Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
It is a well-known saying that “a picture can tell more than a thousand words”. That certainly applies to the photos I took during the Masterclass Pura Cucina Italiana, which I had the pleasure of participating in. It was a special invitation I received from the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. This prestigious hotel has been home to the wonderful Roberto's for many years, a restaurant known for its authentic and delicious Italian cuisine. Perhaps it is the best Italian restaurant in the Netherlands. If you go for a bite to eat here, you will not only be spoiled with tasty dishes, but you will also imagine yourself in Italy for a while. I also had that feeling when I was allowed to cook with the professional chefs of Roberto's for a whole morning. Together we made the most delicious and pure Italian dishes, which we were of course also allowed to taste afterwards. It was an unforgettable experience that I would like to share with you in this blog.
Roberto's Amsterdam
It's pretty chilly when I get out of my car on this Sunday morning and walk into the Hilton. Once inside, I am warmly welcomed and served a delicious cup of tea. The Masterclass that we are going to follow will be given in the heart of the hotel. Because that's what the kitchen is all about, whether it's at home or in a hotel. Heart and soul has also been put into this by Roberto Payer, General manager of the Hilton Amsterdam. It is Roberto who put this restaurant on the map twenty-five years ago with his vision of pure and simple products. But products of the very best quality. This gives you a taste of the "real Italy".
Getting started in the kitchen
It soon becomes clear that this is not just a masterclass when we first change into a real chef's jacket with an apron. We walk through the “artist entrance” to the kitchen where we are warmly welcomed in his kitchen by executive chef Franz Conde. He explains to us that we should feel completely at home and have a look around. “Open the fridges, taste the products” let's not be told that twice. Today we cook without recipes. No printed A4 sheets with weighed quantities to the gram, but we will cook with our heart. We are assisted by Michele Piazzalungo, a cheerful Italian.
Cook, taste, enjoy
As befits food bloggers, of course, Luuk and I have our phones at the ready so as not to let a moment pass unregistered. So while cooking and baking we take pictures, make movies and capture the morning. We soon notice that the products are fresh and of good quality when Franz explains to us that we are going to make an insalata di polpo e melanzane. I get to clean and cut the octopus. And step by step we get an explanation about the ingredients and how we can best use them. Already in the kitchen we taste delicious mozzarella croquettes with a glass of wine. Then we are on top when Michele cooks a risotto ai frutti di mare and a spaghetti al cartoccio.
Masterclass Pura Cucina Italiana: Tutti a Tavola
After more than three hours of cooking in the kitchen, we eat together in the restaurant. A table is beautifully set and there is even a goodie bag ready for us. We take a seat and are served our homemade dishes. Sofia our hostess in the restaurant serves a matching wine with every dish and knows exactly from which parts of Italy the wine comes. With the Italian music in the background, you imagine yourself as a family that enjoys a nice Sunday dinner together. Franz joins us and to our great surprise we are also served real Italian cake after all these delicious dishes.
Master class Pura Cucina Italiana
Eating even more would simply not have been justified! Since I don't like to waste I asked the chef if we could take it home and that was no problem. So a day later I was able to let my family taste these delicacies at home as well. If you are interested? You too can feel like a Chef for a day in the Hilton at Roberto's. Several more masterclasses will be given this year. I would like to come and cook again and enjoy these delicious pure Italian dishes.
Delicious Happen is a multi-media company, so you can also find me on various social media. follow me on Facebook, Pinterest en Instagram under @delicioushappen. If you make this recipe I would love it if you tagged me #delicioushappen. A comment below in the comments is also nice of course!
roberto's restaurant amsterdam