Online Cooking Class

Italian Valentine: Passion Red Menu

Sat | Feb 13, 2021 | 3:30–6P PT

Teacher Viola Buitoni

Ask what is the critical ingredient that pushes food from great to extraordinary, and Viola Buitoni will unhesitatingly answer: “LOVE”. We continue our annual Italian Valentine tradition with another romantic menu for the ages:

Gemelli: What pasta could be better suited to a St. Valentine’s feast? Gemelli’s intertwined strands will embrace their rosy-hued sauce, finely balanced with a little salt (pancetta), a little richness (pistachios), and earthy sweetness (red beets).

Skirt Steak with the char of a stovetop sear and an elegant brandy sauce will be your main course, accompanied by a stunning winter salad of Red Chicories.

Flourless Chocolate Cake with almonds and pear will enhance your recipe collection for the memorable meals of many years to come.

Romance your darling with all the passion Italians bring to the stove by cooking side by side with the flavors, shapes and colors of love.

Menu | Recipes

Gemelli con pancetta, rape rosse e pistacchi
Gemelli with pancetta, red beets and pistachio

Lombatina al brandy
Brandied skirt steak

Radicchio con kumquat caramellati e nocciole
Radicchio with caramelized kumquats and hazelnuts

Ingredient/Equipment Prep

Click the button below to see the ingredients, equipment and prep lists for this experience. If you have questions, please email us .

View the list

Our online experiences are live and interactive

Got questions? You’ll get to ask them. Wondering if your dough/sauce/whatever looks right? You’ll be able to show the teacher and find out.

You only need to purchase one spot per household. This experience is held via Zoom, with a maximum of 12 students – you will receive instructions for logging in after registering. For ingredient, equipment and prep lists (when applicable), click on the ‘VIEW THE LIST’ button on this page. Printable recipes and handouts are available 48 hours prior to the start of the experience. Cooking classes are recorded, and you may view the videos by logging into your account on our website.

Please download the Zoom application in advance. Click here to download the Zoom software. To learn more about how to use Zoom, here’s their Quick Start guide for new users.

About the teacher

Viola Buitoni

VIOLA BUITONI, chef instructor and food writer, was born in Rome and raised in Perugia, Italy. The stories and knowledge from six generations cross with the best of California agriculture and the finest Italian food imports to infuse her dishes, and her teaching.

Viola’s opera prima, Italy by Ingredient - Artisanal Foods/Modern Recipes was released by Rizzoli in September 2023, to great acclaim.

Viola has taught Italian cooking since 2009, after years as a chef and caterer in New York. She is the resident Italian instructor at The Civic Kitchen and has led classes at venues across the U.S. and Italy, including the Culinary Institute of America, Eataly, and Milk Street.

In addition to teaching and leading culinary tours in Italy, Viola serves as a food advisor for San Francisco’s Italian Consulate and Cultural Institute. Her writing has appeared in La Cucina Italiana and Italy Segreta.

In 2020, the President of the Italian Republic awarded her the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for her work to further the culture and business of Italian food.

Viola is a longtime resident of SF’s Mission District, where she lives with her husband and son.

More about Viola