Artichokes of Rome

Wandering around Rome recently, I noticed a few things:

1) Winter in Rome makes Paris seem like a gulag. The sun shines bright and strong (except when it rains), and the temperatures are mild enough for year-round gelato consumption.

2) Romans seem to have infinite reserves of patience for children and non-Italian-speaking tourists (i.e. me).

3) It's artichoke season.

I ate them on pizza…

I ate them alla giudia, that is, twice-fried in olive oil…

And I ate them in pasta with guanciale, a type of salt-cured bacon made from pork cheeks.

In Paris, we have to wait until spring to see these spiky globes in the market. In Rome, they're already ready for the eating (and eating, and eating).

Pizzarium (pizza)

Via della Meloria, 43

tel: 39 06 3974 5416

Piperno (alla giudia)

Monte di Cenci, 9

tel: 39 06 6880 6629

Flavio al Velavevodetto (pasta)

Via di Monte Testaccio, 97

tel: 39 06 574 4194

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