Honestly, there’s a time and place to impulsively eat supermarket checkout line chocolate, but not this week. Instead, look for a deeper relationship with chocolate, appreciating each lovely characteristic. Your matchmakers and counselors? The Cacao Atlanta chocolate crafters will lead chocolate lovers through a guided tasting during a Chocolate Workshop at Bellina Alimentari on Tuesday, February 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. Sniffing, tasting and reflecting on each nuance...the engagement process is similar to that of a wine tasting but without the spit buckets. While you’re licking your fingers, Cacao Atlanta chocolatiers will share a little bit about ethical sourcing and the processes that go into creating their artisanal chocolates. After class, receive 10 percent off purchases in The Market at Bellina Alimentari -- and the market is chock full of chocolates. Valentine's gift hint here. Added bonus: Flashy supermarket displays will be less distracting because you’ve unwrapped the real thing. That’s love. Sign up online at Mercato di Bellina or call 404-330-9933.
In an Italian expression nutshell, food is life is love. With this in mind, Tal Baum, owner of Bellina Alimentari, is ramping up the romance during February with ways to “Show Love Through Food.” From February 12-14, couples can enjoy an intimate dinner for two at Bellina’s Wine Bar with prosecco toasts, artisanal cheeses and meats, two signature pasta dishes for fork twirling and chocolate bread pudding for $38 per person; add wine pairings for $30 per person. For those whose love language is creating and learning together, Bellina Alimentari’s Culinary Club offers special classes including a Cacao Chocolate Workshop on Tuesday, February 9 from 6-7 p.m. ($30 per person); a Valentine’s Dinner for Two lesson with pasta tasting on Wednesday, February 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. ($48 per person); and Pasta Date Night, leading to romantic pastabilities, on Thursday, February 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. ($80 per couple). Take your sweet time finding just the right Valentine’s gift in Bellina Alimentari’s Market where shelves show off fine Italian chocolates, balsamic vinegars, biscotti and more. Shop in-store and online for thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts such as a Date Night Box with all the ingredients needed to prepare an easy dinner for two ($32), a Truffle Dinner Date ($58) or the Dolce Vita with a choice of Italian treats ($75) so sweet that conversation hearts do not even belong in the conversation.
Ingest useful and delicious new culinary skills this month
by participating in one or more Culinary Club cooking or wine classes at Bellina Alimentari in Ponce City
Market.
- Pack kids’ lunch boxes, Italian-style, after absorbing easy
and fun children’s meal ideas for balanced lunches from Bellina owner and mom
Tal Baum during a 10 a.m.-noon class on Thursday, January 14 ($45 per person).
- Youngsters and tweens will have a ball mixing and shaping
pasta with mom or dad and chef David Berry during an interactive Kids Kitchen
class on Tuesday, January 19 from 4-5 p.m. ($45 for child age 8-12 and adult).
- Find out what makes natural wines so appealing -- and why
Bellina loves their honesty. A guided wine tasting traverses Italy’s regions
and offers guests five samples accompanied by Italian nibbles, all on
Wednesday, January 20 from 6-7 p.m. ($45 per person).
- Rise up and start making your own bread, inspired by chef
Berry’s hands-on bread-making class and an accompanying breads and spreads
tasting on Tuesday, January 26 from 6-7 p.m. ($45 per person).
- At “Aperitivo Time,” learn how to host your own aperitivo,
or Italian happy hour, when people come together for a drink and simple bites
before dinner. Learn how to make a Spritz Campari and aperitivo board, eat what
you’ve made and receive 10 percent off any market purchase right after class
($45 per person).
Register and pay for classes online (8 percent sales
tax will be added) or call 404-330-9933.
Bellina Alimentari chef David Berry shows how to make delicious, fresh pasta to last through the holidays during two upcoming Culinary Club classes. Berry covers pasta making basics in a hands-on cooking class on Thursday, November 19 from 6-7 p.m. ($15 per person). Next up, your new holiday tradition! Make pillows of fresh creamy pumpkin-filled ravioli with melted butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano and sage sauce on Monday, November 23 from 6-7 p.m. When all is al dente, pasta prepsters will taste the pasta and sauces they’ve prepared together. ($20 per person). To save a seat in either class, stop by the Italian eatery and shop in Ponce City Market, email events@bellina-alimentari.com or call 404-330-9933. (Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee)
