Last Friday I took a day off work and to make it a real treat I asked my friend Sarah to come with me to Monti for lunch. I had read of a new place where they prepare a couple of the most appetizing dishes I like.
I wanted to try the farinata, a kind of thin and crusty cake cooked in the oven and made with chick peas flour and olive oil.
I had also heard that they prepare the focaccia di Recco, a thin focaccia full of warm melted cheese. Both can not be found in Rome and are normal and delicious staff from Liguria, the Italian Riviera.
So off we went. The place is quite small and not yet up and running. In theory there is a small room to sit down but at the moment it is not open. Nevertheless the farinata was good and if you want you can take it home in a special container and then reheat it on the fire.
The focaccia di Recco was good a well but they served it cold which is like killing it. Suggestion: go and buy the farinata plus a selection of the bio bread they prepare with selected flour and eat them at home:)
So after what we considered a snack (at 2 pm our stomach was crying out loud) we decided to go and try a second spot I had seen during one of my “discovery trips” in Monti, Gaudeo.
It is in Via del Boschetto, in Monti as well and they make the most fabolous panini you can find.
First the bread. It is crusty and light and it is not too much and not too little to cover the taste of what’s the content. Then the ingredients. All selected and from very special producers, are fresh and original and mixed with such unique ingredients that you would go o eating forever (which could be the case for us both).You can have meaty or fishy ones in such a big variety and what is nice is that they come i two sizes, classic or mignon.It is difficult to discribe in detail the taste, but just to give you an idea here following is what we had (don’t even think of making a comment!):
Culatello di Zibello Antica Corte Pallavicina Fratelli Spigaroli Robiolina fresca delle Langhe selezione Sanguanini Gocce di Lambrusco Nero di Otello cantine Ceci Gocce di Extravergine L’Affiorante Az. Agr. Marfuga
Mortadella ai pistacchi salumificio artigianale Bidinelli Filetti di melanzane artigianali Agnoni
Culatello degli Angeli cotto al vapore salumificio Magrì Ricotta di bufala di Paestum Caseificio La Perla del Mediterraneo Pomodorini Secchi Ciliegino Az. Agr. Pianogrillo
They also do home delivery so if you want to plan a panini reception, pick up the phone. Menu is in their website.
dall’Antò – Via Madonna dei Monti 16 – 00184 Rome – tel. +39.06.6780712Gaudeo Via del Boschetto 112 – 00184 Rome www.gaudeo.it – Tel. +39.06.98183689