any point. The portions, though not family sized, were adequate and packed with a symphony of flavors.⁸ I imagine this is what you would be getting at any 4-star gourmet restaurant. We were able to enjoy the food and not feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of it!⁹

Finally, we arrive at the favorite time of the meal: Dessert.¹⁰ We returned to the room that had housed the hors d’œuvres, but those were gone and had been replaced by a vast amount of desserts. I loaded up two plates¹¹ and Sabra one. Rather than describe, I’ll let you look at some pictures. Yes, they tasted as good as they looked.

After all that, the night ended with some real Italian gelato. I tried, and loved, the vanilla. Sabra let me have a taste of the carrot-orange-lemon. That one didn’t sit quite as well on my tongue. But they had one thing in common. Smooth! MMmmmMMmmmm.

Yes, this was a night to remember. Well worth the money. Well worth the time.

Plus, I had my wife all to myself for a few hours. That was the sweetest thing of the entire evening.

1. Actually, I bought it for her as a Christmas gift, which I gave to her by way of a card. Yes, fellas, I used one gift for two holidays. Live and learn.
2. The dinner was purchased from Paganini’s, but it took place at the International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute.
3. Sorry, folks. I’m not at all hip as to what romantic music really sounds like. Perhaps it’s part of being a guy, or part of just being me…
4. Including, coincidentally, the manager of the local McDonalds and his wife. They were fun to talk with as the evening progressed.
5. Five of them, anyway. Yes, the meal from appetizers through to the main course was prepared by five chefs, who began the day at 8:00 am. The dinner started at 6:00 pm and didn’t end until after 10:00 pm. A long day indeed for this folks.
6. Apparently in Italy, you can spot the tourists by the way they kiss. Americans? Peck on the cheek. Italians? Kissing with gusto! TWICE!
7. I only knew it was agnolotti because of the demonstration. I thought it was ravioli. I’m not a food snob, so my apologies.
8. Anyone who has had the opportunity to see Ratatouille knows what I mean.
9. Which reminds me, Loretta had mentioned a couple of times during the night that we would finish just in time for breakfast. Seriously.
10. All the desserts were handled by another five student chefs, separate from the five that were over the dinner. My wife calls them the Sugar Plum Faeries.
11. Dessert sized-plates just aren’t large enough, let me tell you.