Went to Rome for four days with Herself and her parents (and, for one day only, my own Parent). I haven't quite decided about Rome yet, but I have decided about one Roman speciality, and that is the artichoke, or Carciofo.
Not the Jerusalem Fartichoke, the good old globe.
They marinate it until it becomes sublimely soft and slightly vinegary and yet tastes entirely of itself. I had one that had been deep fried and it was crisp and toothsome. I had some with broad beans and some other kind of bean at a fabulous restaurant called Tullio and there was practically a fight to finish it, even though there was lots.
I thought about bringing some back, because I'm sure it's because they're Italian that they taste so good, but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make them delicious. The Parent, however, has brought back six, (doughty and excellent Parent) so I am going to look up recipes to help her make them delicious and then casually drop by every day at about 7.30pm....
The other things that were good about Rome were: the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, some of the churches, the taxi drivers, ALL of the food, my Parent's lovely friends, being offered a new job while having the best lunch with a large proportion of my favourite people, the orange trees growing on every corner.
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weird things artichokes. i've only had them in london cooked by a french person with a buttery sauce to dip into (tres yum) and in chile steamed by the farmer whose field we were camping in (along side fresh squeezed raspberry juice). both times super delicious. but i am scared to know what to do with them myself. i will grow cardoons if i get a nice garden....you can cook them for me.
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