Scottsdale, Arizona - Il Pandoro - just like in Rome?

The short answer is "NO", not as tasty as it was in Rome. But it has traveled quite a distance, so I am not surprised that it is dried.

The funny note:  It took me about 1/2 hour to select and buy this. I went to DeFalco's Italian Deli and had to discuss the purchase and listen to all of the local Italian stories.  The consensus is that "my Mom used to toast/make french toast/butter and fry (select your favorite) this on Christmas Day".  Well, no wonder! It was dried.  So while I can't eat this with lush butter, as we did in Rome, it is good buttered and lightly fried.  I think that the Italian moms make these changes to overcome the dryness.

Rome, Italy - Seniors Revolt in Rome

Equal opportunity protests?  This happened on the Thursday that I stayed at the apartment in Rome. I am going to have to depend on the others to comment as to what they saw take place during the day. I saw this sign as we were going home one night. 



The more I research, the more I realize that I have no idea what was going on.  Sara! Kalen! Karl! help!

AHHHH: there is a Facebook page:
http://zh-hk.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10244402653

And a website
http://www.domusweb.it/
From the sign:

domus.
la nuova utopia
Ettore sottsass, scritto di notte
Peter Cook, il futuro visto dal passato
Oled, la nuova luce

From an online translator
domus.  the new utopia,
Ettore Sottsass,written at night,
Peter Cook, the future seen from the past
Oled, the new light

Source: http://www.interieur.be/nl/exposanten/0/detail/domus/
Established in 1928 by Gio Ponti, Domus is a highly reputed international magazine dedicated to contemporary architecture, interior design and art. For 80 years it has followed, promoted and anticipated the trends in architecture, art and the creative arts under the leadership of prestigious editors. Worldwide design celebrity Alessandro Mendini currently edits the review: he will sign 11 issues destined to stand out as a unique collection - in the history of this iconic architectural title. Mendini's domus focuses on the power of images and the readability of contents. The subtitle 'La nuova utopia' conveys the construction of a progressive vision offered as a way out of the global recession in design, production and market.


Each cover carries the illustrated portrait of distinguished personalities who have contributed to the evolution of the culture of design, architecture and the arts. Domus offers the widest range of coverage, the sharpest commentary and criticism, and the best photography. Published in Italy with an international perspective, Domus is fully bilingual Italian and English and circulates 51,000 copies across the world. Domus is currently available in 89 countries via traditional channels, libraries and bookshops, as well as by subscription. Four local editions are published in Arabia/Middle East, China, Russia and Israel. Domus is actively engaged in cross-publishing activities, from web to digital applications.

Rome, Italy - Église Saint-Louis-des-Français de Rome

This is one of the three churches that is in the area of the Pantheon.  Unassuming on the outside, they hold beauty and treasures within.  Sign as you enter the Church.  Consider yourself informed.

Sign as you enter the Church

Sign as you enter the Church

Preparing for a wedding

Preparing for a wedding

The Inspiration of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio

The Inspiration of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio

Fichier: Great organ San Luigi dei Francesi

Fichier: Great organ San Luigi dei Francesi

We walked on to Piazza Navona. I had to get a photo of these donuts.  This is some treat!  Grande Ciambella Romana

Grande Ciambella Romana

Rome, Italy - Church - Ignazio Di Loyola - Rome

There was one more Church in the area that we needed to see. I had to add this picture of the street and the parking.  It's all to scale.  Little streets lined with little cars.  SUVs just wouldn't make it down the street.

This is an interesting example of what happens to a project when the money runs out.

Little streets and little cars...jammed in.

Rome, Italy - More Michelangelo - Basilica di Saint Maria Sopra Minerva - Rome

This was inside one of the three Churches that we visited on Saturday, December 4.  This Christ with a Cross is done by Michelangelo.  The thing that looks like a scarf blew up from the street and caught on his leg was added later by others.  I've also included some photos of the Church.  As Ginan had told me, every church has some great work of art, and there are over 400 Churches in Rome.

Christ by Michelangelo

Christ by Michelangelo

The ceiling

View of the Altar from the back of the Church

Sign about the Church.

Rome, Italy - Trattoria Antonio

We found the restaurant on the last day in Rome...go figure.  We were walking around the city, looking for a new undiscovered place to eat lunch.  The street we were on had restaurants with the waiters at street side, inviting you in, giving you deals and discounts. We read (Rick Steves) to avoid these places and look for the ones filled with locals.  Trattoria Antonio was it.  We think that we were the only non-Italians in this crowded little restaurant. The food was incredible.  I didn't get an itemized bill, but the total came to 86€ plus tip, so we spent about 21,50 € each.

The entrance...no one standing outside begging us to enter.

Ristorante Antonio
Garbini S.a.S
Via Dei Pastini, 12 Roma
Tel: 06/67.90.798

Penne Bologna. Yes, also wine and bread. (Ladee)

Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Kalen and Karl)

Pasta Carbonara (Sara)

Wide pasta noodles with meat slices and yummy sauce. (Kalen and Karl)

It was a good meal in a small family owned trattoria.

