Walking downtown

Last Sunday the weather was so nice and warm, that I decided to go out with a dear friend of mine. 

 

via Margutta

Pantheon

Piazza Navona

After a walk along the Tevere river and down the quiet Via Margutta, we passed by the Pantheon and reached Piazza Navona, packed with

Talking about books

Maybe the majority of people visiting Rome carry a book in their suitcase. But it can happen, as it very often occurs to me, that the book chosen lies forgotten at home, on the bedside table. In this case, here are some addresses to help you find interesting reading alternatives.

Anglo-American Bookshop (City center)      Via della Vite, 102
This store is definitely well stocked, with a collection of more than 45,000 English books, on art, architecture, history and philosophy. Classics as well as fiction and non-fiction genres are carefully selected. A different shop down the street is devoted to technological and sciences texts.  aab.it

Lion Bookshop (City center)                                                          Via dei Greci, 33/36
Established in 1947, it is not only the oldest English bookstore in Rome, but also in the whole of Italy. The wide selection of over 30,000 titles, includes sections such as contemporary and classic fiction, art, cuisine, photography, as well as books on Rome and Italy. The store is particularly renowned for its lovely children’s corner.

Almost Corner Bookshop (Trastevere)                                                Via del Moro, 45
Though this small store offers mostly contemporary novels and bestsellers, it is also very well-known and frequented by the English population living in Rome. Mr. O'Connel, the Irish owner, is not only friendly, but he also knows his books extremely well.

My recipies: Fusilli with radicchio salad

After having seen fashion icons, such as Blair and Serena, tempted, and even seduced by colorful and tasty Ladurée macarons, I am sure that the message they sent has become very clear to the multitude of Gossip Girl fans, who are eternally on a diet: if it's worth it...make an exception!

Apart from macarons, whose simple mention makes my mouth water, there are a few other culinary delights, for which I willingly break my dietary rules. Besides those I prefer eating while seated in a nice restaurant, there are a few that I have never found as tasty as those I personally cook or bake.

My recipies: Ciambellone

I love it with a cup of tea in the afternoon, and it's my friend Simo's favorite sweet for breakfast. But try it also with some whipped cream and a hot chocolate...it's simply delicious!

INGREDIENTS

- 4 eggs 
- baking powder (about 16 gr. or  0,56 oz)
- 1 jar of natural yoghurt (125 gr. or 4,4 oz)
- 1 lemon grated peel
Use the yoghurt jar to measure also all of the following other ingredients:
- 1 jar of flavorless vegetable oil
- 2 jars of white sugar
- 3 jars of flour

TILES
- a wire whip or mixer
- 2 high rim bowls
- 1 circular baking-pan 
- 1 wooden spoon

Preparation: 20' - Baking time: 30'


AND NOW...3...2...1...ACTION!

Gina Restaurant

About ten years ago, the roman restaurants that looked different in interior decoration were definitely a poor handful. That's why I perfectly remember the day when I encountered Gina. What a surprise to me, a passionate lover of modern design, when I stared at its windows!

The large room inside looks completely white. White are, in fact, tables and chairs,wooden floor and ceiling, lamps and glasses, and even the old ceramic stove. What a romantic, dim-lighted ambience! 

Today, the menu includes also pasta and meat dishes, though in early days it was mainly composed of a huge variety of sandwiches and salads.

My favorite one is

Strolling around Ponte Milvio

If you wish to leave the classical tourist paths and have a taste of the roman daily life, you can't miss Ponte Milvio. This is the oldest bridge in Rome, built before 207 b.C. to extend the Via Flaminia beyond the river Tevere. 

Ask the taxi driver to drop you in Piazzale Cardinal Consalvi so that you can reach the area by peacefully walking through Ponte Mollo, being it forbidden to vehicles since 1951.

Locals call it "Il ponte dell'amore" as it is one of lovers' favorite places. In fact, during the last decade, the youngsters, who have sealed their feelings by locking a padlocker at its lamp-posts, have been so numerous, that

Dulcamara Restaurant

Facing one of the most popular Saturday night meeting-places for teens, this cosy, wooden-furnished restaurant/bistrot is one of my favorites to have lunch with friends. The clientele is ageless, and if you're looking for V.I.P.s, this is the right place to meet some. The outside balcony is ideal with warmer temperatures, while in winter time we prefer reserving a table in the veranda or sitting near the shelves displaying wines and design magazines.

Besides a few local cuisine dishes, the menu looks really international: yummy hamburgers, tender Danish meat, various combinations of salads -including nicoise- many differently garnished baked potatoes along with fantastic Asian food. When I am particularly hungry, I do find myself often ordering one of their hits: nasi goreng. A mix of rice, fresh vegetables and chicken flavored with cashews and a sprinkle of sweet soy sauce. Lighter, but equally tasty, is the Japanese tuna tataki.

And as a gran finale, try the cheesecake or the carrot one: they're both worth a gym session! Not to forget: the wine list is well selected and the service is usually quick.

www.dulcamararoma.it

What a fantastic ouverture...

Writing my first post here while Rome is being covered with more and more snow!

Actually, the last time it happened was in December 2010 but it melt so quickly that most people have forgotten the episode. Everybody just remembers the huge snowfall dated 1985.

Well, I wasn't living in Rome at that time but I keep a funny memory about it.

I made an international phone call to a friend of mine at 10.30 in the morning. At that time he should have been in his office, at his desk, working, I supposed. But no one answered.

So I tried a bit later, and after a while a female voice answered panicking: "A' signori', non ci sta nessuno. A Roma nevica!!!". ("There's nobody here. It's snowing!!!").To me, used to cold and snow, it was all quite weird. But today, after so many years I have been living in Rome, I know that this is the way it goes...

Ultimately, Rome is the eternal city. If you don't make it today, you'll have plenty of time tomorrow...