Rodizio Grill - Allentown, PA

Earlier this month, I was invited to attend a VIP Preview Night at Rodizio Grill in Allentown before the restaurant officially opened to the public on May 8. I asked my friend Jessi to join me since I knew there would be no way I could eat my way through everything the Brazilian steakhouse had to offer.

Italian Sausage and White Bean Stew

I've been meaning to share this recipe for Italian Sausage and White Bean Stew ever since I first prepared it back in February. But I had other recipes in the queue waiting to be published, and then I started interspersing posts about Tuscany and Napa in between my recipes and restaurant reviews. All of a sudden, it was May.

Although it may be a while until you feel up to making this hearty dish, I want to share it with you now before I allow myself to make more excuses.

Menu Plan: May 20 - May 25

I had every intention of posting this week's Menu Plan when I got home from my high school reunion in Connecticut last night. But there were traffic back-ups that caused major delays and frustration that, by the time I got home, all I wanted to do was curl up in my armchair to watch Mad Men.

A Taste of Tuscany: Cooking Class at Borgo Argenina - Gaiole in Chianti, Italy

When Stephen and I were planning our honeymoon in Tuscany, one of the things I lobbied for the hardest was a hands-on cooking class. I wanted the opportunity to cook in a real Italian kitchen and to learn about local dishes and techniques. Turns out, I didn't have to work as hard as I thought I did -- Stephen was completely on board. Conveniently for us, Elena Nappa, our hostess at Borgo Argenina, offers a group class for her guests ($40 USD per person) that allows them to prepare and then enjoy a multi-course meal complete with plenty of complimentary wine.

I thought about narrating through all of the photos in this post, but I think you'll get a better taste of our experience through the photos themselves. Enjoy!