Entering the small shop on Via Germanico, I encountered laughter and lively conversation mixed with the familiar hum of an industrial strength juicer and the hint of music playing in the background. I was immediately impressed by the clean, colorful and lively decor. It comes as no surprise that green is the dominant color for a juice & snack bar that strives to be 100% organic. The name Fa-Bio is a reference to one of the establishment’s two founders, Fabio Lanuti, while simultaneously assonating “Fa bio” which means “Do organic” in Italian.
The first person I met was Claudio Bortot, Fa-Bio’s other founder. Originally born in Zambia, Claudio has been based in Rome for 30 years. Claudio and Fabio met years ago when they were both working as flight attendants. It was Fabio who realized that the juice & organic food bar phenomenon he’d encountered in other parts of the world was virtually nonexistent in Rome. And so, in 2010 Fabio and Claudio opened their first location. I didn’t have the opportunity to interview Fa-Bio’s namesake because he now lives in Milan where he manages their second location which has been up and running since June.
Soon after I took my seat at a small table near the bar, Claudio brought me a juice he’d made himself, a mix of fennel, orange, ginger and apple. I’ve been a denizen of juice bars in America for years and I think this was the first time I’ve had fennel in a juice blend. It was flavorful and refreshing.
When asked if I’d like to try one of Fa-Bio’s sandwiches, I accepted and was impressed when he questioned me to determine if I had any food restrictions. If you are someone who lives with a food restriction, I’m sure you’ll understand how rare Claudio’s diligence is here in Rome. Soon I was presented with an amazing sandwich constructed from fresh tomato, cucumber, lettuce, prosciutto, mayo and a hint of lemon zest, between hearty slices of rustic bread made fresh at a bakery in the Pignetto neighborhood.
During a lull in what was an otherwise constant stream of customers, Claudio visited my table and I complimented him on the food and drink and asked about his policy towards organic sourcing. He told me that they get all their meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables from local, organic sources including an organic market near Circo Massimo, one that I have personally visited and highly recommend. He told me the only thing that keeps them from always being 100% organic are occasional challenges with their local fish provider. We talked for a while longer about organic culture in the world.
“While the vegan and vegetarian movements have caught on all over Italy, the organic movement has only really established itself in the Piemonte region. Its adoption is happening much slower in central and southern Italy.”
– Claudio Bartot
Claudio then introduced me to Piergiorgio Caroletti, who agreed with Claudio’s sentiments.
“Most Italian families will usually have an amazing olive oil in their kitchen, probably handmade by a close friend or someone in the family, but when it comes to other ingredients, like vegetables, meat, and cheese, many Italians just shop at the local grocery store or market rather than seeking out organic options.”
– Piergiorgio Caroletti
Piergiorgio, a born Roman, has been with Fa-Bio for about a year. He is a trained architect, an enthusiastic cook, and a gym instructor who regularly participates in triathlons and Iron Man 70.3 competitions. Claudio told me that Piergiorgio brings an extra, welcome energy to the Fa-Bio team and in fact they will be hosting their first Iron Man 70.3 competition this June.
Ages 41 and 47 respectively, Claudio and Piergiorgio are a living testament to the value of clean living. They both exude a sense of health and youthful vitality which energizes their outgoing, and friendly style of customer service.
Fa-Bio is currently located in Rome’s Prati district, a short walk from the Ottaviano Metro stop and just a few blocks from St Peter’s Square. When I asked Claudio what their plans are for the future of Fa-Bio, he told me they are looking to either move to a larger location in Rome or open a second store.
When asked about their customer base, Claudio said, “We have a lot of Roman customers, especially women from their mid twenties through their forties. And now, ever since showing up on Tripadvisor, Fa-Bio has become popular with the tourists.”
This popularity is something I can attest to just from my 90 minute experience. But Fa-Bio is anything but a tourist trap. It is the real deal and a rare gem for those in Rome who ride the new wave of quality, organic food and drink.
