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This November, Luxe Jet Airways invites you to experience the heart of Italy, where passion, tradition, and flavor come together in perfect harmony. Italy’s rich culinary heritage is rooted in simplicity, using fresh, high-quality ingredients to create dishes that are both comforting and refined. From the rolling vineyards of Tuscany to the coastal seafood of Sicily, each region tells its own story through food. Savor handcrafted pasta, world-renowned cheeses, and robust olive oils, all while embracing Italy’s philosophy of la dolce vita—the sweet life. Discover how the Italian approach to slow food, seasonal cooking, and regional specialties can enhance your dining experience and inspire a deeper connection to the meals you enjoy. Throughout November, let Luxe Jet transport you to the timeless flavors of Italy, where every bite is a celebration of culture and craftsmanship.
As the season of gratitude begins, we shift our focus to mindful eating and appreciation for the food we consume. Learn how gratitude can enhance digestion, improve eating habits, and foster a deeper connection to nourishment. From seasonal superfoods to mindful meal practices, this month is about savoring every bite with intention.
Luxe Leaders
Campus Dining by Thompson Hospitality
Corn, Beans, & Squash
The 3 Sisters of Indigenous Cuisine
Before the invention of supermarkets and global food supply chains, Indigenous communities across North America developed a profound understanding of the land. This understanding evolved into one of the most resilient and balanced food systems in agricultural history. The heart of this system is the trio known as the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash. The Three Sisters weren’t just grown together; they formed a symbiotic relationship that nourished the soil, body, and spirit.
For generations, the three sisters have symbolized core values of Indigenous culture, such as sustainability and the connection between community and nature. Corn, beans, and squash were coined the “Three Sisters” by the Iroquois and the Cherokee tribes, according to the USDA National Agricultural Library, because of the way these crops nurture each other like family when planted together.
On the land, they were assembled by placing corn in small hills and planting beans and squash around them, creating a connection between the crops. Corn acts as a natural pole for the beans to climb as they grow; the beans help fix nitrogen in the soil, and the squash provides leaves to shade the ground, preventing the growth of weeds that can damage crops. These crops thrived together and became staples in Indigenous communities, being the prime and reliable source of food in the region.
Corn, beans, and squash, when grown together, provide amino acids from the crops that help form complete proteins, making meat nonessential to their diets. In seasons when obtaining meat to make food was difficult, the three sisters were always available to provide nourishment over an extended period. Indigenous communities would often use the crops in combination, creating a dish known as succotash, which helped enhance the nutritional value of their meals.
Individually, these crops can contribute to improved health, as corn helps regulate blood sugar, supports digestion, and promotes eye health. Beans are crucial to many cultures, providing fiber to diets and lowering cholesterol levels. While often treated like a vegetable, squash is a type of fruit that aids in heart health, combats inflammation,
Across generations, the three sisters have been used to tell stories and legends in indigenous communities, creating a spiritual connection and appreciation for the land, as they are noted as the sustainers of life. They were seen as life-sustaining plants because of the integral part they played. Therefore, within these stories, the crops were personified to emphasize the importance of working together in harmony, rather than
Today, the three sisters still play a crucial role in Indigenous communities, with their stories being passed down and the crops still integrated into modern cuisines.
Brian Yazzie, a Navajo Chef, continues to utilize these crops in his dishes to promote Indigenous American food. Many Indigenous tribes today still employ the three sisters
Corn, beans, and squash are cultivated globally across various cultures. As we appreciate these crops, we should recognize the significance of unity; much like these plants, collaboration can guide us toward a realm of goodness and sustenance.
Grateful Bites
Global Food Traditions
Gratitude knows no limits. Although Thanksgiving in the United States is commonly associated with turkey, ham, baked macaroni and cheese, stuffing, and pie, the true meaning of the holiday lies in giving thanks. This feeling transcends cultures and continents, as people worldwide unite in their unique ways to show appreciation for their family, friends, and the qualities that strengthen their communities.
From West African harvest festivals to Italian family Sunday dinners, gratitude manifests in various forms and flavors. As we delve into diverse cultures this school year, let’s discover the myriad ways people around the globe convey gratitude through food, reminding us that giving thanks is a universal act shaped by time, place, and tradition.
Latin America
Although not an official holiday across Latin America, Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) is occasionally observed in the region, reflecting the traditions of the United States. In Mexico, some people celebrate it on the same day as in the U.S., incorporating their customs into the festivities. Similarly, Brazil recognizes this holiday on the fourth Thursday of November, bringing families together for meals.
Greece
Greece does not observe a dedicated Thanksgiving holiday; instead, gratitude is celebrated during Orthodox religious festivals, such as the Feast of Saint Demetrios, held on October 26th, and the Feast of the Dormition, which begins on August 1st. Both feasts are rooted in ancient traditions, featuring communal meals where food is shared among loved ones, highlighting the themes of connection and abundance that reflect the spirit of giving thanks.
