Friday evening, after a delectable menu at Mami Camilla Cooking School of steamed artichokes with potatoes, pici pasta carbonara, roasted lamb, and a mille foglie (a layered puff pastry dessert with lemon custard and strawberries), my Sister Mary Lauren, our friend Sarah and myself were off to Rome for the weekend.  The photographs from books and the scenes from movies that I had seen of Rome (one of my favorite movies, Roman Holiday, comes to mind) were a nice introduction to this majestic city, but nothing beats visually and physically surrounding yourself with the incredible sights that this city has to offer.

We started our weekend Saturday morning with a nice breakfast on our terrace, followed by a stroll through the market in Campo de Fiori.  What an incredibly colorful market scene of flowers, fresh produce, and local culinary treats like pasta and truffle oil, all surrounded by an array of local cafes and boutiques.  Truly a market-lovers paradise!  Crates of tiny heirloom tomatoes, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, vats of sundried tomatoes, and a meat cart selling traditional porchetta caught our eyes.

Following our trip to the market we strolled over to the Bocca della Verita, or ‘mouth of truth’ for a photo and then onto the grandeur that is the Coliseum.   After a lunch including classic dishes like melon and prosciutto, pizza margherita, and an insalata with mushrooms, pecorino cheese, and walnuts, we explored the Forum, Palantine Hill, and the Pantheon. All indescribable sights that illustrate the wonder of the city’s past rulers, social events, and the everyday lives of ancient Romans.

We ended our day with cocktails at a wine bar overlooking the Spanish Steps and an incredible dinner at the restaurant situated on top of the Hassler Hotel.  The cherry on top of the sundae was a nighttime visit to Trevi Fountain (‘Fontana di Trevi’)—fantastically lit up in all of its glory.   This Roman Holiday was one for the books.  So much so, that I am already planning another solo-Roman Holiday next month, to dive into their unique museum scene.

Tagged: culinary school, externship, Italy, Mami Camilla, Rome