Foodie Trips
Get to Know Chef Francesco Lagi!
The mild temperatures in Toronto are getting us super excited about the warm country breezes we can expect on our upcoming Tuscan Culinary Adventure this October 2-6.
Mangiacane's own Chef Francesco Lagi spent time in Toronto last month teaching at the culinary school at George Brown College, as well as hosting sensational cooking events around the Greater Toronto Area. After enjoying a gourmet spread of salumi, vegetable pinzimonio, herb-infused beef meatballs and mascarpone semifreddo at Speducci Mercatto, we sipped some digestifs and got to know our Tuscan host with a rapid fire Q&A!
A wooden spoon! Risotto can't be done without it!
Il Grigio - a Chianti from San Felice - goes great with beef or pasta.
What do you like to do when you're not cooking?
I love to play music. I'm actually quite good at electric bass. Funky music - that's what I'm really into.
What's your favourite restaurant in Tuscany?
There's a great butcher shop that's got an intimate kitchen that's really special to dine in called Dario Cecchini. They have exceptional meats fresh from nearby farms!
What's your family's favourite meal to have you cook for them?
Tortellini soup! I do it fairly basic, with beef, parmigiano and egg for the pasta filling and a simple chicken broth.
Lagi has cooked all over Italy, including two Michelin-starred restaurants in Florence. His 2015 cookbook, Symphony of Tuscan Flavours, includes classic Italian recipes, many of which were developed in his current kitchen at Mangiacane. He has served his favourite Tuscan dishes celebrities such as George Clooney, Orlando Bloom and Ron Howard.
See what else Chef Lagi will be showing us to on our Tuscan Culinary Adventure this October by clicking here! And be sure to take advantage of our early bird booking rate, which can be easily arranged with our dedicated travel agent, Clara Power. Contact her at 416.996.6489 or cpower@tpi.ca!
Buon appetito!