Biscottini in Rome’s Ghetto
Thursday, 29th October 2009 | 10 Comments
There are a number of places in Rome that I am physically incapable of passing without buying something: Libreria del Viaggiatore, Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, Roscioli (both Marco and Pietro’s bakeries), and Pasticceria “Boccione” Limentani. This last one is the official name of a pastry shop that only guidebooks bother to use. Regulars of this place refer to it simply as the kosher pastry shop in the Ghetto. After all, it is the only fully kosher one that remains, so there is not much room for confusion.
Located at Via Portico d’Ottavia 1, this neighborhood institution beckons me from several blocks away with the tempting aroma of their biscottini made with cinnamon and almonds. Occasionally burned (about half the time, actually), these twice baked cookies are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, where the cinnamon-rich dough mingles with toasted almonds in an addictive combination of textures and flavors. While others flock for the pizza ebraica (a dense fruit and nut bar) and torta di ricotta (rich ricotta cake), I go for an etto (100g) of biscottini every time I pass through the Ghetto which, fortunately, is at least every other day.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:11 am
I used to stop in to this place often when I lived in Rome. What a treat for you.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I’ll have to add it to my growing list of places to try during our week in Rome. We’ve never really explored the Ghetto on past trips, but we plan to this time. On a related note–since we will be in Rome on Christmas day, some people have suggested we have dinner in the Ghetto, as restaurants there will be more than likely to be open. True?. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
@ciaochowlinda yes it is quite a treat. i indulged today while giving a tour of Jewish Rome.
@Tom Yes the kosher restaurants in the Ghetto will be open for Christmas. I would recommend Nonna Betta (dairy). They have fried vegetables that are to die for. Yotvata is great for pizza. Ive got more info on kosher places here. You may also find Da Gigetto open. No one should ever eat there. It is a trap (gratuitous restaurant bashing).
October 29th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Thanks so much Katie. You are a never ending wealth of useful information! Vedure friti misto is one of my favorites. And thanks for the heads up on Da Gigetto; we’ll be sure to steer clear.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:02 am
You are very welcome, Tom. Enjoy Rome!
November 11th, 2009 at 2:56 am
[...] Roscioli but we should go to the source.” I agreed. I recently wrote of my obsession with the biscottini at the kosher bakery in the Ghetto. Now that place is absolutely amazing and I adore everything [...]
November 14th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Sorry, but I don’t agree at all about Gigetto! People love to bash it, because it’s been around forever. But they have the best fried artichokes in Rome, always fresh, never frozen (which can’t be said of some of the other places in the Ghetto.) The rest of the menu of traditional Roman dishes is superb, and very fairly priced. As an added bonus desserts are from the bakery next door, run by the family, which includes great cheese cake, yogurt cake and Rome’s best sachertorte.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Gigetto is terrible. They serve french artichokes most of the year (not exactly traditional Roman is it?) and in 7 years I have yet to have a great meal. That is why I love to bash it, not because it has been around forever. there are plenty of historic places that dont suck but Gigetto is not one of them.
November 3rd, 2010 at 1:50 am
[...] and cookies: Cristalli di Zucchero, Dolci Desideri, Mondi, Il Mondo di Laura, Andreotti, Il Boccione, La Deliziosa, La Dolceroma, and Biscottificio Artigiano [...]
December 14th, 2010 at 10:49 am
[...] end of Via Portico d’Ottavia. Their ricotta cakes, amaretti (almond paste cookies) and cinnamon and almond biscotti are always a bit burnt but amazing [...]