Tag: Rome

Post-covid open: the new restaurants in Rome – Italian Cuisine

Despite the lockdown, the new openings in the capital do not stop, from the star's pop address to the restaurant in Piazza Navona that is reconverted

For many who have not made it, crushed by the weight of the lockdown, there are others who in the following weeks (or even during the lockout with the delivery) have appeared among the new Roman openings. Mostly they are projects that had been started before the pandemic, in other cases they are happy conversions, the result of good ideas from those who have managed to transform the crisis into opportunities.

Carnal

He had probed the ground during the lockdown with his boxes ready to be cooked on the barbecue, in the meantime everything was ready to kick off Carnal, the pop address project curated by the starred chef Roy Caceres, together with the partner and friend Riccardo Paglia and to Andrea Racobaldo, who deals with wines and cocktails or, better, cócteles. With this new opening, in the Prati area, the chef engages with a menu in which he has been able to pour his South American origins, without the constraints of fine dining and with his usual creativity. In Carnal's menu, not only Colombian dishes, but also Mexico and Latin America in general, with contaminations of very Italian products. There are the Bocones (tastings), the Cuarto Frìo, that is cold dishes such as ceviche, in the Caliente Zone there are hot dishes and another section is dedicated to the "hanged" or meat and fish that are hung to smoke.

The Oak

An oak in the middle of a delightful square in the historic center is the backdrop to the outdoor tables and the banner of this restaurant, which is a historic trattoria that already existed with this name, but which is in effect a new opening, since the actors involved have changed, the guise and the proposal. The important restyling that modified the interiors is the backdrop for the new collaboration between the Monteforte family (who also has a famous oven in the city) and Marco Gallotta, the chef already loved by gourmet in the capital for successful projects such as Rosti and First to Pigneto. After closing the latter, Gallotta had disappeared from the Roman square for some time. Now he is finally back to guide this address of the historic center. In the Quercia menu dishes that rediscover tradition, with a declared connotation of a restaurant, but in a modernized version, thanks to Gallotta's experience and creativity. For those who loved Primo, you feel at home, also thanks to the hand of the architect Liorni, whose style is always recognizable.

Camillo

Eating in the middle of Piazza Navona on the tables in the square and not feeling like foreign tourists? No sooner said than done. Thanks to the good idea that the new generation of De Sanctis had. Filippo and Tommaso are the sons of the patron Enrico, who had already decided to leave the reins to the sons of his place at 79 in Piazza Navona. In particular, the latter had starred experiences with Angelo Troiani, Alessandro Narducci and Daniele Lippi, as well as in another historical address in the Roman center, Pierluigi. The other brother, on the other hand, is the commercial and marketing soul and that is why the new proposal is the anti-crisis solution, at a time when the crisis in the historic center is felt more than ever because of the lack of tourists. If there are no tourists, they said, why not focus on the Romans? And do it with a good quality proposal at low cost, rather giving up frills and service (there is the buzz that sounds when the dishes are ready), with intelligent ideas such as the bento box and the takeaway drink, to eat if you want even more in the center of the square. It must be said that inside the restaurant would like a nice restyling, but eating in front of such beauty is priceless. In addition, the dishes are fun and tasty, from the fried baby octopus to the parallelepiped of fried lasagna, from the bao bun to the hamburger with ribs.

Dafne Garden Cafè

They are among those who had everything ready in March, but their dreams of glory have been curbed by the lockdown. We are in the Prati area (Lepanto height), where the Pontecorvi family has acquired and renovated a small 14-room hotel that has transformed it into a 4-star boutique hotel, the Apollo. To complete the work happily, a bar area with direct access to the street and a delicious terrace, made even fresher by the green layout of the Angelini sisters of Doppio Tratto. Still in the mood to transform the crisis into opportunities, the months of forced closure were the occasion to better think about the bar space and start a happy collaboration with Federico Cari, Bompiani's former pastry chef, with great experience also in restaurant pastry. While waiting to have the prerequisites to start a pastry line himself (there is a laboratory to be set up, but better times are expected), meanwhile Federico has organized a perfect card for the international breakfast and the lunch break, with delicacies such as pancakes and waffles, the club sandwiches that in a hotel can never be missing and that Cari has also reworked in a very successful veg version, the gourmet sandwiches. We proceed one step at a time, waiting for both tourists and the many workers of the buildings that surround the hotel to return.

Luce Experience

When the going gets tough the tough get going. This quote comes to mind when speaking with Mrs. Jolanda, soul of the Villa dei Cesari, a well-known location for weddings and events in Rome, on the Ardeatina, between the Appia Antica park and the catacombs. "All events canceled until at least the end of the year, apart from a couple of weddings in July that they bravely chose to confirm, we thought to roll up our sleeves." So they set up a team made up largely of their historical employees, to which was added Mirko Pagani who coordinates the kitchen and who created a menu based on dishes partly in tradition, such as carbonara in three versions, and partly modern. To this are added the products that come out of the monumental wood-burning oven, from the grilled pizzas, and the cocktails designed by the bar manager Edoardo Mattarino. It starts at 19 from the aperitif on the grass and continues, always in complete safety since the spaces are very wide, among the delicious outdoor tables.

