October 25, 2006
Time for you to help me (in other words, still not a food review post)
- Pillow cake?
- chocolate cake with macarons
If more of you lived in Paris I would love to host a cake buffet completely supplied by Secco (Poujauran's adjoining patisserie) resulting in 100% happy bellies with a side of 200% indigestion (which I guess means unhappy bellies, but they're initially happy until the gurgling sets in). But what the hell is that pillowy looking cake? I'm afraid that magical, fluffy, golden bunnies made of mutiple forms of sugar would hop out if I dared pierced the caramelized surface with a knife. Also, I might impale a bunny.
You know you want it.
Alas, you're not here. But you can still help me even if you're not able to combine your digestive power with mine.
When in Rome, stuff yourself with gelato
Update (10/27): Thank you for your recommendations! I think I've got enough now (seriously, there's no way I'll eat at all these places), so my next post will hopefully be full of Italian stuff and gelato. :)
I'm going to Rome on Saturday (and I think I'll bring my laptop with me in case I find wi-fi; is that sad?) and even though it's not a "I can do whatever I want" vacation, I made a list of possible places to check out due to other people's recommendations (thank you!) and various websites. If you have anything to add, leave a comment. Maybe we can make the best list ever. (Gelaterias and bakeries are preferred. I know there's such a food group as "things that aren't sweet", but I'm not adverse to the idea of living on gelato for five days. And maybe pizza bianca.)
Unknown bread place
Potato pizza!
Via del Moro at Via della Pelliccia [map]
Unknown dessert place
Open at midnight
Drunk locals!
Super cheap
Via del Cipresso at Vicolo de Cinque [map]
Artu
Zucchini blossoms and tiramisu = yum
Somewhere on Via della Paglia, west of Piazza Santa Maria [map]
Augusta
For dinner
Via della Pelliccia where it opens into a small Piazza (near Via del Cipresso, possibly Piazza de Renzi) [map]
Forno Campo de' Fiori
PIZZA BIANCA!!!
Campo De' Fiori, 22 [map]
Il Gelato di San Crispino
GELATO!!! Honey flavored!
Closed Tues?
Via della Panetteria,42 [map]
Palazzo del Freddo
GELATO!
Via Principe Eugenio, 65 [map]
Ciampini
GELATO!
Piazza de San Lorenzo in Lucina 29 [map]
Fragola e Limone
Gelato!
Piazza della Rotonda on Via Giustiniani [map]
Cremeria Monteforte
GELATO...oh my god it never ends.
Via della Rotonda, 22 [map]
Still haven't gone to London
...But I'm thinking of going the weekend of December 8th because Peter Bjorn and John are playing at ULU. Of course, I don't know where that is exactly (yes, this is what maps are for) and I'm not going to ride a train for hours to a place I've never been to just for a concert that probably no one else wants to go to, but...well. I don't suppose anyone else wants to go? Yeah? Okay. [sniffle]
[sniffle sniffle sniffle]
...And this is when someone says, "OH, WAIT, I LOVE THAT BAND, I CAN TOTALLY GO." If I were dreaming.
Ah, Norvège!
Check out Travel By Food, a website about street food (mah favorite!) around the world. I contributed to the Norway page, although upon reading it over I think I must've been at least 75% brain dead when I wrote the descriptions. Which is actually how I write most things.
I know many people reading this are buddies with street food. You should contribute!
Last thing of utmost importance unless I think of more things
Knowing that an annagram of my name is BEER ONLY makes me kinda happy.
CAKE ONLY would've been cooler though.
Posted by roboppy at 4:24 PM
Comments (31)
OKAY!! OH MY GOD!! ROBYN!!
I have the ultimate gelato place in Rome. Seriously, I was there for a week, I tried every famous one, and the best I had, no contest, was a place called I Giolitti. I don't know the address, but it doesn't matter, you will see signs. Or ask (Dove va la gelateria si chiama I Giolitti?). . . the Italians are uber-friendly.
If you sit inside, they will serve you whatever flavors you want in a giant parfait glass with about 10 pounds of whipped cream on top. I did this on my last day there, and it was sooooooo good I will never forget it.
Considering I also tried like every flavor, I recommend their white chocolate, after eight (like the mint!), baci, and coconut. Though not creamy like the gelato, the champagne sorbet is also worth a try, just becuase you can TASTE the bubbles in it.
GO!!! I swear. Oh my god. Wow.
