The Lederman Kitchen

Remember my cousin Phillip and his partner Marlon from our trip to Rome ?  If you don't, Brian and I had an amazing trip last June visiting them in Rome.  Well, they pulled out their warmest jackets, hats and scarfs and headed over to Dublin for Thanksgiving weekend. Jeff, a long time friend of Phillip's, recently moved to Dublin and turns out he and Phillip have spent a number of Thanksgivings together, all over the place - so Thanksgiving in Dublin seemed appropriate. It was great fun for us.  We were graciously invited over to Jeff and his partner Gerry's for Thanksgiving dinner.  They made huge and delicious dinner, and we enjoyed every bite of it.  I'm still dreaming about the sweet potatoes, they weren't marshmallow topped (yuck), but much better and still sweet.  They were so good.  And I'm pretty sure Brian is not going to forget the stuffing for years to come.    The rest of the weekend we spent doing some touristy stu...

Rome is packed full of amazing sights, history and delicious and fresh food.  It really was a fantastic weekend and we are already dreaming of all the other places we want to visit in Italy while we are so close.  Hope you enjoyed  Rome Part 1 - The Hosts & Neighborhood & Rome Part 2 - An Unexpected Second Honeymoon ! Below are some of the photos you would expect to see from a trip to Rome, all the amazing sights. The Trevi fountain - you can't see much of it in this first photo, but it's truly amazing and huge.  We both threw some € over our shoulder and into the fountain, which, legend has it, ensures you will return to Rome - yes please! Here is the full view of Trevi Fountain The Spanish Steps.  They are always crowded, and it was really hot.  We didn't spend much time here, but walked up a few flights. Looking down Looking up After we left the crowds at The Spanish Steps, we walked down the cutest back stree...

While in Rome last weekend, Brian and I had a taste of discrimination while trying to get a table at a restaurant, which all ended in us being on a second honeymoon. Here is how it all went down. We were looking for a good, traditional italian dinner in the neighborhood we were staying in,  Trastevere .  After some research, Brian came across  Roma Sparita .  It looked like the perfect place.  Located in a quaint neighborhood Piazza, off the beaten track and known for their Cacio e Pepe, a traditional Roman dish. Roma Sparita - photo: Meckley's Travel Blog We arrived at Roma Sparita around 10pm and politely asked the host (who we're pretty sure is the owner), if he spoke English (in Italian) and then proceeded to ask for a table for 2.  His reply, "All full tonight". We receded to the perimeter of the patio and observed.  The response didn't seem logical.  Yes, there were a few groups waiting for tables but far more tables eati...

We had a wonderful holiday weekend in Rome last weekend, and owe a HUGE thank you to my cousin Phillip and his partner Marlon, who were fantastic hosts. Not only was their apartment in a very cool part of town, but we walked into to a room full of guide books, a phone & charger, fresh towels and extra toiletries, in case we forgot something.  I mean, come on. This is the door to their apartment, loved it. Shot of the neighborhood On top of everything, they cooked us a 4 course italian meal on Sunday night that was so good.  A big thank you to Phillip and Marlon for the wonderful company and hospitality.  We hope they make it over to Dublin to visit us. I didn't get a shot of the dessert, I guess I was too eager to eat it One of the best things about staying with locals are their tips and recommendations that make you feel like a local, even if it's for just a few days. Every morning, Brian and I started our day with a cappuccino and croissant at the ...