the cooking class

Andre signed us up to take a cooking class while we were in Rome...and anyone that knows me knew that was music to my ears.  Since I LOVE food, cooking, and of course eating!  

This cooking class was held at Chef Andrea's restaurant Le Fate (in the Trastevere part of Rome). 

One of the best parts of Andrea's restaurant is that it is a 0 km restaurant (meaning that he gets all of his food locally... grown and made!). We had such a great time cooking, laughing, and talking...not to mention that I really learned so much about Roman cuisine.  

Like did you know that, the skin of garlic is where all of the nutrients are found!?!

Well I know all of you are wondering just what we made...

all of the ingredients...all fresh from the market that morning

after admiring and taking lots of pictures we started cooking...

I sliced tomatoes and then fried some eggplant...yum!

the tomatoes, arugula, and eggplants

up close of the fried eggplant...

the colors are just SO pretty...tomatoes, basil, arugula, and eggplant

and of course we made fresh pasta...this pasta is called "priest choker" ;)

Andre rolled lots of this pasta...he was a master pasta roller!!!

we stuffed some zucchini flowers with prosciutto and mozzarella

my mouth is watering just looking at this picture!

one of the tomato sauces that we made...I helped a lot with this one :)

 so after all of our hard work we ( all 12 of us) sat down at a table out in the restaurant

the place setting

the appetizer: zucchini flowers with prosciutto and mozzarella and Southern Style pesto

also know as ...Fiori di Zucca dorati e ripieni con prosciutto e mozzarella con Pesto alla Trapanese

the pesto sauce

man were these good!!!!

then for the first course: fresh homemade pasta with a fresh tomato, basil,and ricotta cheese

Strozzapreti al Pomodoro fresco, basilico e ricotta 

*didn't andre do a great job with the pasta :)

second courses: paper thin beef with arugula, cherry tomatoes and shaves of parmesan

Straccetti di Manzo con Pachino, Rughetta e Scaglie di Parmigiano

the steak was so tender and sweet

Eggplant Parmigiana

Parmigiana di Melanzane

then a side dish: sauteed flat bean with cherry tomatoes

Fagiolini Corallo ripassati in padella

and of course DESSERT: Tiramisu

Tiramisù

us during the meal

the entire group...a couple from Murells Inlet (SC), us, a couple from New York City, 2 friends from Estonia that just graduated from medical school, a couple from Canada, and a mom and son from Sweden

we had such a great time together!!!

my two new friends from Estonia!!!

this cooking class was amazing and one of the highlights from our trip!  Go "here" to see more about Andrea's restaurant Le Fate and "here" for more info on his cooking classes!

and by the way...we loved this restaurant so much that we went back twice for dinner during our stay. The food was extraordinary both times!!!!

Us with Chef Andrea

and Chef's mom with me!!!

if you are visiting Rome this is a must go place for dinner...you will not be sorry!!!

**by the way I am cooking the zucchini flowers, eggplant parmigiana, and the tiramisu tonight :)**