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Stepping into the world of Karen Chiappone’s store, “Cucina
Mia”, which is Italian for My Kitchen, feels like you are entering a
marvelous place, where a well-traveled cook has thoughtfully
stocked the kitchen with delightful epicurean goods from all over
the world. Here you will have the opportunity to sample wonderful
products and goods from more than just Italy, you will experience
many of the finest housewares and foods from France, Spain, and
Brazil, with beautiful artistic creations from domestic artists’ studios.
After twenty years of catering in the San Francisco Bay area,
Karen opened her space, just over a year ago, with the primary
goal of providing a much-needed cooking school, offering classes
for adults and teenagers. The classes, which are generally presented
demonstration style by local area chefs are very popular, and are
great fun. All the participants get to share the meals that are
demonstrated and enjoy some of the wines Cucina Mia offers. In
addition to the basic series, which teaches such techniques as knife
skills, there are several other offerings, providing a wide variety of
options on most nights of the week. The series of classes
encompass such diverse choices as Indian Vegetarian on
Wednesday evenings with an upcoming Thai Class scheduled.
Thursday and Friday nights are available to reserve for private
party cooking classes, which makes for a great affair, and can
accommodate up to 20 guests.
In addition to the cooking classes, which are conducted by chefs
and professionals who own local area restaurants and catering
businesses, a food and wine pairing event is held once a month on
a Saturday evening. It offers a cooking class and wine tasting,
with a wine sales representative
providing knowledgeable insight into
the various wine complements.
During the cooking classes,
many of the products for sale in
the store are utilized and this is
a great way to enjoy and taste
them first hand.
While Karen’s initial primary
focus was on providing the area
with a local cooking school, the
lovely space in Tioga Town
Center has become a home to not only their extensive selection
of gourmet food products, but artisan treasures ranging from linens
from France, Vietri Italian Ceramics, Antiques 2000 furniture, a
unique custom made banquet from Indonesia, decorative lighting,
and Cyclamen organic dinnerware and serving dishes, many of
which are exclusive to Cucina Mia.
Although there are even more delights than can be covered here,
their wonderful display of gourmet cooking accoutrements, together
with the some of the more everyday gadgets and utensils, include
Emile Henry cookware, Viking, All-clad, and Staub from France.
Cucina Mia has an entire line of organic spices and salts packaged
exclusively for their shop.
As if that weren’t enough to delight and entice the budding chef
in you, Cucina Mia carries many specialty and sometimes difficult
to find food items, including the rare hanger steak, specialty cheeses,
olives, salami, truffle and other ravioli, chorizo, and anchovies.
Stop by anytime…and experience CUCINA MIA!
CUCINA MIA Tioga Town Center
Website: cucinamia.net
Check Website for class schedule
Hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (10 am to 9 pm if class is in session)
Phone: 352-333-6167 |