Rose Tartare Bar

Its name is Rose and it does not leave expectations disappointed, because in this new tartare bar in Trastevere it is all very pink and equally full of roses. From the wallpaper to the color of the rooms, from the furniture components to the design of the objects, this bistro has chosen the color and the flower symbol of femininity also because three women animate it: Carlotta Santacroce, Alessandra and Fabrizia Cichetti, respectively daughter, mom and aunt. A place where you can make a quick and longer stop, choosing from the varied menu where tartare obviously dominates. Of meat, fish and veg, they can be found in purity or combined with first courses, tacos and bao bun.

In Lombardy between lake (Iseo), a small Rome, mountains and pyramids – Italian Cuisine

In this all-Italian summer, the mountain will have its redemption. Here, we take you to discover the less traveled paths of Lombardy, which start from the most scenic lake and arrive at the top (where it is said you see the Madonnina), passing through reserves of fallow deer and cheeses in the farmhouse. And between an Aventine villa and a San Pietro square, the pyramids also emerge

It will not be as big as Lake Garda, "noble" as the Maggiore (and its historic villas), famous all over the world as the Lario (Lake Como), made even more prestigious by Alessandro Manzoni first and then George Clooney. Yet trust me: that ofIseo is perhaps the most scenic lake in all of Lombardy.

The Iseo lake

It is located halfway between Brescia and Bergamo, and if you arrive from the latter just before you pass another lake, the one Endine: very small yes, but just as delicious. Its best feature is that it remained naturally intact, that is, well set among valleys, woods and mountains that are reflected in its waters, without too many bricks or cement around it. In winter it is common for the surface to freeze, and that the locals enjoy walking and skating on it (with what courage it is not known, if you want to try, we recommend that you inform yourself first about the ice conditions).

Bossico, the "little Rome"

After passing Endine, in the direction of Lovere, you will arrive straight on the shores of Lake Iseo. Our advice, however, is not to stop here and go up – literally – along the road that leads to Bossico (Bg), an almost unknown mountain resort, but very welcoming, and from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the lake below. And not only.

Defined – certainly with a little boldness – little Rome, Bossico has a square called San Pietro, a church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, a via Roma, and above all historic villas built between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and called with names related to Rome capital city: Celio, Quirinale, Vatican, Pincio, Aventino, Campidoglio; plus others dedicated to the history of Giuseppe Garibaldi: Caprera, Suello, Villa Glori … The reason is easy to say: precisely by virtue of its enchanting panoramic position on Lake Iseo, in the second half of the 19th century Bossico became a holiday resort particularly appreciated from above local bourgeoisie, who built villas here by naming them with Roman and Risorgimento names, in honor of their patriotic ideals (with all due respect to the League today).

In Bossico you stay comfortably both at theMiralago hotels both at theHotel Al Milano, both centrally located, with free parking and a good restaurant.

The area is an excellent starting point for excursions: the Bossico plateau boasts 50 kilometers of pleasant paths and paths (excellent for practicing Nordic walking, but also to splash in e-bikes and mountain bikes), two large picnic areas, one fallow deer reserve, and offers truly wonderful views of the two lakes below (Iseo and d'Endine, in fact), Monte Isola (the lake island in the middle of the lake), the adjacent valleys and the Presolana mountain range. The most beautiful walk is the one that goes all the way Mount Colombina (1459 meters within everyone's reach), which you will recognize from the cross on the top. There you will also find a notebook of the summit on which to leave your signature. The gaze from above will embrace the Orobie, the Camonica Valley, the Po Valley. On particularly clear days it is said that you can even spot the glitter of the Madonnina in Milan, but honestly we have not seen that (all the rest yes).

In general, the first Sunday of August takes place in Bossico Potato bread festival: The courtyards of the houses in the historic center open to the public and for the occasion the (old) wood-fired ovens (where traditional potato bread is cooked according to an ancient recipe, handed down for generations, with flour, water , yeast, salt and boiled potatoes, strictly zero kilometer, because those of Bossico are reputed to be particularly tasty and are also grown today in the gardens and fields of the plateau. Visitors are therefore allowed to observe how this bread is kneaded, baked and baked, and in the end also to taste it. It is an appointment that we once recommend that you participate, even if unfortunately this year there will not be due to the ongoing health emergency.

To do, however, also this year, enjoy one of the (many) traditional cheeses produced in the area farms (there are four): here the milk is not processed as in a dairy, there are no protocols, precision instruments. Everything is done by hand, and by eye, following only patience, experience and instinct. And as it tells us Patrizia Gandini of the Pro Loco Office: «Every gesture repeats itself always the same and always different, because raw milk is a living food and the days are never the same. This is why the flavors of the cheeses of the Bossico plateau are unique, because they are made with craftsmanship, tradition, passion and good nature, and in every cheese – from the most seasoned to ricotta or cheese – you can also savor the emotions and scents of the mountain and the lake .

