Instructor studies international cuisine

Chef Joe Askren took his passion for cooking to new heights over the summer.

Askren and other instructors at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus recently visited Italy to brush up on agriculture practices, such as growing techniques and other methods to prepare farm fresh foods.

Askren visited a community-based vegetable garden, Orti Dipinti, and learned about different types of irrigation systems and practices.

He plans to utilize versions of the techniques in his own classroom at the Culinary Innovation Lab on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

The East County instructor, who roomed with other teachers in an apartment provided by USF, also taught classes three afternoons per week. He discussed the differences and similarities of preparing like foods in different countries. 

Now, Askren may be more of a food lover than he already was. 

"The trip was just amazing," Askren said. "What better place to teach about food than the birthplace of the Renaissance?"