A Gift From Pat – Mariposa Kitchen

A couple of years ago – before he moved to Auburn to enter vet school - our son, Patrick, and I took some cooking classes together at Mezzo Mezzo, Giovanni della Renta’s Sicilian restaurant in San Rafael, now sadly closed.

Pat and I had a great time together and we actually learned quite a bit that we have been able to put to good use ever since, although the Italian ingredients section of the Auburn supermarkets is apparently rather limited.

This past Christmas, Pat, knowing how much I had enjoyed the cooking class, gave me a couple of lesson’s at Caroline Fey’s Mariposa Kitchen which he came across after scouting around online. This past Tuesday I went to Caroline’s place in the Marina to take the first of those classes, entitled “Mediterranean Seafood,” at which we learned to prepare:

~ Fennel, Pernod and Chorizo Mussels with Saffron Aioli and Crusty Bread
~ Grilled Prawns with Caper-Garlic Butter
~ Warm Squid Salad with White Beans, Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Arugula
~ Steamed Halibut with Fennel, Blood Oranges, Kalamata Olives and Feta
~ Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Curd and Pine Nut Brittle

We started out the evening with some wine and a very nice cheese tray, and a few instructions from Caroline.

Then we donned our aprons and headed to the kitchen to get to work. Although Caroline’s place is not overly spacious, it is very comfortable and her kitchen was large enough to allow the eight of us who were there to work without bumping into each other too much.

Amazingly, thanks to Caroline’s great organization and leadership, we got everything done about the same time, and everything turned out GREAT. We then adjourned to the dining room table to enjoy our handiwork.






I am looking forward to my second class in the near future. Thanks again Caroline and, especially, Pat!!