Meet Your Hosts

iuliano Hazan and his wife Lael will be your hosts for the week's activities. Giuliano, like many other good cooks, learned his craft from his mother. The mother in this instance is Marcella Hazan. His first book, The Classic Pasta Cookbook, is an international bestseller with half a million copies in print in 16 countries and a James Beard award nominee. He went on to write Every Night Italian which won the World Cookbook award for best Italian cookbook in the English language. It has received rave reviews including one from The New York Times which said the book "epitomizes authenticity... this food is genius -- genius distilled from history." In his most recent book, How to Cook Italian, Giuliano guides you every step of the way, from how to shop, how to equip your kitchen, to basic Italian cooking techniques with over 225 recipes. Giuliano has over 20 years of teaching experience and makes regular appearances at cooking schools across the U.S. and abroad. For 4 years he taught a widely attended course in Venice at the legendary Hotel Cipriani. In 2007 Giuliano was the recipient of the International Association of Culinary Professionals award for Cooking Teacher of the Year.

arilisa Allegrini is her family's ambassador at large. She regularly presents the wines of her native Valpolicella, and introduces audiences to the terroir from which they spring at stellar events throughout the United States and Europe. You may already be one of the many happy wine drinkers that have been enjoying the richness, the deep layers of flavor of Amarone. If you are not, you'll have the opportunity at Villa Giona to make up for lost time. Allegrini is one of the paramount producers of this precious wine as well as several other extraordinary wines which regularly receive top ratings in The Wine Advocate and The Wine Spectator. Allegrini's Amarone, La Poja, and Recioto Giovanni Allegrini have all been recipients of Italy's prestigious "Tre Bicchieri" award. You will be the beneficiary of a behind the scenes winery tour -- not available to the general public -- guided by Marilisa Allegrini. Allegrini wines are imported into the U.S. by Winebow. For more information, please visit www.winebow.com or call (201) 445-0620 ext. 304.