05/02/2019

Roma…La Dolce Vita

 

 

Where To Eat in Rome

When in Italy it is so easy to slip into la dolce vita…particularly when you are immersed in such beautiful, historic centres and surrounded by such good food.

Italian life is completely foodcentric, from the morning coffee to the sit down bowl of pasta for lunch, or the slice of pizza for a quick snack. No matter what city you land in, these are the constants.

Our trip began with a week in Rome staying in an apartment between Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori, in what is the heart of Rome.

Almost immediately, after dumping our bags, we walked down to Piazza di Sant’ Eustachio which was around the corner for our first bite of Pizza al taglio at the hole in the wall that is Pizza Zaza. Then, espressos all round at Sant’ Eustachio Il Caffè – which is probably the most famous coffee spot in Rome. It has been serving wood fire roasted coffee since the 1930’s and the shop is still in original condition.

Forget instant coffee..this is instant Italian!

Our first dinner was at La Vecchia Locanda. It’s a charming, moody little spot with lots of great examples of Roman pasta specialities on the menu – carbonara, amatriciana and the very Roman, cacio and pepe (cheese and pepper pasta). My tonarelli (thick spaghetti) with truffle was absolutely delish.

There are a few bread meccas in the world and this place is at the top of my list.

Nestled in a corner of the market square, the Forno Campo de’ Fiori turns out handmade breads, pizzas, pastries and biscuits to die for.

Peek through the glass to watch the master baker at work, kneading, stretching and shaping this humble dough in a flour dusted room…

Then open the heavy door and step inside to be enveloped by the most comforting aroma of warm, freshly baked goods that will make your insides smile…

Make your choice of which provincial style loaf you will take home…each of them crying ‘pick me’…

Stop yourself from buying everything…

Exit with your Precious, bundled under your arm, and hurry home as fast as possible for a big slice of that crusty loaf, with the chewy yet airy centre slathered with soft butter or a drizzle of local olive oil…

Satisfaction guaranteed.

To get to the foodie heart of a place, you just need to head to the local market, and in Rome, the market centre is the Campo de Fiori.

The square is lined with busy restaurants and bars, and the famous Forno de Campo de Fiori bakery hides in the corner… but the secret is out on that place, so expect to queue.

I am always drawn like a magnet to this bustling marketplace that caters for Romans and visitors alike, as it manages to retain its authentic feeling, despite the pressure of tourism.

True to its name, the Campo is bursting with bright blooms, as well as the freshest fruit and vegetables, local cheeses and specialty items like the much loved truffle, in all its derivations.

Piles of artichokes, bundles of sweet tomatoes, freshly picked greens, towers of handmade cheese… it’s all there waiting for you…

For high end, fine dining with old school service, Aroma @ Hotel Palazzo Manfredi is notable, not only for the flashy food and attentive service but for the unbeatable view of the Colosseum.

This is special occasion destination dining, and on the day we lunched, there was romance all around with couples seated by the window celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and proposals…with French champagne, Tiffany boxes and candled cakes all making an appearance.

It is definitely a classy and memorable place for that type of thing!

We settled in for a good few hours and, although we couldn’t manage the formidable degustation menu, tagliolini with lobster, sea bass and prawns, and decadent desserts, together with several complimentary mini courses, made us all feel oh so special.

Perched high on the rooftop of the Relais & Chateaux hotel, this Michelin star restaurant is the place to impress in Rome.

TIP: Go early evening, book a table by the window and have the privilege of watching the Colosseum light up as night falls, for ultimate romantic bang for your buck!

It’s a deli…it’s a wine shop…it’s a bakery…it’s a salumeria….it’s a restaurant…

Basically, Roscioli is where all your Italian foodie dreams can come true.

Start with a spritz and then peruse the menu of most excellent antipasti – we chose burrata with double sundried tomatoes and mortadella fatta in casa – followed by a seasonal salad of puntarella (a type of chicory) and anchovies, polpette romana and a few pasta dishes – but really, that’s besides the point. Choose anything and, because of their high quality produce driven philosophy, it will be good…

The very gorgeous ambience of Enoteca e Taverna Capranica in the Colonna area is just perfect when you want a cosy plate of something Italian…

And if you are in the neighbourhood, La Pollarolla that came recommended by a friend, is a good find for easy going, reasonably priced friendly eats.

Rome was festooned in pretty lights at Christmas time when we where there, adding to the festive spirit of the famous shopping strip, Via Dei Condotti. If you find yourself there on a wintry day, then be sure to stop for a Cioccolata Calda – Italian-style hot chocolate that is so thick and dark, it’s like a warm chockie pudding!

A week in Rome will sink into your bones and ignite an Italian love affair that will last a lifetime…making it all the harder when it is time to leave and you have to say…

Arriverderci Roma…

 

