Waiting a Lifetime for Cannoli

November 7, 2011 By Andrea

The other week, a friend and I were walking along in Trastevere. We passed a pastry shop with cannoli displayed in the window (along with other sweet treats). What else could we do but stop and drool over the yummy desserts? While we were stopped, my friend confessed that not only had he never tasted cannoli, but he only learned what they were a few days before from a tourist asking about them. What?! This news stopped me in my tracks. How could this be possible? He has lived in Rome for almost 10 years now, and although cannoli are Sicilian pastries, not Roman, I still could hardly believe the news he had just delivered to my ears.

For those of you like my friend, and are also not familiar, let me explain a little about the yummy cannoli. Cannoli (cannolo = singular), means ‘little tube’. They have a crunchy tube-like shell made of fried pastry dough, and are filled with a mixture of creamy, sweet ricotta. They are usually dusted with confectioner’s or powdered sugar. You can find them in a variety of ways with different toppings at the ends. The most common are with crushed pistachios, small chocolate chips or chocolate shavings, candied fruit or cherries.I made it my mission to find an authentic Sicilian pastry shop. Turns out, there was one located right in the heart of Trastevere. Mission accomplished! The secret to authentic cannoli is that they are filled with ricotta once you place your order. They are fresh, and not prefilled sitting on display. Needless to say, he enjoyed it immensely, and I can now rest easy knowing he has had a proper cannoli experience.

The Sicilian pastry shop I found in Trastevere is Ciuri Ciuri. Each regular size cannolo is €2,30. As you can see above, the cannoli are not prefilled. When you order, you can choose between regular ricotta filling, chocolate cream or pistachio cream. We had one with regular ricotta and one with chocolate cream, both topped with chopped pistachio. Both delicious! So delicious, my friend has already asked when we can return to get another cannolo. Apparently my cannoli mission was not only accomplished, but it was a success. 🙂

Ciuri Ciuri
Piazza San Cosimato, 49/B
Open: Every day from 9.30 AM – Midnight
Telephone: 06 9521 6082
There are three other locations throughout Rome, and you can check their website for other locations and opening times.

Gelato With a Chocolate Twist

October 31, 2011 By Andrea

I know temperatures outside are starting to drop, but can we really put a limit on when to have gelato? I, for one, can not. I love the delicious, cool, creamy treat. If you remember, this is not the first time I’ve written about my love for gelato, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. My current obsession is not only with gelato, but with gelato topped in a coating of chocolate. It.is.delicious! I have been hooked. Most gelato is topped with panna (whipped cream), and the first time we visited, we were surprised with chocolate syrup drizzled over the panna. A few days later I returned again and asked for chocolate sauce and got my gelato dipped in chocolate. I literally squealed with delight at the sight of this. I am a chocoholic, and combining delicious chocolate with delicious gelato makes me one happy girl!

As you can see by the line out the door, the word has spread and the phenomenon is catching on. By the way, the gelato is homemade on site, and is made without hydrogenated fat.

Yummm! I mentioned before my standard ‘go to’ flavors are Bacio (chocolate & hazelnut), Pistachio and Stracciatella (similar to American chocolate chip). At Frigidarium, I still stick with Pistachio (my favorite flavor), but I can’t seem to get enough of their Tiramisù (tastes just like homemade tiramisù) and Spagnola (Vanilla gelato topped with Amarena cherries).

The tartness of the cherries in the Spagnola and the coffee flavor in the Tiramisù pair perfectly with the rich chocolate coating.

If you are not a huge lover of chocolate, or if you prefer whipped cream atop your gelato, you always have that choice too (with or without chocolate syrup).

Frigidarium
Via del Governo Vecchio, 112
Rome, Italy
(near to Piazza Navona)
Prices: Sm-€2, Med-€3, Lg-€4 (Even the small comes with 3 flavors and your choice of panna or chocolate topping)
Website

Piazza Treasures: Halloween Edition

October 30, 2011 By Andrea

The entertainment is endless here in Rome, and I always see fun and interesting street performers when I’m out and about. The piazzas are a perfect place to people watch and be entertained by different street performers. Since it’s Halloween, I thought I would share a few fun costumes in this month’s Piazza Treasures roundup. Who knows, maybe you will be inspired with ideas for your own Halloween costume. Happy Trick or Treat everyone!

