Focaccia making at Eataly
Who doesn’t love Eataly? From the ease of grabbing dinner at one of its delicious restaurants to the convenience of its one-stop shopping for fresh, Italian ingredients, this NoMad staple has become a regular part of my day-to-day routine.
Maybe one of the lesser known facts about Eataly is that it offers a diverse schedule of classes, workshops, and special dinners every day of the week. And in the spirit of trying new things, I decided to pop in for a focaccia-making class. I’d tried my hand at baking a few different kinds of bread in the past and it always led to disappointment. But as I entered the classroom at Eataly, I sensed that was about to change.
Our Italian chef and instructor guided us through each and every step of the process. He talked about the importance of quality ingredients, including various types of flour and which is preferred for this type of dough. Something I loved about this class: We each made our own dough, adding live yeast, water, oil, and salt to the flour and kneading it into a perfectly round ball. Because the dough needs to rise for five hours, we were given take out containers to take the dough we made in class home. We were then given a “pre-made” dough (that had already risen) to continue with in class. Net net was after making the focaccia in class, I would get a chance to make it again at home!
After drizzling the dough with olive oil, we stuffed it with olives and tomatoes and sprinkled salt over the top. As our masterpieces headed for the oven, we headed to a long communal table where we snacked on top-tier cheeses, two different types of focaccias, and sipped Prosecco. In just 15 minutes, our own little loaves were ready and we wasted no time diving in. The first bite was wildly memorable and carried the perfect balance of flavors. The fact that I had been the one to make it, made it taste even better to me. The hour-long class flew by and we all left feeling well-satisfied and proud of our new skills. I am happy to note that I was equally successful later that evening at home with my second loaf.
My take: At only $80, the Focaccia making at Eataly workshop is a must. From yummy food to new party tricks for the kitchen, an Eataly class is a welcome treat.