AND, to my amazement, the owner Papa cut the prosciutto right at tableside. In fact, he moved that ham bone around as he needed it. He would cut a few pieces off, and then put it on the plate.

Rome, Italy - Tazza D'Oro - Authentic Coffee Bar in Rome

From December 4, Saturday in Rome

This is a true coffee bar in Rome.  We had finished a nice lunch and Kalen/Sara/Karl headed to this place (they found it the day before).  You pay for your order and get a receipt, then go to the barrista and he makes the beverage. It was crowded and wonderful!

Pannatone wrapped to go

Kalen pays for the drinks

We move to the stand up bar for the drinks

Espressos all around

Tazza D'Oro - the front of the coffee bar

Rome, Italy - Rome by the Glass - Video

A little wine info from Etorre.

We sampled five bottles of wine.  The first two were whites, the third and fourth were red, and the last bottle was a sweet desert wine. They are in that order.  I've pulled some information from the internet to help with the descriptions, so if you are interested, a little research will help you.  My results may be a little off if I can't find the exact bottle.

Our first stop was in a little place near Mimi & Coco's (I think. I'll check with the others.)  It was very crowded, wonderfully crowded, and small.  The bar had several types of snacks.

Schiopetto Collio Blanc des Rosis
Country: ITALY
Region: FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA
Sub-Region: VENEZIA GIULIA
Grape Varietal: NON-VARIETAL WHITE BLEND
Type: Still wine
http://www.winechateau.com/ Reg. 32.99 On Sale $24.49

Passopisciaro Guardiola 2009
Category White Wine
Varietal Chardonnay
Region Italy : Sicily
Producer Passopisciaro
http://www.amantivino.com/ $39.99, in mixed case $35.99

Passopisciaro Guardiola 2009

On to the second place.  Vino Olio.  The sign also says "Enoteca" (wine bar) and "Il Goccetto".  From my internet research, I see that the name is actually Il Goccetto, even though it is about the smallest thing on the sign.

Il Goccetto
Via dei Banchi Vecchi 14, Rome
From Frommers: Review of Il Goccetto
Set near Campo de' Fiori, Il Goccetto specializes in French and Italian wines by the glass at prices that range from 4€ ($6.40) for a simple chianti to as much as 17€ ($27) for a glass of French champagne. Cold platters of food, including an extensive list of Italian cheeses and processed meats, especially salami and pâtés, as well as an occasional salad, are available. Overall, this place provides an excellent site for the degustazione of a wide assortment of unusual Italian wines, many of them from less well-known small producers. It's open Monday to Saturday from 11:30am to 2pm and from 6pm to midnight

On to the wine!

2009 Cantina Produttori Bolzano Lagrein Perl

Alto Adige Lagrein "Perl" DOC Classic red fermentation, maturing in one year in oak barrels.

Price: $ 10.13
VAT included + transport costs
Category: Red Wine
Source: Alto Adige - Italy
Manufacturer: Cantina Bolzano
Varietal: 100% Lagrein
Vintage: 2009
Content: 0.75 lt.
Color: dark red garnet
Aroma: vanilla and cocoa, humus, red fruits of the forest
Taste: full, soft, elegant and persistent harmonic
Alcohol content: 13.5 Vol%
Residual sugar: 3 g / l
Serving temperature: 18 ° C
Storage: until 2013
Food: Ideal with meat and cheese.

Source: http://www.wein-online.it/ip___Alto+Adige+Lagrein+Perl+DOC_11001

2009 Cantina Produttori Bolzano Lagrein Perl

http://www.spiritshoppe.com/  (Note: I'm not sure if this is the same producer. This review says that we should wait another two years to drink the wine. Who can do that???)
Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetic 2006
Category Red Wine
Varietal Montepulciano
Region Italy : Abruzzo : Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Producer Masciarelli
$29.99 On Sale $19.99
Wine Advocate: The 2006 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo San Martino Rosso Marina Cvetic emerges from the glass with vibrant dark cherries, spices, flowers and minerals. Today the wine is rather closed and unexpressive, but it should develop nicely in bottle. The purity of fruit, length and overall balance are all clearly first-rate. The San Martino is the more classic of the estate’s two 2006s. The firm tannic spine should support many years of very fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.
Score: 90. —Antonio Galloni, July 2010

Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetic 2006

Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetic 2006

Ludum 2009
Marco Carpineti (Italy)
(Latium)
Grapes: Bellone
Sweet Wine
Ludum shows a brilliant amber yellow color and nuances of amber yellow, transparent. The nose denotes intense, clean, pleasing and refined aromas that start with hints of apricot jam and dried fig followed by aromas of peach jam, date, candied fruit, vanilla, nail polish, quince, honey and almond. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a sweet and round attack, however balanced by alcohol, good body, intense flavors, pleasing crispness. The finish is persistent with flavors of apricot jam, dried fig and date. Ludum ages for 12 months in cask.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Food match: Fruit jam tarts
Suggested serving temperature: 14° C (57° F)

Etorre - working his magic