A beautiful and brisk, and very windy 7C Sunday is the perfect kind of a day for the heartiest of Italian comfort foods: polenta. We’re one of the smaller towns immediately north of Rome; our tiny historic center is composed of two streets that meet at a small piazza where the polenta festival took place….
When in Rome
Rome’s best gelato, artisanally made by master gelataio Claudio Torcé
There’s gelato, and there’s gelato….and then there’s Claudio Torcé‘s gelato. Everyone who visits Rome wants to try a great gelato, and there are so many gelaterie out there (hundreds) that the unknowing traveler can easily stumble upon bad gelato. It’s easy to weed out the gelaterie displaying puffy, whipped products in unnatural colors. Claudio Torcé’s…
Crema di Caffè
Crema di Caffè. Served in a small cup, not much larger than an espresso cup. It’s almost like a soft ice cream, and each coffee bar makes its own. This one, in Sacrofano north of Rome, was delightful. A blend of espresso, milk, cream and sugar freshly made and constantly churning to maintain its delicious…
Osteria
This centro storico restaurant’s simple and spartan ambiance is what makes it elegant. For example, the lighting: bulbs on wires hanging in staggered arrangement from the ceiling.
Christmas Panettone packages
One of the signs that Christmas is around the corner is that panettone sales start popping up everywhere. I love them and I love looking at the vast array of packages, each one more beautiful than the next. It’s true that Italians don’t go in for a lot of holiday decor, but they do love…
Aromaticus
Aromaticus in the Monti area, Via Urbana 134, is quite a few things to its clientele: purveyor of specialty fresh herbs & greens, sales of garden supplies ranging from organic fertilizer to seeds to gardening tools, Monti area rooftop and garden consultants and last but not least restaurant service for light lunches showcasing the greens…
Hotel Locarno, Via dell’Oca & Via della Penna
Just around the corner from Piazza del Popolo you’ll find a short two block street, with a different name for each block: Via dell’Oca (Goose street) and Via della Penna (Feather street), so I guess you could simply call the street goose feathers! I love this street because it’s a peaceful oasis in the midst…
Puntarelle salad
Every time I go to the market I find something new and fascinating. Usually it’s the food; some prepped and ready to cook vegetable dish or a new seasonal arrival at the market that merits being photographed and then eaten. I also love to chat with the vendors and see what they’re up to….
Pasticceria Mondi
At Pasticceria Mondi you’ll find delicious mini-sandwiches; these are filled with sliced kiwi and brie, a refreshing change from your usual sandwich option. I’ve been going to the Pasticceria Mondi regularly for about twenty years now. It’s privately owned by the Mondi family who reside near Bevagna in Umbria. The pastry chefs who produce Mondi’s…
Millefoglie from Rome’s Cavaletti pasticceria
If I hadn’t been thinking about the Royal Wedding, and reading all about the Royal Wedding cake and then thinking about Queen Elizabeth in general this particular millefoglie cake wouldn’t have pushed itself up to the forefront of my thoughts and inspired me to get in my car this morning to head to the Cavalletti…
Easter Tradition: Chocolate Eggs and Colomba
The Viani Bar in Morlupo, just north of Rome, not only has wonderful breakfast pastries, great sandwiches and home-made ice cream. It also prides itself on always having fabulous decorations and edible gifts for every holiday. I had lunch there today and was mesmerized by the gorgeous Easter eggs and Colomba (traditional Italian Easter cake)…
A Visit to Preferred Meats with the San Francisco Professional Food Society
Ugandan born Bala Kironde, with his soft spoken elegance, provided members of the San Francisco Professional Food Society with an outstanding tour of his company, Preferred Meats. Bala Kironde’s father was a Ugandan diplomat turned farmer. On his extensive property holdings a vast assortment of fowl were raised. One of 16 children, Bala Kironde completed…