Trastevere District, 3pm: We have checked into an amazing apartment to hold what is now a party of five: My sister and her son, her partner, me and my wife Ramona. The apartment is right in the middle of the Trastevere district of Rome, very close to Vatican City and other must-see sights.
But when we checked in, the info guy from the rental agency told us we were lucky because there was a great restaurant just around the corner. We took his advice, (the place was also mentioned in an old issue of Gourmet we had photocopied) and went into Osteria Le Mani I Pasta for lunch.
This place serves homemade pasta, and much more. Our friendly waiter brought over a dish of white beans with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice for us to taste. Amazing flavour, great mushed into slices of bread. Then our appetizer, a huge plate of breasola (thinly sliced air dried beef), with fresh water buffalo mozzarella, arugula, segments of blood orange and thinly sliced grapefruit! We swooned.
My main course was also a delight..fettucine with ricotta and pancetta, creamy and fresh, Ramona had spaghetti with tiny clams, shrimp and bottarga (salted, dried tuna roe), along with the sweetest cherry tomatoes and chili peppers cooked into the sauce. Stupendous flavour.
Now we have to go and climb the Spanish Steps to work up our appetite for dinner.
Ciao!