Posted by: susannah at October 25, 2006 5:49 PM [#]
Robyn, I'm totally asking my friend Trisha what her favorite bakeries and other places were when she lived in Rome. After you're there, gelato is going to, like, seep from your pores. How did I just make gelato sound kinda gross? I didn't think that was possible!
Oh! And your last post was a little sad, but listen--when I lived in Brazil, I didn't have the resources to travel everywhere that other people did. But I explored the local culture and did little things that made me happy, so I have no regrets. Listen, it's a long journey. Even if you don't hit every single chocolate festival right now, you've got time...who knows, you might even be doing this for a career someday (I would LOVE to see you on the Travel Channel, checking out the hot food spots of foreign countries! Or in a food magazine or something).
Posted by: Miranda at October 25, 2006 6:06 PM [#]
I remember when i went to Italy, I had at least one gelato a day. the Italians love gelato. You can't walk down a block without finding a place that sells it. I was told that when in italy, you must try "tartufo." it is somehow composed of gelato and chocolate. I never tried it because..i dunno why, but I regret it now. so go and have some for both of us. I can't recommend a place, sorry. I have images of places i loved but I can't remember what they are called or where they are. :( i was too busy being stressed about my inability to communicate with the locals.
P.S. I've been totally craving macarons since you went to France.
Posted by: Jenn at October 25, 2006 7:10 PM [#]
I almost licked my computer screen when I saw that chocolate cake.
Posted by: Michelle at October 25, 2006 8:33 PM [#]
A vote for Old Bridge (I dunno why it's in English) by the Vatican - the piazza del risorgimento.
I Giolitti was very good too. Very different atmospheres though. Old Bridge is more like a (celebrated) hole in the wall. Giolitti is sit-down and has a dizzying array of flavors.
My fav. neighborhood was Trastevere. Cute and cheap(er). Please have some suppli for me! fried balls of rice and cheese = Awesomeness. And lots of mozzarella. Oohhhhh. Hugging stomach jealously.
Just started listening (obsessively) to pb&j this week. FUNNNNNN. Just like the sandwich.
Hihi
If you do make it to London, you have to go to Hummingbird Bakery at Notting Hill, somewhere along Portebello Market. Their cupcakes are amazing!
http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com/
Have fun!
Cheers, Eva
Posted by: eva at October 25, 2006 10:15 PM [#]
ULU is near Russell square. University of London. Fantastic area.
Posted by: ConstantCupcake at October 25, 2006 11:25 PM [#]
My envy of you knows no bounds. France? And then, ROME? Are you kidding me? What the hell did you have to sign away for all eternity in order to get that kind of deal?
Wait, save the France and Rome and just shove the pastry shops over. That's all I need. FOR EVER. AND EVER.
This comment is probably a waste of time.
Il Gelato di San Crispino!!! yes!! definitely get the honey!! and you can walk to the trevi fountain right nearby.
I really liked this place called "Myosotis:" i think its Vicolo della Vaccarella 3-5, according to google...super friendly staff and the food was FRESH and reasonably priced.
have fun! I love rome!!
Posted by: Gelateria at October 26, 2006 12:57 AM [#]
Oh HECK I forgot to bring yr tel # Robyn :(
Can you email me..where is Poujaran? Shoot
Eating too many macarons here to think about Roma but EVERYTHING is good there. Not to worry.
Carolg
Posted by: ParisBreakfasts at October 26, 2006 1:09 AM [#]
Robyn, I just got the new Peter Bjorn and John album today, Writer's Block. It's ammmmaaaazing. You should definitely make the pilgramage...too bad i'm stuck here in the States. Gahhh!
Posted by: mike at October 26, 2006 1:44 AM [#]
I totally don't know who that band is (and there are many ULU's and I couldn't find it on www.tfl.org) but I'm willing to accompany you on dec 8th, that is if you accompany me to patisserie valerie, the food halls at harrods and other places, naturellement.
Posted by: sophie at October 26, 2006 5:30 AM [#]
Jamie: Oh god I love sandwiches. I'll try to go there!
Amy: Mooshed raw beef and cake that may or may not have bunnies: YES! A combination that no nutritionist would ever approve!
Susannah: WHOA you are excited! Yay! I put Giolitti on my list. Mmmmm. Because I need 10 pounds of whipped cream. And you tried almost every flavor? How many times did you go there?! :O
Miranda: Pores of gelato sounds disgusting and appealing at the same time. So hard to choose! Ooh.
I am quite happy just checking out the Parisian sights and eating huge amounts of French biscuits. :) Not that I'd mind going to another country and hoarding all of their biscuits too.
If there's a need for self deprecating food writers, I am so there!
