Friday, January 12, 2007

Rome Sweet Rome

Something I'll never get tired of here in Rome is the delight in buying something as simple as a cake or some cookies. When you go to a bakery, they take your order and then place everything on a golden tray, wrap it in special paper and tie it with ribbon. You walk out every time as if it were your own birthday and not someone else's and it's just one of those little fun things that makes living in Rome special for me.

Today's post isn't about an Italian bakery, however. It's about a Austrian bakery with Viennese specialities in Rome. La Dolceroma is located in the Jewish Ghetto just across from Tiber Island. Yesterday after doing some shopping in a nearby store I had an urge to stop in to this bakery.

I knew what I was getting myself into. This place is like a cake boutique: it ain't cheap, folks. Ale's favorite dessert is the Sachertorte (sounds a little like "soccer tort"), a cake from Vienna that was invented by Franz Sacher in 1832. It has two layers of a kind of dry chocolate cake, with apricot jam in between the layers, and covered in a chocolate shell or thick dark chocolate fudge icing. "Das Original" is sold at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, which was opened by Franz's son in 1872.

But I digress. Finding Sachertorte in Rome isn't difficult, but finding one that is close to the real thing can be a challenge. La Dolceroma has it, but you'll pay a pretty penny: €4 per slice (about $5.20). Actually now that I think about it, I paid $5.20 for a small (ahem, I guess that's technically known as a "tall") Starbucks something or other when I was in the States, but I confess I almost felt ashamed. I don't consider myself to be a crazy penny pincher, but that seemed like a lot. Anyhoo, back to our story, point being: La Dolceroma can be fun for a splurge once in a while.

Sachertorte and Imperialtorte

Besides the famous Sacher, they have some American goodies that Italian bakeries don't sell, like blueberry muffins, brownies, carrot cake and chocolate chip cookies (€1.80 each!). They have lots of other cakes as well. I got the "Imperialtorte" that you see on the right above, and it was some kind of concoction of marzipan and almond cream--very good. Sold by weight though, another thing I didn't realize 'til the girl rang up my order--a little over €5 for the square piece you see above. The Imperial Torte is pretty heavy and costs €3.50 per 100 grams (about 1/4 lb.).

Playing around with the macro function on my camera, allow me to bring you up close and personal with these cakes:

H.R.H. Imperial Torte

Sacher Torte

La Dolceroma is worth a visit if you're wandering the Jewish Ghetto area. You could stop in for a cookie or a truffle. It's next-door to the Portico d'Ottavia, which is an interesting monument.


La Dolceroma Austrian Bakery
Via del Portico d'Ottavia 20/B
Tel. 06/6892196

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

These look great! I had the torte at Hotel Sacher while in Vienna, and its worth the expense! I wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for taking the time to share your Rome with us!

ginkers said...

Sitting in south west Scotland with a cup of watery instant coffee and not a cake in sight you have made me intensely jealous. I wish there was a good pasticceria within range...

How Did I Get Here? said...

I will definitely go here when we make our trip in February. I am counting the days!

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

You and Ms. Adventures are really killing me with all the food photos. I will have to look the bakery up when I arrive in, let's see, six weeks!

FinnyKnits said...

Yummy! Something else to put on the list for a future visit. Granted, it will take away from my Nutella-stuffed pastry eating time, but, well, the spice of life is in variety, right?

Thank god there's an ocean between me and this cake, that's all I have to say.

John Cropper said...

Oh, my.

I definitely need to make my way to that neck of Rome quest'Estate.

Anonymous said...

Looks good, but it bet it even tastes better

Anonymous said...

I always had a crush on Rome and this just adds more reasons. I know how good is to have a bakery near by with fresh baked goodies because I'm from Brazil and things there are similar to European countries, so I also miss these type of things here in U.S.
Guess, I'm heading that way soon. Thanks for sharing these experiences.

Jane said...

In my NJ hometown we used to have a shoestore that tied the shoeboxes with string and a pharmacy that giftwrapped. It felt so refined. I loved it! Gotta love special treats and special treatment!

Shirley said...

This is why I never bake cakes, the quality is so good here and the way they gift wrap finishes it off nicely.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the cake is expensive but it looks like it's worth every penny! I would love to have that with a really nutty coffee.

I think the most I ever spent on a slice of cake was seven dollars. It was for this African chocolate, it was so moist and rich . . . ahhhhh. The chocolate was so buttery and decadent. The best I ever had. But yours looks just as good.

PowersTwinB said...

Geezeee Thank you very MUCH for making me crave a piece of cake! lol..especially with the close-up!!! YUMMMM My Photo Hunt is up, please come and visit

Anonymous said...

To me, if the quality is there it is worth every penny and mouthful.

Tracie P. said...

ah, you mean SAH-kehrr-torrrrrt-uh

;)

African Kelli said...

Pretty sure I just drooled on my keyboard. YUM>

Unknown said...

I guess the only way I'm going to write about my fav bakery is by finding a pic or trying to go there, but the slices as I recall is just as pricey as you say..

It's also the place where we ordered our wedding cake.. Do you have that done yet? Here we aren't aloud to order it until 4 wks before or less...

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhhh....sachertorte......it's nice to indulge in something once in a while, and a slice of such a cake it's the best way for me!