Mazzone Olive Oil | Valentine's Cooking Class | Sarasota Photography

Mazzone Olive Oil in Sarasota was the perfect choice for our Valentine’s Day celebration.

“Count your nights by stars, not shadows; count your life with smiles, not tears.”
Conta i tuoi notti di stelle, non ombre; contare la tua vita con un sorriso, non lacrime.

~ Italian Proverb

Anyone who knows me knows that I married into a huge Italian family. A huge, loud, passionate, funny, larger-than-life Italian family. They welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t have been luckier to gain this family when I married Cap’n Tony. My love for them has extended to a love for all things Italian, and our first trip to Italy last fall sealed the deal. So, when we returned home after our trip last October, our first order of business was to find any and all authentic Italian shops in Sarasota. Luck would have it, we found Mazzone Olive Oil and met the beautiful owner Cinzia. She told us all about her family home in Ruvo di Puglia, Italy and about the hand cultivated 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil they produce. Some of the olive trees in their groves are centuries old! A gracious host, Cinzia offered us a taste of the olive oil. This is easily THE BEST olive oil I have ever tasted. You could tell how proud Cinzia is of their olive oil and of her homeland where it’s produced. She also told us about the cooking classes they offer and that they take small tour groups to Italy twice a year. We had just gotten back from Italy, and can’t wait to go again. I can have my suitcase packed in a jiffy!

In the few months that followed, we stopped by to say Buon Giorno to Cinzia at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market, we’ve introduced friends and family to their amazing olive oil, and we’ve kept our eyes open for an opportunity to join them for one of their famed cooking classes. The opportunity arose when they offered a Valentine’s Day cooking class! Cap’n Tony, myself, my sister and brother-in-law….all “Italy-philes”….were all in and couldn’t wait to go!

Cinzia’s husband, Mike, met us at the door with a huge smile and a bottle of Prosecco. I could tell we were going to get along just fine! Suddenly, this warehouse-type store front was transformed into Mike and Cinzia’s home as we were welcomed with open arms. Mama was hard at work frying zucchini for the rollatini, and Cinzia gave us each a delicately crisp piece of the golden deliciousness and I knew immediately that we were in for a treat. After a beautiful spread of antipasti, including any type of olive oil we wanted to try (hot pepper infused olive oil? Yes, please!) it was time to make the focaccia and lasagna. Cinzia helped us each make our own personal pan of focaccia, decorated artfully with fresh grape tomatoes and oregano. Are you kidding me? I was in heaven.

The wine was flowing. We walked in the door as strangers, but laughter and friendship filled the air. Cinzia and Mama demonstrated how to make the béchamel sauce and the red sauce for the lasagna. We each made our own petite pan of lasagna, and surprise! We got to take this one home…as the lasagna for our dinner was already made and ready!

Andiamo, tutti! Time to eat. Mangia!

There was singing, more laughter and more wine as we sat at this family table and shared a meal that was cooked with love. Rollatini di zucchini, a beautifully colorful garden salad (dressing made with Mazzone Olive Oil, of course!) lasagna, and our freshly baked focaccia. Delizioso! We sang Volare, and Mike and Cinzia serenaded us with Italian folk songs while Mike played the guitar. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly eat another bite, Cinzia brought out the dolce. Tiramisu and heart shaped cookies (made with orange infused olive oil) were perfectly delicious. Dessert was complete with homemade limoncello and an amazing chocolate-espresso liqueur. So so good. I couldn’t eat another bite. Basta! Enough!

My belly was full. My heart, fuller.

Grazie mille, Mike and Cinzia. You opened your home to us and treated us as family. And we can’t wait to do it again.

Sarasota friends…run, don’t walk, to Mazzone Olive Oil and you can be family too.

Mazzone Italian Olive Oil in Sarasota Florida