Rome & Lazio Archive

Gli Sfizi di Casa Bleve, involtini, mozzarella, and steak tartare.

Casa Bleve is among the most finest places in Rome to drink wine, their elegant dining room a perfect pair with their spectacular cellar. But it is the down-to-earth atmosphere in spite of it all that makes me love this place. (more…)

Whether you are or not, pick up the latest editions of the Rough Guide to Turkey and Rome, two excellent travel resources to which I contributed this year. You can purchase the Rough Guide to Rome here and the Rough Guide to Turkey here.

Epitaph from the Jewish Catacombs, Capitoline Museums.

On September 5, Italy will join twenty-four nations in celebrating the eleventh annual European Day of Jewish Culture. In Rome, there will be lectures, concerts, and exhibits dedicated to this year’s theme, Art and Judaism. Perhaps the most exciting events of the day (more…)

In Rome’s Largo del Teatro Valle stands a somewhat imposting storefront emblazoned with a sign for CO2 Brasserie, a thankfully defunct restaurant that closed a few years back. The Perfect Bun opened in its place, but the sign for CO2 is still there, a strange reminder of the space’s earlier incarnation. I visited The Perfect Bun (more…)

When it’s hot in Rome, survival instincts kick in. City dwellers tend to stay indoors, with their shutters closed tight against the blazing sun. (more…)

In my humble opinion, there are few things more vile than a McDonalds hamburger, regardless of what ingredients it includes. In January, nearly 400 McDonalds “restaurants” in Italy launched the McItaly menu, which employs the “Made in Italy” (more…)

Tagliolini alle vongole at Piperno.

Last night I got back from a much needed holiday by the sea (read: fish binge). Nevertheless, it wasn’t shocking when I woke up this morning with spaghetti alla vongole on the brain. Being Sunday in Rome, when many restaurants (more…)

Carciofo alla romana, artichoke braised with oil and herbs, is a winter and spring dish.

Visitors to Rome have long understood that among the city’s highlights, ranking right up there with the Pantheon or the Colosseum, are its typical dishes. Some are seasonal (carciofi alla giudia, pizza con prosciutto e fichi), others are not (more…)

Nabucco performed at the Baths in 2007.

This month and next, the hulking ruins of the third century Baths of Caracalla in Rome will host ballet and opera performances. (more…)

In spite of its name and location, Tuna is no typical Via Veneto tourist trap. On the contrary, the fish-only restaurant pulls mostly locals who come for the raw bar, white wines, and stellar Mediterranean fish dishes (more…)