Summer Dessert Classes With Angela Ranalli At Le Virtu

This summer, Philadelphia’s favorite practitioner of the kitchen’s darkest arts will lead students deep into the lush world of dessert-making. One Sunday per month, Le Virtu pastry chef (and proud “food mystic”) Angela Ranalli will teach outdoor classes at the restaurant on preparing seasonal and classic Italian desserts from her menu. Weather permitting, classes will be held out on Le Virtu’s new patio (which is almost worth the cost of admission all on its own), and each class includes two desserts and follows a distinct theme. No, incantations to make the dough rise isn’t among them, but semifreddo, fried desserts and grilled desserts are.

Ranalli will teach students tricks to work their magic on fried spaghetti garnish and cleaning and stuffing zucchini flowers. July’s class sounds the most provocative, as Ranalli and her apprentices will fry chocolate ravioli and zucchini flowers (separately) and learn how to make a simple chocolate pasta dough, saffron spumoni, tempura batter, and get tips on working with fichi d’India, or prickly pears.

Two-hour classes cost $65 apiece and will be held on June 30, July 21 and August 18 beginning at noon. Enrollment caps out at 15 students so reservations are recommended.

Le Virtu [Official]

Photo courtesy Kateri Likoudis