Today was definitely one of the best of the trip so far.
We decided to get up a bit earlier than usual since we had somewhere to be at 10, and we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to get there and find the meeting point. (Mind you, where we were meeting and why was a secret to me still as it was the second part of my birthday surprise). We were in an area of Rome near the Jewish Ghetto, where we’d explored and had dinner the night before. Our arrival in the piazza granted us the hustle and bustle of a farmers market, through witch we wandered a bit before going to the meeting point.Today was definitely one of the best of the trip so far.
We decided to get up a bit earlier than usual since we had somewhere to be at 10, and we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to travel across town and eat breakfast before heading to a farmers market nearby. We had coffee and pastries in a small cafe as we made our way to the piazza. Once we arrived in the marketplace, I was blown away by the vibrant colors of all the produce lining the stalls and booths. Each one had a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, brightly colored pastas, Limoncello, balsamic vinegar, clothing, jewelry and more.
As we wandered through that market, Laura asked me if I had any guesses as to what the second part of my birthday surprise was. We had already been to a winery in Orvieto, and the only other thing we’d talked about doing would be a pasta making class. And seeing as how she knows my love of pasta, that was my only guess. Now, anyone who knows me knows that pasta brings me more joy than nearly anything else in this world. Laura, being my cousin and a few years older than me, has known me all my life, and has heard many conversations about my obsession with pasta. Since she also happens to love me quite a lot, she went above and beyond to make this short get away very special by reserving us a spot with a top rated local chef who teaches pasta making classes. To say I was happy when I found out is an understatement. Today, we learned how to make two classic Italian pasta dishes from scratch and by hand, just as Our host Silvia’s Nonna had taught her years ago. We spent the morning exploring the farmers market, tasting fruits, cheese, and vegetables, sipping balsamic vinegar, and learning about seasonal produce before walking down the street to her apartment to cook. The best souvenir I could possibly take home is my newly acquired knowledge of how to make pasta by hand at home. Thank you so much to our host Silvia Portentoso for welcoming us into your home and teaching us to make a few traditional pasta dishes. Please check out her class through Air BNB if you are in Rome and interested in pasta making. (A link to her profile is at the bottom of this post, and another blog post will follow with a more detailed description of the class itself). These simple dishes were some of the best we had while here, and I will be making pasta at home as soon as I get home to the USA!
After class, our group discussed a few places that Silvia considers special spread throughout Rome and we all pulled out our maps and prepared to explore. We hiked to the top of a hill where she had said we’d be able to catch a good view overlooking the city and some of the most popular sites. Once we made it up the hill (God, I need to get back to the gym) we sat on the sun warmed stone wall and snacked on the fresh grapes and figs we had purchased at the market after class. Once we kick started our bellies into action. We decided to go home and get cleaned up before going out to dinner and a show. For dinner we ate at the Angelino Ai Fori dal 1947, where I tasted the classic Carrbonara pasta dish. Which I appreciated the bacon and the flavors, it was not quite what I had been expecting. Maybe I will try to make it at home and see what alterations I can give it to make it more my style. We followed dinner with a show at the Forum of Augustus, where the gave us a headset with English narration of a light show that was projected onto the historic site. This show gave us a bit of a history lesson on Augustus and the design of his forum, as well as the culture of the time, and time gone by. It answered many of the questions about Rome that Laura and I had though of over the past few days and was a wonderful evening. Tickets were only $15 dollars, and well worth the 45 minutes.
All in all, today was on of my favorites of this trip, and I am so blessed to have spent such an amazing day with one of my favorite people in this amazing place of living history.
~Kelly
Silvia Portentoso: She can be found via Facebook and Instagram, but does her primary booking through Air BNB, linked here. abnb.me/EVmg/TQCX3W9csG
Devine Perks 