Chef visits Kasson-Mantorville students - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

KASSON, Minn. (FOX 47) -- While reading, writing and arithmetic classes are important to education, middle school students at Kasson-Mantorville are getting a lesson in life. And we've all gotta eat!

"You get to experience new things and you get to see everyone's reaction when they try it," 7th grader Alli Schager said.

Sheryl, a Kasson-Mantorville grad, met her husband in Italy while she was visiting friends. While eating at his restaurant she loved his chocolate cake so much she finally just asked for the recipe. And the rest is history.

"He really enjoys teaching the traditions of food and the traditions of Italy here in America," Sheryl said.

Now the duo split their time between Rochester and Italy. The two made a special stop Monday to show students how to make an authentic Italian appetizer.

"Bruschetta can be anything you just have around. It could be beans, it could be peppers, it could be just oil and bread," Sheryl said.

From how to toast the bread and cut the tomatoes to topping it off with a splash of extra virgin olive oil. He shares more than just recipes, he's also spreading a message of being resourceful.

"I like how he used everything. They were going to use the seeds to make salsa," 7th grader Alli Schager said.

At the end of the day, Chef Vincenzo surprised even his toughest critics.

7th grader Jakob Etbauer said, "I never really liked tomatoes but this was really good!"

While Chef Vincenzo doesn't use written recipes, he says a lot of cooking is experimenting and the family recipes you just know by heart.