Winner for one of my favorite window displays of food in Rome.Roscioli is an upscale deli where you can also sit down and eat. The prices aren't high-end, but they aren't budget, either. For lunch you'll probably spend anywhere from €20-€30 per person. And mind you, this isn't the place to go for a nice, steaming plate of carbonara. For that, of course, go here, and as an aside, hurry... it just got put in a guide book so all hope of it remaining a secret is lost. No, Roscioli is the place for things like a lovely cheese plate with fruit compote, or a chocolate fondue with strawberries.
It's also an enoteca, or wine shop, so inside you'll see the walls are made up of huge wine cubbyholes that reach to the ceiling. Definitely worth a look.
And, not to be missed, a phrase from their website in typical Italian style:
In the bakery our pizzas follow only risings of more than 12 hours, that make it very digestible because the yeasts have fully developed their activity.I haven't talked much about this on the blog, but the bold on "digestible" is their emphasis, and Italians can spend HOURS talking about food digestibility. I don't know about you and how things are where you live, but where I come from in the States, I'm 99.9% sure I never had even ONE dinner conversation that revolved around how I digested food.
But hey, maybe that's just me?
Antico Forno RoscioliVia dei Giubbonari 21 (not far from Campo de' Fiori)
They also have a bakery on Via dei Chiavari 34
20 comments:
Oh, man, that's a big pet peeve of mine and I've blogged about it a lot. How can perfectly healthy 20-year-olds have digestion problems? In the U.S. I've only heard my granny talk about digestion. I am too veggie to appreciate the window display there but I like that Campo dei Fiori area. Must get back to Rome soon!
DIGESTION!!! oh yes, italians and their digestion obsession/myths. since i've been here, i have heard sooooo many so called no-no's for digestion: no ice cold beverages (even if it's a billion degrees with 100% humidity outside), no drafts on the stomach area- hence air condition and fans are bad during & after a meal, etc. it cracks me up because half of the world has gotten by just fine by NOT following these digestive guidelines. and let's not forget the ever amusing salutation "buona digestione". love that!
I knew it! I knew I wasn't the only one!
Mich, you make me laugh! I'll have to check out your post.
Anon, BUONA DIGESTIONE? Now, folks, this is definitely a new one for me. I lurve this... should I try saying it next time? I've never heard it in Rome... where did you hear it? It's like wishing your stomach luck...
LOL !!! One more thing I learnt about Italians, thanks to you, Shelley ;-)
By the way, it's now official, I'm settling in Rome this summer !!!!! I just can't wait, I'm so eager !!!!
Thanks for the window display : even in the morning it makes my mouth water ;-)
Isabelle... can't wait to meet you! Looking forward to it. Summer will be here before you know it!
Hilarious.
Yes, the dread of indigestion is rivaled only by the horror of the open window, with its treacherous, pneumonia inducing drafts.
Tamara: Copriti bene, prenderai freddo!!
The digestibility obsession is not unique to Italy today. It has been spread world-wide with the Slow Food movement and other similar organizations.
I've found that the Italians are on to something -- but that's a discussion more suited to a cigar and a digestivo than a blog comment box.
Whenever I get over to Rome next, I'll give you a shout and we can discuss digestion, if you'd like.
;)
The owner of one restaurant (in Trestevere no less) brought our family (kids and all) some grappa to help with our digestion. I think it might have burnt a hole in our stomach! Only in Italy would they bring out a strong liqueur to help children's digestion! :^)
Flambeaux: You're on! But I'd prefer to just eat or drink something rather than discuss the process that will happen afterwards...
Martin: That is so funny. Although I have a huge respect for the way Italians in general view alcohol, ie, in general really responsibly compared to my experiences in the States, I have to say that grappa for kids is way off the mark. Actually, I've always had to laugh at the idea of the after dinner liqueur being called a "digestivo."javascript:void(0) But it makes sense... it just burns up all the food instantly!
Maybe the Italians are on to something.
Why do so many Americans suffer from heart burn or acid reflux and have to take the "purple pill" to help with digestion.
Maybe, I should move back to Italy to help me improve my digestione. We'll see what happens when I come to visit, maybe I don't have to take my pills.
As always, the best blog to visit...
Carole: Thanks for the kind words. And I have to agree, it did cross my mind how Americans are TOTALLY OBSESSED with INDIGESTION. Sometimes our two worlds are just at polar opposites! Did you know that Italians don't even have the concept of "heartburn"? Try to explain it to them.
Shelley,
how true that is. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to my relatives in Sicily why I can't eat certain things. But, of course they'll have the remedy "grappa".
I used to work with a Swiss woman who's lived in the states for numerous years who had a hard time understanding the concept of heartburn. She would ask "how can your heart burn?".
BTW, the 17th is St. Patrick's Day in the states and everybody turns Irish on that day. Of course, the biggest reason to celebrate is to consume large amounts of alcohol which leads me to another American obsession along with indegestion.
Shelley, this is great. It's like instant messaging....
Bella serata,
Carole in KC
I was just going to say the same thing, how Americans are obsessed with INdigestion and maybe the Italians have a point.
Seriously none of my relatives (they live in the Caribbean and Europe) deal with the whole Tums, Pepto etc. thing but they do believe too much ice in a drink is not a good thing. LOL
LOL - you are so right! I knew THOUGHT about food digestibility until I met my Italian. so funny
I always love the references (and free-wheeling attention) to gastronomica in Italy. It's so foreign here in the States.
I personally love the concept. It kind of goes along with the way Asian cultures rely on tea.
And I can say that even after a heavy Roman meal, I can be AOK as long as there's a little grappa or limoncello to finish off.
On a radio program this morning about strange habits, one caller told about his habit of drinking espresso with lemon after lunch -- it helps his digestion which he swore was MUCH better with this trick. God help him when he gets to be over 40! then what will he invent.
love your photos & comments. this window is so yummy looking and i don't even eat meat. the beauty is all about presentation--color & contrast of texture. you are an artist recording the art all around you in every day things. thanks ever so for sharing!
NYC: Tums, Pepto... it's so funny... here they have one main thing, it's called "Bicarbonato" otherwise known as baking soda. !! Kind of a DIY version of Alka Seltzer. If you don't want a big ol' glass jar, you can buy it in little packets called Diger-selz. It's so fifties-looking.
Fin: I know we keep you very "well-watered" when you are here!! ;-)
Elizabeth: A friend of mine from up north once suggested this when we were at a bar and one of our friends had an upset stomach. Seriously, now. When you feel nauseous, does the thought of coffee with LEMON make you just feel all better? Frankly, it makes me feel like I want to gag.
Pink: Your comment made me smile, thank you!! Great to see you.
Looks like heaven.
In my neck of the woods many people don't really take the time to enjoy the the actual taste of food and the process of dining. Eating is an act of survival or showing off.
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