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Melissa Matheson
Melissa Matheson
20:44 14 Sep 22
We organised a virtual cook-a-long for our team with Naomi which was absolutely fantastic. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the session, Naomi is very engaging and has an absolute zest for inspiring others to find their finesse is the kitchen.
Cate Tibbertsma
Cate Tibbertsma
14:07 10 Sep 21
I enjoy Naomi's online cooking classes immensely. The classes are well-organised with all relevant information sent in advance so that the cook-along runs smoothly. Naomi is an engaging teacher and generously shares her knowledge and skill with the class; her recipes are easy to master and . many of them have become family favourites in my home.
Lisa Anderson
Lisa Anderson
02:23 06 Sep 21
I was fortunate enough to enjoy a few hours cooking with Naomi and some friends (virtually) last Sunday. What a delightful way to spend a few hours pulling together a delicious meal. Naomi made the whole experience so easy from booking, organising ingredients right through to putting the meal on the table. I loved hearing about her experiences of both the food we were cooking (Moroccan chicken) but also the places she had been. Oh and my family- being the beneficiary of a new take on Sunday night dinner were happy too. I would highly recommend this experience.
Sharon Thomson
Sharon Thomson
03:34 05 Sep 21
Naomi’s Cook-Along sessions are always fun and extremely informative. Ask Naomi anything about ingredients, food and wine and she will impart a world of wisdom. Not to mention the dish made in just an hour - so delicious and such a breeze online in the session. Thanks Naomi 😊
Carol Benson
Carol Benson
04:44 17 Aug 21
Naomi’s cooking classes are such fun plus they are improving my cooking skills. All the meals I have prepared with the classes are so flavoursome and have appealed to all the family (including a fussy teenager). All are on my ‘will make again’ list. I particularly like the extra little tips we get from Naomi – these tips are what helps a good cook become a great cook. Thanks Naomi
Jan Matheson
Jan Matheson
04:05 17 Aug 21
I've completed several of Naomi's Cookalong sessions and always learn new tips. The sessions are fun and we accomplish a delicious meal in 1 1/2 hours. Looking forward to more sessions.
Lorraine Aspinall
Lorraine Aspinall
09:13 13 Aug 21
“A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.” Naomi brings joy to the art of cooking and sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience. Looking forward to joining more cook along sessions. Thank you Naomi!
Andrea Wood
Andrea Wood
00:04 12 Aug 21
Hats off to Naomi, she has absolutely mastered the presentation of her easy and delicious recipes in her classes on zoom.This was our first zoom class and we were really impressed. Naomi gave an immersive experience, enthusiastically sharing her knowledge and tips along the way and at the end of the class, we had a finished impressive meal, ready to sit down and enjoy.Naomi’s classes are a fab way to prepare your evening meal in a social environment and all while increasing your confidence and prowess in the kitchen. Now that’s an absolute win in our book.Thank you Naomi. You’ll be seeing us again in your Zoom kitchen. :)
River P
River P
11:45 27 Oct 20
Who would have thought Thursday nights would become a highlight of the week! These cooking classes are great fun and set an easy pace. You start at 6pm, relax with a wine with a great group while things bubble away, and you'll have a fab dinner on the table by 7pm - and it really will look amazing as Naomi also shows how to present things beautifully. I thought I'd have to do a lot of prep before the classes as I'm a slow cook, but it's not the case. You really do cook along easily in the hour and can ask for tips and questions all along the way. I've loved learning everything from restaurant style duck to Persian rice pilaf. I also highly recommend the leisurely Sunday slow cooks - you'll have a beautiful Sunday lunch and pro tips for leftovers. Think slow roast Greek lamb, then souvlaki with the leftovers and you know you'll be happy!
Luke Todd
Luke Todd
02:28 26 Oct 20
Naomi's online cooking classes are so fun and the food is delicious. Can't recommend highly enough. Book yourself in for a class, you'll be glad you did!
Sharon Tein
Sharon Tein
02:51 11 Sep 20
Great fun classes full of tasty food and all within an hour! Try it. You won’t be disappointed.
Loredana De Simone-Rybka
Loredana De Simone-Rybka
08:53 20 Jul 20
Highly recommend doing Naomi’s online cook along, it was such a great experience. Loved learning new recipes and learning new cooking tips along the way. Enjoyed making a few meals together with a great group of people and the food was absolutely delicious. Look forward to doing more classes. Thank you for creating this wonderful experience bringing foodies together sharing knowledge in cooking good simple, wholesome and delicious food. It was so much fun.
Aliki Zouliou
Aliki Zouliou
10:13 26 Jun 20
Cooking can sometimes be a chore for me but Naomi's cook-along classes have been so much fun! With her guidance I was able to whip up delightful meals that I normally wouldn’t have attempted, ready right in time for dinner – AND enjoyed by all the family!I found it was easy to multi-task when listening to voice instructions during the classes and being able to glance over at the screen at any time allowed me to visually check that I was on track. It was also reassuring having Naomi there ‘live’ in my kitchen to answer any questions along the way.Looking forward to the next Thursday night cook-along!!!
Patricia Colaci
Patricia Colaci
08:35 26 Jun 20
Thanks Naomi for another great, fun Cook-Along session last night. We always look forward to our Thursday night Foodcentric Cook-Alongs. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine was absolutely scrumptious and even had leftovers for today 😋 Looking forward to next week session - Surprise Mozzarella Meatballs & Brie & Garlic Bread. 😊
Julie Hughes
Julie Hughes
00:00 24 Jun 20
Best $20 ever invested in myself. This was my first on line zoom class, I was not sure what to expect. I found myself completely immersed in the experience. Fantastic collegiate experience, lovely to meet others over zoom and such fun!. Really helpful to be cooking with an expert. I learnt simple ways of tweaking dishes, so helpful! The class was structured and very easy to follow and to be honest it made cooking this family meal effortless. I was sad when the hour was up but very proud of what I created. I am a convert now! Naomi was very generous and thoughtful in the way she provided a shopping list before hand and the menu. Perfect for people who love to cook, want to learn more skills. For those who can't get out this online format provides some great social engagement and something to look forward to. Just do it!
Ursula Czubala
Ursula Czubala
23:36 23 Jun 20
Cooking classes with Naomi are fun, relaxed and educational! My favourite part of these classes, is I'm cooking from my own kitchen (don't go anywhere!), and I get to eat dinner with my family straight after the 1 hour session is done at 7pm. They're affordable and something to look forward to each week. Thanks Naomi!
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