Cooking Pasta at Tante Marie

This summer we took a wonderful 1-day cooking class at Tante Marie.  We had such a fantastic time that we wanted to share our experience with you! Tante Marie  – a sweet 2-room cooking school located in San Francisco’s North Beach district – held a course called “Pasta: Old & New.”  Margaret Hemley was our enthusiastic instructor for the day, helping us navigate our pasta adventures. She guided us through (what seemed like) a dozen pasta dishes, appetizers, and desserts. We also learned the basics of making, rolling, and cutting fresh pasta dough.

In a few hours, our group produced plenty of delicious and diverse pasta courses.  I shared a work station with Neil, an architect who made the incredible spinach lasagna bolognese.  My favorite was the eggplant antipasti — a slightly tangy starter made with tomatoes, caramelized onions, and olives. Our group mates had a variety of cooking experience, ranging from students to married couples and mothers & daughters. When we finished cooking, we served the prepared pastas buffet-style and enjoyed them at the dining room table.

We learned a lot of new recipes, met some great people, and took advantage of fresh local produce. If you get the chance, I highly recommend Tante Marie!

Tante Marie’s Cooking School is located at 271 Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94133. For more information, visit: www.tantemarie.com