Hey Nonna Nancy

Don't get me wrong, I love my grandmother. And yet, I sometimes wish for a little Italian grandma. I imagine her always wearing her hair in a bun. I would call her Nonna and she'd slap my hand with a wooden spoon when I tried to sneak a taste of dinner. And above all, she would pass down to me the secret family recipes for gnocchi and the best sauces on earth. Alas. But if you also lacked an Italian granny, you can still learn some tips on preparing Southern Italian dishes at Central Market's Celebration of Southern Italian Cooking with Nancy Harmon Jenkins at 6:30 p.m. Friday. She'll discuss "mindful eating" as you enjoy a meal including three-onion focaccia, pork braised in red wine with chocolate, and sliced oranges with sugar and marsala served with almond cake. I sure hope she's somebody's Nonna. Cost is $65. Visit centralmarket.com.
Fri., Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m., 2008