A scary skeleton hanging out by Castle Sant’Angelo.

You could dress up like a bronze Egyptian statue, like the one in Piazza Navona.

You could be a pirate or Captain Jack Sparrow, like this guy who we also found in Piazza Navona.

You could dress up as Michael Jackson, like this person we spotted performing in Piazza del Popolo. Or …

… you could go as a bush. This guy makes me laugh! He sits along the cobblestone streets of Trastevere, and is very still until someone drops coins into his cup, then he moves and shakes. Confession: The first time I noticed him was after I was walking next to him and he suddenly moved. He almost scared me to death because he blended into the setting and I didn’t notice him as I approached his way.

Are you dressing up for Halloween? What are you dressing up as? What is your costume?

Chinese Food in Rome

October 10, 2011 By Andrea

Chinese food? In Rome? I know, I know. You are probably thinking Rome is a place where you eat Italian food, not Chinese food. If those are your thoughts, you are (mostly) correct. Rome has delicious Roman cuisine and Italian style dishes, but when you eat that always, your taste buds beg for something a little different from time to time (at least mine do).

Being from the States, I am used to having a variety of cultural and ethnic food options, all usually in close proximity. Monday – Mexican, Tuesday – Chinese, Wednesday – Italian, Thursday – BBQ (Barbeque), Friday – Mediterranean, Saturday – Sushi, Sunday – Southern comfort food. I am willing to bet most weekly menus resemble something similar to this. When I lived in the States, mine certainly did. Now living in Rome, the menu looks more like pizza, pasta, risotto, pasta, pizza, pasta and the occasional kebab or Mediterranean sandwich.

Even though Italian food in general is, and always has been, my favorite type of food, sometimes my taste buds need a little variety. It’s what they have grown accustomed to. That is why I was overjoyed when we discovered this great little Chinese restaurant in Trastevere. When I am in the mood for something different, I usually head here. The food is delicious, and it is very reasonably priced. I usually order an appetizer, two main dishes, two side dishes and a large bottle of water…all for under €20. If you are in Rome and craving something a little different, definitely give this restaurant a try. It’s located right off the main piazza in Trastevere (Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere), so it’s very convenient.

You can see everything I usually order below. On your mark, get set, let your mouth start watering…

You can dine inside the restaurant, or sit at a table outside and enjoy all the energy from the main piazza in Trastevere.

Primavera – Spring roll (with carrots and cabbage and topped with sweet & sour sauce)

Shrimp Lo Mein

Fried rice with shrimp

Shrimp with ginger and green onions (pairs great with the fried rice).

I saved the best for last. My favorite…sweet & sour shrimp. Yummm!

Ci Lin
Via Fonte dell’olio, 6
Open 7 days a week
Lunch served from 11 am – 3 pm
Dinner served from 6 pm – midnight

Piazza Treasures: Take Two

October 5, 2011 By Andrea

The first time I talked about ‘piazza treasures’, I told you we always come across different street performers each time we visit a piazza or stroll along the streets of the city. The entertainment is endless in Rome. It always brightens my day when we come across someone showcasing their talents or doing something ‘out of the norm’.

In August, I said I would like to share a monthly round up of all the ‘piazza treasures’ and street performers we come across each month. I am unfortunately running a little behind for September. I wanted to share a fun video with you guys, but my external hard drive has decided to hold all my files hostage at the moment (grrrr…isn’t technology so fun some times? ;-). I do have a few fun photos to share with you this time though. Enjoy!If you missed the first ‘piazza treasures’ round up, you can check it out here, and be sure to be on the lookout for this month’s round up in a few weeks.

Fun, upbeat music for shoppers along Via del Corso.