Ask a resident of Rome about Piazza Venezia, and you’re likely to find yourself deep in conversation about the modern and imposing Vittoriano monument overlooking the square; or perhaps the endless traffic trying to make its way through the clogged roads of the capital. Speak to the staff at 200 Gradi, however, and you’ll […]
A well-dressed man with salt and pepper hair rests casually against the stone wall facing the chocolatier and gelateria bearing the mysterious name Quetzalcoatl. I am sure this is Jacques. I introduce myself. He greets me with a big smile and leads me into his store. We sit at a small table beneath a […]
One of my favourite observations of everyday life in Rome is seeing people carrying little packages from their local pasticceria. Small cakes and pastries, carefully placed into an elegant box or wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon, you’ll spot these being transported all around the city if you look closely. Whether it’s a special […]
Before even crossing the doors of Museo Canova Tadolini, you can’t help but see the vast collection of sculptures inside. So large in number, they almost appear to be spilling out onto the street. An immense statue of a cavalier mounted upon his horse dominates the entrance. With the rider’s head almost touching the wooden […]
It’s an uncharacteristically wet and grey day in Rome, and I’m standing outside Le Carré Français (The French Quarter) just off Piazza Cavour. An extensive display of French patisserie sits in the window. Passers-by stop to eyeball the array: pastries and tartlets filled with creme patisserie;, flavored with lemon; jeweled with raspberries; and scattered […]
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 […]
Passing through an arch in the old stone Roman wall near St. Peters Square, I found myself on a picturesque street whose nostalgic ambiance would follow me all the way to the wrought iron and glass facade of Bukowski’s Bar. The first thing I noticed upon entering the cafe was a large bookcase covering one […]
Caffetteria dei Gracchi, situated in Prati, is a place where both tourists and Italians sit elbow-to-elbow enjoying the neighborly atmosphere. Here you can sit amongst local office workers enjoying lunch away from their desks, shoppers grabbing a pit stop coffee and tourists giving their aching feet a much-needed break. With its multicolored tables and chairs […]
“Know which side your bread is buttered on”, a “baker’s dozen”, “the best thing since sliced bread”. Being one of the oldest foods around, it’s easy to see how there are so many bread-related phrases, and why it crops up in numerous aspects of our lives. Man cannot live by bread alone but it’s fair […]
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. (Virginia Woolf) Mother and daughter Laura and Alessandra, lovely couple of entrepreneurs, are finding success, making organic products more popular in Rome. Based in the heart of Rione Prati, a stone’s throw from St Peter Basilica, the pair have been working non-stop on A […]