26 • Thursday, January 26, 2012
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
La Tavolo Cooking Classes Offer A Taste of Italy
Mary Jo Gagliano’s Italian heritage began in Ribera, Sicily. The people of Ribera farmed land and were overseen by the Padrone, who accounted to the land owner who was called the Barone. Eventually immigrating to America in the early 1900s, settling in Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Jo’s grandfather, along with his brother and two of their uncles, worked in the coal mines and saved enough money to buy land. They did what they knew best, farming. Mary Jo is the second daughter born to Peitro and Isabelle Tortorigi. She considers herself so blessed to be born of Italian heritage. Mary Jo’s mother was a great cook and inspiration, putting together ingredients she had in the pantry, to create delicious dishes. Mary Jo’s mother taught her to be creative with cooking and that it was just a matter of experimenting, which she teaches in her classes. Mary Jo has more than forty years of cooking, experimenting with ingredients and learning from many mentors. Mary Jo gives credit to her Zia Laboria, her cousin Angela, who grew up in Ribera, Sicily. In the early 1990’s Mary Jo and her husband and children began traveling to Sicily to visit with their families. Mary Jo always returned to Birmingham with some fantastic new recipes. It is during these trips that Mary Jo and her family truly discovered their heritage and its food and culture. All this has led Mary Jo to share her love and knowledge of food in her fun and informative cooking classes. “This is a hands on cooking class for up to six people taught in a setting that will make you feel like you are in the countryside in Sicily,” says Mary Jo. “This is a great girls’ night out or even a date night with your significant other where you will jump right into the mix and create your own Sicilian dish. “Learn how to cook a tantalizing Sicilian delicacy, and enjoy your glass of wine on the loggia overlooking our amazing gardens, pool, Bocce court and lake. “This is an event that will touch all of your senses and leave you wanting more. DELIZIoSo!”
Sign up for classes at latavolo.com or call 531-2796.
Above: The basement where the family sought shelter in during the tornado is now Charlotte Ann’s art studio. Below left: The Adams’ 3-year-old daughter’s room is decorated with light blue and pink. Charlotte Ann refurbished the chandelier, and her sister painted the striped dresser. Below right: The sitting room in the kitchen has become the family’s Photos by Daniel Taylor Photography gathering place since they are still in the process or updating their den.
“People have really just been so wonderful,” she said. “We probably had about 30 people offer us a place to stay, and Jonathan Burch, he drove by one day and said ‘I want to help share your burden.’ That’s just been such a sweet blessing.” Charlotte Ann
the basement into her art studio, and the closet is used for storage. from page 23 While the inside of the house has grandfather Luther Powell are found come a long way since the storm, To: hooverantiques@bellsouth.net throughout the house. Charlotte Ann Charlotte Ann said the yard would From: Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 even uses her artistic skills to decorate take more time. The four oak trees Date: Jan. 2012 their living space. She converted a felled by the storm were around five Hydrafacial facial Pottery Barn train table into a coffee feet in diameter. This is your aDHydraprOOFofrom The MOunTain JOurnal for the Jan. 26, 2012 issue. Smart Skin introduces the new ne ythe earOver memberSHiPS table by covering the top with mosaic “They were probably over 150 facial (As seen on The Doctors). The fax approval or changes to 824-1246. $50please once a month Ultimate Trio tile. years,” she said. Hydrafacial is the newest advance in $70 twice a month Ultimate Trio In theirincluding 3 year old’s room, she Without the oak trees, the yard non-laser resurfacing. This is the only please make sure information is correct, address Includes:all Microdermabrasion, procedure that combines cleansing, refurbished an old chandelier and was flat and barren. But thanks to an Ultrasound, Oxygen jet facial, and exfoliation, extractions, hydration and painted it pink to match the rest of unexpected gift, Charlotte Ann said, light hand and facial phone massage andnumber! anti-oxidant protection resulting in custom masque room. A friend painted an old please initial and fax back withinthe24 hours. they have made some progress. clearer more beautiful skin.not Be heard one of from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, if we have yourwith ad will runand as is. We stripes, print the paper “We now have a magnolia, some dresser pink white $120 Dermawave and RFT the first 50 clients and receive your first Monday. and pink curtains cover the closet dogwoods, azaleas and river birches,” Dermawave Aquaphoresis great Hydrafacial for only $75 Charlotte Ann opted for curtains she said. “A complete stranger gave for fine lines,you wrinkles, Thank for shrinking your promptspace. attention. large pores, acne and acne scarring, instead of closet doors in all the bedthem to us through a friend. We $50 illuminize Peel and reducing jawls, tightening neck area, rooms. didn’t pay a dime. They just gave Pro-ligHt tHeraPy and improving overall skin texture. Their oldest daughter’s room is also everything to us.” Brighten, tighten and glow with no RFT (radio frequency technology) pink. Green and pink toile curtains The trees were donated through peeling or downtime with Illuminize Stimulates the collagen, reshapcover her closet space. landscaper Jonathan Burch, owner Peel and reduce redness, irritation and ing and lifting your face for a more The girls share a Jack and Jill bath- of Yard, and Charlotte Ann said rosacea with Pro-Light Therapy. youthful appearance. You can see a room that was a walk-in closet when he and his family continue to offer difference after one treatment! the Adamses purchased the house. The their help, as have others, while the SmootH SHaPeS XV flooring is tiled with 1-inch hexagon Adamses recovered from the storm one year memberSHiP marble tiles and the countertop is damage. Smooth Shapes XV for cellulite and Carrera marble giving the room a clas“People have really just been so skin tightening. Skin tightening for the sic, timeless look. entire body in just 20 min. with no pain wonderful,” she said. “We probably and no down time. Another change the couple made to had about 30 people offer us a place $75 once a month the layout was the addition of a main to stay, and Jonathan Burch, he drove $120 twice a month level laundry room. by one day and said ‘I want to help Jump Start your results $450 for 6 “The laundry room was an old, share your burden.’ That’s just been Smooth Shapes XV three times a week cramped bathroom,” Charlotte Ann such a sweet blessing.” for two weeks and receive Smart Skin’s said. “It was just so small, it really Charlotte Ann has even been able Cellulite Treatment cream as our gift wasn’t functional, so we turned it to turn some of the devastation left to you! into a laundry room. The girls picked behind by the tornado into artwork. the color because it was called She’s saved bark from some of the ‘Enchanted.’ It’s a light purple.” oaks to make bowls or paintings. The old laundry room happened to “We’ve also got the four big 32 ChurCh Street (Next to Steeple ArtS) • 205.871.8707 be in the basement closet that the famstumps in the yard,” she said. “I’m ily was hiding in the day the tornado www.smartskinmedspa.com not sure what we’ll do with those, but hit. Now, Charlotte Ann has converted they’ll be something.” ❖
S m a rt S k i n m e d S pa New Year New More Beautiful You!
S m a rt S k i n m e d S pa
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