Italy
Gratitude is deeply woven into the everyday food culture of Italy, particularly with family meals, especially Sunday dinners. Instead of Thanksgiving, harvest celebrations such as Festa del Raccolto (Harvest Festival) bring together communities to enjoy pasta dishes, fresh-roasted vegetables, and hearty soups. These meals are shared with loved ones, promoting the spirit of tradition, community, and giving thanks.
West Africa
To show gratitude in Ghana, festivals like Homowo provide the country with an opportunity to rejoice and celebrate overcoming obstacles. Homowo commemorates the land’s triumph over the famine that once ravaged the Greater Accra Region. The festival occurs from late April to May, coinciding with the planting of crops before the upcoming rainy season.
France
In France, gratitude is expressed subtly during La Fête de la Moisson (The Wheat Harvest festival) in rural areas. Although it is not a national holiday, this event marks the end of the wheat harvest season, which typically occurs in July or early August. It serves as a platform to appreciate agriculture, which plays a central role in the community.
The Future of Communication
Exploring the World of Artificial Intelligence
Communication is evolving at a pace we’ve never seen before, with artificial intelligence leading the charge. Today, we have smart fridges that notify us when we’re low on essentials, as well as the expiration date, and AI assistance that drafts and edits emails, schedules appointments, or holds conversations. The lines between human connection and artificial communication are blurring, with about 40 percent of United States adults aged 64 using generative AI in some way, according to Elfsight.com. This has become a great convenience for many, shifting how we interact with technology and each other.
Contrary to common belief, we interact with artificial intelligence daily, often without realizing it. Examples include social media, GPS, and facial recognition on our smartphones, all of which are powered by AI.
This technology empowers computers and machines to execute complex tasks, with the most advanced systems mimicking human thought processes. When focusing on AI communication, it merges computer science, linguistics, and data processing, allowing systems to participate in conversations, respond to both simple and complex inquiries, and even decipher tone and emotion.
In 1956, a professor at Dartmouth College established a summer workshop aimed at exploring concepts related to thinking machines, coining the term “artificial intelligence.” This conference is frequently regarded as the inception of AI research, as its objective was to uncover how machines could generate complex concepts previously solvable only by humans. The research rapidly gained traction, being embraced by technology firms and government agencies to enhance their strategies and improve human experiences.
Over time, AI programs have evolved from simple bots into sophisticated systems through advanced data training, seamlessly merging into our daily lives without our notice. From responsive chatbots that address our questions on shopping sites to personal virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, which organize our schedules and reminders, AI quietly guides us through life.
When confronted with a foreign language, translation software like Google Translate facilitates instant communication across the globe. While browsing social media, you may notice that your feed is tailored to your interests, thanks to AI tracking the content you interact with most. When using search engines, your phone, or writing applications like Microsoft Word, you may notice the program anticipating your next word; this is also a manifestation of AI’s capabilities.
To enhance these advanced capabilities, AI is trained by humans, exposing it to massive amounts of data that align with the program it is being trained for, such as text data (books, articles, webpages) for language models, art pieces for art models, and mathematical equations for mathematical models to name a few. As more information becomes available, AI programs are updated, with data scientists handling the baseline training and constantly observing to provide feedback that improves the programs they manage, ensuring that they are continuously learning and refining their responses. Although they appear to be as such, these machines aren’t truly sentient. However, AI is learning to increase its ability to process nuance, making it more intuitive and relatable than ever before.
As AI advances, so do the ethical issues related to its application. The stark reality is that AI’s performance depends on the quality of its training, and errors can have serious consequences. The primary concern focuses on the reliability of the information provided by AI. A 2024 study by the news outlet Defense One revealed that the widely used AI tool ChatGPT agreed with established inaccuracies between 4.8 percent and 26 percent of the time, varying by category. Although these figures may seem low, they are concerning given the number of users who depend on this platform. There has also been a growing issue with deepfakes, a digitally altered video of a person used for false or malicious information, being amplified, and more biased content challenging factual information.
To combat these challenges, developers need to build AI with fairness and accountability in mind so that people remain informed. For users, it is essential always to verify information and question the sources provided by AI. The program is prone to human error, and to address this, we must stay curious rather than unquestioningly trusting it.
Though AI is revolutionizing the human experience, we must prioritize responsibility by embracing transparency, ethics, and digital literacy. By staying informed and thoughtful about how we use these tools, we can ensure that the future of communication is not only practical and intelligent but also equitable and human-centered.
Polenta
A rustic staple from northern Italy, polenta is made from ground cornmeal and is traditionally served soft and warm, topped with stewed meat, melted cheese, or hearty vegetables. Its versatility and satisfying texture make it a go-to comfort food, especially in the mountain regions.
Pasta e Fagioli
Translated to “pasta and beans,” this humble yet hearty soup consists of small pasta noodles, cannellini or borlotti beans, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. Rich in flavor and traditions, this nourishing meal is deeply tied to Italian family life.
Lasagna alla Bologese
Layered with fresh pasta, meat sauce, béchamel, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, this dish is a rich comfort food staple. Baked to perfection, it’s a classic for Sunday dinners or holiday gatherings with loved ones.