In making cheeses on the farm, every gesture is always repeated the same and different, because raw milk is a living food and the days are never the same. This is why the flavors of the cheeses of the Bossico plateau are unique

A tour of Monte Isola

After having admired it so much from above, going back to the lake, you cannot stop at Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Europe, and which is located right in the center of Lake Iseo. It was made famous in 2016 by the installation The Floating Piers by the artist Christo, who recently passed away, and which consisted of a "floating walkway on the lake" that connected the islands of Monte Isola and the nearby (and very small) San Paolo to the mainland (municipality of Sulzano). To get to Monte Isola today the departure is always from Sulzano only that the lake is commonly crossed by ferry. The complete tour of the island is 9 kilometers, to be traveled safely on foot or by bicycle, and being careful only to avoid reckless people local vespists (on the other hand, there are no machines here). The walk is easy, apart from a few steeper sections to the south and which tests the breath of cyclists above all. Here and there there are very beautiful views, especially in front of the islet (with castle) of Loreto. All 'Hostaria Milago of Peschiera Maraglio (where the ferry docks) you eat excellent lake fish with super views.

The pyramids of Zone

But there is still something little known and very suggestive that we want to point out in the area. In the area of the municipality of Zone, 14 kilometers from Sulzano (we are on the Brescia side of Lake Iseo), there is a Park with real pyramidsi.e. absolutely natural (and sometimes very high) stone sculptures formed due to the erosion of the water in contact with the particular terrain of morainic origin of the mountain. We assure you that among these rocks the show is guaranteed, even if in the ascent there will be a little sweat.

At the park or by the sea: in Rome picnic in box. that's how – Italian Cuisine

From sandwiches to quiches, from bagels to husbands, imagination has no limits and delivery arrives directly to the park chosen for your picnic

Never before has the desire to be outdoors open its way. At the same time, due to the lockdown, many bars, patisseries and restaurants have refined their organization skills for delivery and take away. On the other hand, in times of crisis it is necessary to invent new commercial proposals and, if not already there, to launch a fashion. This is the case with picnics, with boxes that are already beautiful ready to take to the park or directly on the beach. Just arrange the delivery (home or takeaway) in time for departure and you're done. We have selected the five proposals that are depopulating in Rome.

Experience Bistrot Villa Pamphili

Who better than the Vivi Bistrot that is already in the park. For them, the picnic is an art and the precursors in terms of baskets can be defined without fear. On the other hand, the location of one of the offices of the Vivi Bistrot in the heart of Villa Pamphili is a wedding invitation. The game is simple: just order your picnic at least an hour before and everything will be ready to eat barefoot in the park in front. In the Deluxe version you can also book the classic wicker basket with the towel and your front row seat. Consistent with the green atmosphere in which it is located, the Vivi Bistrot is keen to offer rigorously compostable packaging and its proposals range from sandwiches to quiches, from organic salads to hamburgers.

Coromandel

A picnic in Piazza Navona? It has never been easier. Just book your picnic box (but also brunch or any of the appetizing dishes of chef Ornella De Felice) and go to Coromandel, which is just a stone's throw away, to collect it in person. Alternatively, wherever you are, there is Cosaporto that takes you there. Among Coromandel's proposals, sandwiches, bagels, quiches, pancakes and plumcakes, in short, everything that comes to mind is good that can be eaten in a brunch or an outdoor picnic.

Café Merenda

While under the sign Cafè Merenda you can read "Desserts and cuisine" makes it clear how many delicacies can be found in this delightful corner of Marconi. A place where you feel good, but which, if necessary, will reach you anywhere in Rome with its boxes. With the lockdown, the pastry chef / cook Chiara Caruso has specialized in the preparation of boxes for all tastes, from breakfast to brunch, sweet and savory. The leavened products are exceptionally well made, but the savory whims that Chiara prepares for the boxes dedicated to brunch do not disappoint either. Small anticipation, the family picnic box is out, which also includes a children's menu, with gifts for the little ones: a little attention that is appreciated.

Le Levain

The famous Roman boulangerie-pâtisserie led by Giuseppe Solfrizzi has recently launched its online shop, through which you can order all the delights, both sweet and savory, that the pastry chef prepares. Apulian by birth and French by training, Solfrizzi ranges easily from French pastries to focaccias, from baguettes to loaves. He also recently launched the Pic Nic Box, a combination of products for two that contains baguettes, two tasty quiches, a leavened dessert, three delicious macarons and two sweet verrines to combine with a selection of fruit juices. It can be ordered by calling or writing to the shop and on request it is delivered directly to the entrance of the chosen park.

Antico Forno Roscioli

The famous bakery of the Roscioli brothers has also started to deliver throughout Rome, with the collaboration of Cosaporto, with whom it has developed a series of boxes. They are not explicitly designed for picnics, but in any case for a tasty lunch, perhaps with savory croissants, maritozzi, sandwiches, or bagels (or all these things together, it depends on how many you are). There are also sweet proposals and the legendary pizza box of the Roscioli brothers, who can possibly be added to the order for a really tasty picnic.