This week we are focusing on a few of the delicious cooking and foodie offers our FAUSA members are donating for our FAUSA’s Got Talent and More! virtual auction of talents, Sept. 27-Oct. 3. Amongst the 40+ offers we’ve received so far, we have even more of these tasty classes available...it was hard to choose just three! We’re working on the catalog of all of our offers now. Stay tuned for more details SOON! A summary of offers that have appeared in these weekly emails can be found here.
Nancy, our own cooking professional, lived in Rome for 20 years. She has named her Italian cooking classes LA PROPRIA CUCINA ITALINA, the authentic Italian kitchen. She is offering two hands-on classes for a maximum of six people or three couples.
Class #1: Two gnocchi, one from the north, Friuli, and the second from Florence, center of the Italian Renaissance.
Class #2: Two dishes from Sicily, one from Palermo, invaded by the Moors in the 11th Century, and the second from Syracuse, settled by the Greeks in 500 B.C.
She says: “We will explore the specific tastes and techniques that vary from region to region, all so local and all so satisfying. There will be some preparation ‘homework.’ We will cook for about 45 minutes, pause for some wine, and together taste and talk about what we have prepared.” See Nancy’s Inspiring Women profile.
Michele and Remco write about their beer and cheese tasting:
We are not Cicerones nor Fromagers, but we do love beer and cheese. Join us as we explore several beer and cheese pairings. Participants will be given 5 beer and cheese styles to purchase. Together, we will work through the parings and enjoy an evening of beer, cheese, and cheer! You’ll also receive a super easy beer cheese bread recipe to use up any extra beer! Mutually agreed upon date in November, December or January. Limit 8 couples.
Amy is a veteran wine professional with 18 years of industry experience and a WSET Level 3 certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, London. She is offering a Sommelier Service, 3 hours (planning & event), 8 people max, dates flexible before Sept 1, 2021. Here is Amy's description of her offer.
You throw a dinner party (virtual or in-person as your area allows). Tell Amy what you plan to cook for each course and she will recommend a wine to match, keeping in mind your tastes and budget. Amy will join you virtually at the beginning of your dinner to explain a little about food & wine pairing, taste through the wines with you and your guests, and answer any wine-related questions. She will then leave you to enjoy your dinner and explore the wines with each course, to see why certain wines pair better with certain foods than others.
It’s September and winter is coming! You can be cozy and warm and very stylish in any one of these beautiful shawls donated to FAUSA’s virtual auction FUNdraiser. Thank you Jaime, Peggy and Marilee for donating these lovely items (two of which are handmade!). 
Have you thought of your 2020 Holiday cards? This year will have a special place in all our hearts, why not also send out special Holiday cards?
Have you ever wondered what the inside of a beehive looks like? 
As Philanthropy Director, I’ll start it off with one of my offers! I will do a Zoom Live presentation of “How to make the freshest and best Irish Creme liqueur.” I am practicing as we go to press: setting up my iPad to video myself and get the right angle of the blender and my hands pouring in the ingredients. The list of ingredients and equipment needed will be in a separate document and available by a simple click as you are placing the bid to join the tutorial. You can follow along and we will have a tasting upon completion, or just watch and make your own at a later date! I will set the date for this ‘not to be missed’ recipe at a later date when it is mutually agreed upon. I anticipate this demonstration will last less than an hour and the tasting perhaps longer? 