Gnocchi al Pomodoro
These soft potato dumplings are fluffy and satisfying, particularly when served with a basic tomato sauce infused with garlic and basil. Gnocchi al Pomodoro showcases the Italian ability to transform simple ingredients into a comforting dish that feels like a warm hug.
Ribollita
Historically made from leftovers and reheated the following day, this Tuscan vegetable and bread soup is an excellent way to utilize your fresh ingredients. This hearty, fiber-packed stew usually includes kale, beans, carrots, and bread, making it perfect for chilly nights and recognized for its sustainability.
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An Ethical Harvest
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DINING EVENTS + NOVEMBER
Italy’s Ethics of Olive Harvesting TheGoldGreen
Nicknamed “green gold,” olive oil is at the heart of Italian cuisine, culture, and commerce. While many outside of Italy know olive oil as the finishing touch, this liquid is a symbol of regional pride, the lifeline of rural economies, and a sacred connection between the people and the land.
Every drop of olive oil carries a generation of agricultural wisdom. From Tuscany to Apulia, families in the region have tended olive trees for centuries, often on the same plots of land that have been passed down through time. The methods of cultivation, harvest, and pressing have been honed and refined with techniques varying from one village to another. As the world leans toward conscious consumerism, the story of Italian olive oil symbolizes sustainability, ethics, and heritage. Today, the average consumer wants to know where their food comes from, how it was made, and who is behind it.
Not all olive oils are made the same, and while industrial harvesting methods may create a higher quantity, they often come with environmental disruptions. Machine harvesting, for instance, can cause some bruising to the crops, leading to a reduction in quality and stress to the olive trees.
In contrast, hand-picking, although labor-intensive, requires low equipment costs and is gentle on olive trees, making it ideal for high-quality oils. For live oil production, many farmers focus on hand-picking to ensure optimal results. Supporting local producers who embrace the techniques helps keep smaller farms alive and reduces the carbon footprint compared to mass production.
However, cultural traditions play a significant role, leading to a desire for an agricultural method that often involves hand-picking, which is frequently tied to heritage practices. Nevertheless, many farmers use a combination of techniques, with machines making it easier to access areas and hand-picking used to access difficult terrain, creating a balance that reduces environmental harm.
To ensure that the proper harvest method is used on the land, Italian farmers carefully inspect the land, focusing on several key factors, including grove size, terrain conditions, budget for investment, and quality goals. This consideration leads to advanced production and optimal olive harvesting, giving us the tasty olive oil we love today.
Next time you add a spoonful of olive oil to your meal, remember you are savoring not just history but also a culinary treasure. The attention farmers pay to harvesting techniques reflects how crucial fresh ingredient cultivation is to Italians, embodying meaningful and sustainable traditions that are passed down through generations. This choice nourishes not only your body but also the roots of an entire culture.
FEATURED RECIPE OnePan ParmesanGarlicGnocchi
Ingredients
ب 1 medium shallot
ب 4 garlic cloves
ب 4 ounces baby portobello or white button mushrooms
ب 1 packed cup baby spinach (about 1 ounce)
ب 1/2 bunch fresh thyme leaves, divided
ب 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese
ب 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6)
Directions
ب 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
ب 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving
ب 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
ب 1 tablespoon olive oil
ب 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
ب 1 pound shelf-stable potato gnocchi
ب 3 cups whole or 2% milk
1. Finely dice one medium shallot (about 1/4 cup)—mince four garlic cloves.
2. Trim and halve 4 ounces of baby portobello or white button mushrooms, if larger than 2 inches in diameter, then slice.
3. Coarsely chop one packed cup of baby spinach. Pick the leaves from 1/2 bunch fresh thyme until you have one tablespoon, then coarsely chop. Set aside one teaspoon of the thyme for garnish.
4. If needed, finely grate 1 1/2 ounces of Parmesan cheese (about 3/4 cup, packed) or measure out 1/4 cup plus two tablespoons of store-bought grated cheese. Cut one medium lemon into wedges for serving.
5. Season 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper all over.
6. Melt one tablespoon of the unsalted butter and one tablespoon of olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron or high-sided stainless steel skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook until deeply browned, with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registering 165°F, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
7. Add one tablespoon of unsalted butter to the pan and let it melt. Add the shallot and cook until soft and golden, about 30 seconds. Next, add the mushrooms, two teaspoons of thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. Sauté until the mushrooms release their liquid and brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Finally, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
8. Sprinkle two tablespoons of all-purpose flour evenly over the mushrooms and cook until the flour begins to brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add 3 cups whole or 2% milk and bring to a rapid simmer, whisking constantly.
9. Add 1 pound of potato gnocchi (break apart if needed). Cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and the gnocchi are tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add Parmesan and spinach, stirring until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts. Nestle the chicken in the gnocchi mixture, leaving any juices on the plate. Garnish with the remaining teaspoon of thyme and extra black pepper, and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
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daniela.smallwood@thompsonhospitality.com (571) 446–7430
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