One last day in Rome

Today was our last day in Rome - we had pretty loose plans for the day, but last minute, Zoe and I booked in for a pasta making class at a local restaurant.

I woke up a bit before everyone else, so I took the chance to sneak out to the local cafe and enjoy a quiet coffee and pastry alone.

We got up this morning and headed to the Gusti restaurant (about 3km) for our class, which promised to teach us how to make fettucine, ravioli and tiramisu.

Our chef instructor, Lory, was Sicilian, and very spirited and enthusiastic.  She started by walking us through the basic steps of tiramisu, and then had us all mixing and rolling out pasta like pros.

We then cut some of our pasta into fettucine, and made some into ravioli.  It was super fun and Zoe and I had a great time. We also enjoyed eating the fruits of our labours, and a little wine, limoncello (for me) and green apple juice (for Z - her limoncello days will come soon enough, lol).

Zoe opted for tomato basil sauce

I went with cacio e pepe and they were quite generous with the sauce. Yum.

Cheers - we did it!

I had my pasta with cacio e pepe and Zoe opted for a pomodoro sauce.    Our ravioli was served with butter and sage.  We both enjoyed our tiramisu, although Zoe discovered she might have overdone it a bit on the cocoa powder dusting (though in her defense, Lory did say to use LOTS of cocoa).

While we were busy learning to make our own pasta, Brad and Rosie visited a local trattoria and enjoyed some pasta of their own (Rosie was all too keen to remind me that I PAID to make my own pasta, and she got to eat hers with a lot less effort).  Rosie even got outfitted with a bib to keep her dress nice and pristine.  I think full tummies were enjoyed by all four family members, which was a welcome situation, given the gastro issues of the last few days.

For dinner tonight, we again headed out to the Trastavere neighbourhood, which is adjacent to the Testaccio neighbourhood where we are staying.  Where Testaccio seems to be a relatively quiet quarter frequented primarily by Italians and peppered with small unassuming, bars, restaurants, cafes and trattorias, Trastavere is a much more trendy spot, replete with both tourists and Italians alike, and filled with very busy and tasty restaurants.

Since Brad and I enjoyed our date night meal so much last night at Tonnarello, we decided to head back there tonight.  We were escorted down to a table in the cellar (I was hoping it would be nice and cool, but alas....it really wasn't), but the food was again tasty. I'm pleased to report that I've been in Rome three days and eaten cacio e pepe no fewer than four times (I REGRET NOTHING) and have also tasted loads of pizza too.  Rome has definitely been the culinary highlight of the trip.  Alas, we were too full to enjoy dessert, but it was a great evening out.

Cheers to one last dinner on our trip!

Did someone say cacio e pepe?? 

Literally ordered the house red because it came in these too-cute old school Chianti bottles

It's been a pretty amazing trip, whisking us around Greece/Croatia/Montenegro and Italy.  I think we're all looking forward to being home in our own beds and getting back into our 'normal' routines, as crazy as they are.

Being ridiculous tourists in Piazza di Santa Maria

And I, for one, am very much looking forward to cool fall nights, air conditioning, and my very comfy bed.

Arrivederci Roma - until we meet again.