Ilana: Aw, don't be jealous! NYC is awesome! :) I think when I go back home I'll want to go out more and see things in NYC...although I'll probably be too lazy to actually do anything. Hm.
Jenn: One a day! THAT'S MY GOAL. I've had tartufo in the US, although I dunno if that's the same as in Italy (a few flavors of ice cream in a chocolate shell?). It's one of my favorite desserts, although it's not usually that awesome. Might just be a nostalgia thing. If I find it, I'll try it!
Oh god, I'm gonna be stressed trying to speak Italian...COS I CAN'T. AT ALL. I didn't realize how much French I knew until I tried to figure out Italian and knew absolutely nothing.
I ate a macaron today! Unfortunately, not too awesome. Damn Poujauran; everything they make is so good, except for the macarons!
Marvo: ...Annnd I'm suddently glad that my name can't be turned into "CAKE ONLY".
Michelle: I would've been more likely to almost eat my computer screen than almost lick it.
Janet: Oo, I heard of Old Bridge. Interesting non-gelato-sounding name. :)
FRIED BALL OF RICE AND CHEESE?! OMGOMG. That sounds deathly! I'm excited.
PB&J = so so so good! YAAY JANET IS AWESOME I listened to that obsessive before I came here. Maybe I should start again.
Loretta: That is helpful to know! Unfortunately, I don't know how to pronounce it. I suppose I can google some kind of "LEARN ITALIAN!" thing and get sound clips. Or else it would be totally incomprehensible!
Eva: Aww that place looks adorable! I find it so funny that I would go to an American style bakery in London, but cupcakes would be nice.
ConstantCupcake: Thanks for the info. I also found a map. Useful! Yes.
Mona: That's good to know. Sounds like something my teacher should tell us too. :P (She hasn't given us any tips about traveling around Rome. Maybe she'll do that when we get there? Err.)
Adalmin: I signed away any chance of being able to FIT INTO MY PANTS, THAT'S WHAAT. (I guess I just need to buy bigger pants. NO, I REFUSE.)
Nah, I agree...just want pastries. It's as cultural as all those old ruins and museums and stuff, right? But tastier?
Gelateria: Thanks for the recommendation! I hope I love Rome too.
Mike: Yessss someone understands! The album is so awesome! But I don't know why! I just talk like this! Excitedly!
I have this feeling they'll never come to the US, at least not soon. Gotta take my chance now?
Robyn, I've never met you but I catch your blog from time to time. Take my advice -- you can diet later. I lived in Spain for four months and gained some weight but don't regret a single flippin' pound. I have a lot of good memories of palmieras, paella, Cola Cao, Spanish beer, etc. etc. -- it was all worth it. Live up your France experience, food and all! Happy fooding!
Posted by: Kristin at October 26, 2006 11:06 AM [#]
Well, I've never been to Rome (or France for that matter) so I'm of absolutely no help to you.
The bunny cake looks interesting though. I guess because I've never seen a cake quite like that. A pastry, yes, but not a cake.
Anyway, enjoy Rome (even though it's for class) and hope you find a wifi!
I just wanted to tell you: in my travels around Ginza, I found macaroons! They were very tiny but I bought one mainly because you post so many pictures and they always look so delicious, I had to try. It was just awesome! I had a coffee flavored one, but they had green tea flavored ones, too, and chocolate and vanilla and some with kanji I couldn't read. :x I need to go back and try more. I also need to stop by the Printemps store because I'm (hoping) that since they're French, they might have bigger macaroons.
Posted by: Miki at October 26, 2006 11:20 AM [#]
My anagram was Easter Tear. Robyn, you must go to London! I spent a week there, alone, and sight seeing all by mah self and it was AWESOME. The food was... well, stick to pubs for some lovely shepards pie or MY GOD- idea! Go to Harrods!! They have a food court thats better then Disneyland. They have a sushi counter, bakery, pastry/cake/confection area, deli counters, the cheese will make you cry. You could spend a day down there sampling and taking pics.
Posted by: Sara, The Wine Makers Wife at October 26, 2006 5:58 PM [#]
Kristin: Diet later, yess! I love..die with a "t"...
[sigh]
Daisy: Someday I'll be like "I NEED MANILA RECS!" and then you'll be all over that. :)
Oh god I hope I find wifi there. I'm already suffering from internet withdrawal.
Miki: YAAY! You should try the mystery kanji one BECAUSE you don't know what it is. Hehehee. I hope you find more macarons!
