Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A FOODIE'S PERFECT DAY IN ROME
Start your day with a breakfast cappuccino and
cornetto
at
Caffè Tazza d'Oro
(
Click here
), an iconic cafe that
serves some of Rome's finest coffee. Then, with a spring in your step, wend your way over to the food market at
Campo de' Fiori where you can browse what's in season. If your morning
cornetto
hasn't filled you up, pop into
Forno di Campo de' Fiori
(
Click here
) for some of its amazing pizza
al taglio
(by the slice). You're also
close to renowned deli/food store
Roscioli
(
Click here
), whose
forno
(bakery) around the corner is likewise
famous for its pizza
al taglio
. It's worth visiting the deli to drink in the mingled scents of this temple of de-
lights, packed with salami, cheese, pastas and condiments. For lunch, make your way to Monti, close to the Co-
losseum, where you can browse in the Tuscan-products shop,
Podere Vecciano
(
Click here
), which sells wine,
marmalade, pesto and more, before eating at
L'Asino d'Oro
(
Click here
), which serves outstanding Umbrian
food. It's a difficult call whether to have dessert here or to stroll over to Piazza di Zingari to sample gelato from
Fatamorgana
, with its fresh flavours such as almond and cardamom, or white chocolate and pine nuts. In the
afternoon, if you've planned ahead, you can take a cookery course with
Tricolore
(
Click here
) or have a wine-
tasting session at
Vino Roma
(
Click here
), both in Monti. After this, you'll still have time to make your way to
Eataly
(
Click here
), the culinary megastore, which not only sells an incredible range of Italian foodstuffs,
cookery topics and implements, but also contains 19 restaurants and cafes. You could finish off your foodie day
by eating at its top-floor fine-dining restaurant, Ristorante Italia, or eat in the heartland of traditional Roman
cuisine, Testaccio, at somewhere like
Flavio al Velavevodetto
(
Click here
).
Ice Cream
Eating gelato is as much a part of Roman life as morning coffee - try it and you'll under-
stand why. The city has some of the world's finest ice-cream shops, which use only the
finest seasonal ingredients. In these artisanal gelaterie you won't find a strawberry flavour
in winter, for example, and ingredients are sourced from where they are reputedly the
best: pistachios from Bronte, almonds from Avola, and so on. It's all come a long way
since Nero snacked on snow mixed with fruit pulp and honey. A rule of thumb is to check
the colour of the pistachio flavour: ochre green is good, bright green is bad.
Most places open from around 8am to 1am, with shorter hours in winter. Prices range
from around €1.70 to €3.50 for a
cona
(cone) or
coppetta
(tub or cup).
Seasonal Calendar
Although nowadays you can, of course, get some produce year round, Rome's kitchens
still remain true to seasonal freshness.
