We took our first piece of dinner advice from Sandra Gustafson’s Great Eats Italy and went to Al Fontanone (http://www.alfontanone.com/) in Trastevere (literally, “across the river”), which is something like the Berkeley of Rome. Al Fantonone seems like a little hole in the wall kind of place, but has a great outdoor terrace across a narrow street out front. We decided to wander around the neighborhood for about an hour or so and settled into our table on the terrace just after 8. The terrace adjoins a small piazza which is bordered on one side by the main road that runs along the Tiber. It seems the main hub of activity in the neighborhood, packed with sidewalk vendors and students hanging out in front of the 3 or 4 bars that open onto the piazza.
We started our dinner with antipasti misto, a mixed plate of appetizers which included a wonderful mashed potato with tomato and onion, that while sounding rather plain actually tasted quite exotic. We also had the first of what would become a regular appetizer: prosciutto and melon. We have not had a bad piece of melon while in Italy….each one seems sweeter, colder and more refreshing than the last. Finally, we had the Roman version of the Bloomin’ Onion….except it was a fried whole artichoke, described by our host as artichoke Jewish style, from the Jewish quarter of Rome. (Trastevere is “across the river” from the Jewish quarter). It was delicious. Could we build a chain of restaurants around the Bloomin’ Artichoke?
Our first course include Penne Arriabiato for Dylan, his new favorite pasta. Tim had Fettucine al Fantonone, which was with mushrooms and Liam had ravioli stuffed with spinach. Each was more sublime than the next. Jenny and Ali decided to skip the primi piatti to save room for secondi piatti. Jenny had a house specialtiy, Vignarola while Alison and Dylan had their second pizze of the day: margherita and con salame. Tim had a delicious baked lamb (not the whole lamb) and Liam had veal piccata.
As if that weren’t enough, Jenny and Liam each finished their meal with Tiramisu (Liam has not found a better one, but he’s tried!). Tim enjoyed Vin Santo with biscotti and Dylan had some lemon sorbet.
After dinner, we decided to walk into Rome across the bridge to seek out a gelateria recommended by Ms. Gustafson. Can’t recall what we each had, but it lived up to they hype. Wherelse but Rome do you have dinner, dessert and THEN go find gelati??
We love Sandra Gustafson (thanks Michael for the tip).
Our first course include Penne Arriabiato for Dylan, his new favorite pasta. Tim had Fettucine al Fantonone, which was with mushrooms and Liam had ravioli stuffed with spinach. Each was more sublime than the next. Jenny and Ali decided to skip the primi piatti to save room for secondi piatti. Jenny had a house specialtiy, Vignarola while Alison and Dylan had their second pizze of the day: margherita and con salame. Tim had a delicious baked lamb (not the whole lamb) and Liam had veal piccata.
As if that weren’t enough, Jenny and Liam each finished their meal with Tiramisu (Liam has not found a better one, but he’s tried!). Tim enjoyed Vin Santo with biscotti and Dylan had some lemon sorbet.
After dinner, we decided to walk into Rome across the bridge to seek out a gelateria recommended by Ms. Gustafson. Can’t recall what we each had, but it lived up to they hype. Wherelse but Rome do you have dinner, dessert and THEN go find gelati??
We love Sandra Gustafson (thanks Michael for the tip).
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