| Description: | This course is an historical-gastronomical journey inside the world of Venice and its maritime empire. Every lesson touches an historical or cultural theme which develops the traditions of taste in the lagoon, thanks to the introduction of new spices (like ground pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin or cloves) coming from maritime trade. Wine was also very important as part of the Venetian diet and this aspect of cuisine will also be dealt with. The historical journey will start in the 12th century (a period of maximum commercial and political power of Venice in the Mediterranean and the Far East) and conclude in the 20th Century with the glorious period of "Biennale d'arte", the "Mostra del Cinema" and the presence of writers and artists in the lagoon such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Igor Stravinsky, Joseph Brodsky and Peggy Guggenheim. Several classes will be dedicated to the contribution of the Jewish community to traditional Venetian cuisine. |