Caffè e Torta

About a week and a half ago Hailey and I went on a field trip to one of the local Italian Pasticcerias (pastry shops) called Stradellas. While there one of the pastry chefs gave us a demonstration on how to make and decorate one of Italy's most popular cakes, Ciliegio Amaretto Torta (Cherry Amaretto Cake). Hailey's 1st grade teacher warned our chef to leave out the amaretto and only use cherry juice because the children would be eating the cake later for snack. Our chef said, "Va, bene! Va bene!", but later I found out from Hailey that the cake had lots of alcohol in it... Maybe our chef forgot... Or maybe he was saying Va bene, Va bene because he thought a little liquor wouldn't hurt anyone... Either way, only on a school field trip in Italy would our children be given cake laced with liquor! ... Viva Italia!... After the demonstration and tour of the shop all the children received a cup of cioccolata calda e biscotti ( Hot chocolate and a cookie) and the parents were able to purchase some machiatto e torta( Coffee and cake). It was delicious! Most shops also makes their hot chocolate super thick in Italy. It's almost like they just melt a chocolate bar in a cup! Yummy! As you can see from Hailey and her friend Avery the hot chocolate was a hit!