Sara: Ahh, I havent had pub food! I gotta do that. I did go to Harrods once though...one of the few foodie things I did when I visited London a few years ago (before I was really into food, the horror!). Yeaaah that place was awesome. It was so weird to see a Krispy Kreme there.
I tend to get excited about dairy and carbohydrates.
I believe I made it there about 7 times . . so, no, i def. did not try every flavor (there's a lot) but everything my family got I tasted. My friend got the rice . . yeah . . it had like . . rice chunks . . i don't know if I would recommend it, but interesting nonetheless.
Oooh, I found the website.
Posted by: susannah at October 26, 2006 8:36 PM [#]
Hey Robyn! I've been checking your blog out for a while, and I think it's time to get my act together and finally ask it out on a date... or post a comment :D Yeah, my humour kind of quivers around this time, I'm a sleep-deprived college student, bear with me! hehe..
Anyways, I'm actually from Milan (Italy) and am currently a freshman at NYU, so basically we've switched locations! If you're going to Rome I would recommend going to "I Tre Scalini" in Piazza Navona, where you must get the "Tartufo da passeggio", which is kind of like an immense (for Italian standards) chocolate ice-cream trufle with chunks of pure dark chocolate awesomeness and even a spray of fresh home-made whipped cream, if you care for it... you can see a pic of it here, http://www.fotolog.com/kiss_the_cook/?pid=12713606 on my Fotolog, since I too attempt to tell of my life through food and its delights, but can only aspire to being a speck of dust in your shadow... you are amaaaaazing!!!
I wish you all the beeeest!!!
Posted by: Gj at October 26, 2006 8:44 PM [#]
A tip for you:
When trying the various gelatterie in Italy (ice cream shops) I find the best way to test their quality is by testing their pistacchio.
If it has a clean and clear taste of pistacchio (they vary A LOT) the other icecreams are also probably very good.
Don't go for whatever shop has the most flavors. More often than not it only means that they get them delivered by the large ice cream companies.
The best shops make their own ice cream, and if you see some people in the back working huge pans or pots of some sort, obviously making ice cream, go for that place. Try their pistacchio.
Oh, and at most places you go to the register to pay for an ice cream of a certain size (just point to the cup you want), then you bring the cup to the person serving the ice cream (opposite order of what is common here) and they will give you whatever you want. And you can certainly try them all if you please.
Oh, and if you eat at a trattoria (they are generally better and more realiable than places that are called "ristorante", especially those with English menus) and see "ravioli con zucca" you have to (HAVE TO!) try it. I really love them, and just had a chef at a local restaurant here make a batch for me and my friends :)
They are in season now, so this is your chance!
Posted by: Morten Båtbukt at October 26, 2006 9:54 PM [#]
there is a small shop located on the side streets of piazza navona that lets you sample all the gelatos that you want. you can then purchase a cup with up to three scoops of different flavors and i think it's one of the cheaper gelato shops in Rome. my favourite is pistachio ... you should try it, it's really good! i was there last year but I can't seem to remember the name of the place, sorry! i think it's located next to a restaurant that serves "tourist meal". good luck!
Posted by: drew at October 26, 2006 11:01 PM [#]
I second, third and fourth, the Giolitti's rec...absolutely fantastic (make sure to get the "panna" (whipped cream) on top; they will ask you anyway)...and you don't have to sit down...you can get your order to take out.
Right down from Giolitti's is the Gelateria della Palma (kinda neonish looking)...pretty good gelato, too.
Also, there is a little hole in the wall right to the right of the Pantheon as you face its front entrance...very, very good gelato...but, the hours are limited, and may not be open in December.
Posted by: tom at October 27, 2006 1:42 AM [#]
Susannah: 7 TIMES! Holy crap that's a lot. I have five days to eat as much gelato as I can! Har har! Ahh.
You had me at "rice chunks".
Gj: I understand the break down of brain cells as a fellow sleep-deprived college student. YAY!
I hope you're eating well in NYC! And OMG OMG TARTUFO LOOKS SO GOOD (and yes I would like some fresh whipped cream), I'm blinded by the deliciousness! Thanks for your recommendation!
drew: Ohh yeah, I LOVE pistachio! I hope to eat plenty of that in gelato form. :) Thanks for the recommendation!
tom: Ahhh so much gelato! I hope I get to try Giolitti. :)
Santos: That's cos THE SONG IS SO AWESOME. Bwahahaaa.
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: This is the 
While in Campo di Fiori do yourself a favor and get a sandwich at Aristocampo. Perfect in all regards, and open late. Trust me.
Posted by: Jamie at October 25, 2006 5:39 PM [#]