As you can tell from this blog, I cook a lot. I love eating at home, and if you want to know the truth, most of the time I think my cooking is as good (or better) than what I eat in restaurants. But I do love going out too. Sometimes I just don’t feel like cooking. And sometimes what I am craving is beyond my skill set.
Carciofi alla Giudea are something I crave almost all the time, but have never managed to master. Carciofi alla Giudea are Jewish style artichokes that are a specialty of Rome’s ghetto. They are deep fried, whole artichokes that are uniquely beautiful and incredibly addictive.
While there are a lot of places in the ghetto that serve them, I have two favorite places: Sora Margherita and Gigetto. Evan and I went to Sora Margherita the other day for lunch and gorged on carciofi. Sora Margherita is, literally, a hole in the wall. It’s fifteen, paper-topped tables are crammed into a long narrow space that barely has room for a kitchen. Get there by 12:15 and put your name on the waiting list. Then sit on one of the chairs outside and wait. It’s worth it. Trust me. (They start serving at 12:30.)
The other place I go is Gigetto. For some reason Gigetto gets a bad rap from a lot of people. They think it’s too touristy, or don’t like their food. But I’ve been going there since I was 12, and think it’s great. They aren’t fancy, but all the Roman specialities – including of course carciofi alla giudea – are prepared with great care. On top of that, the location, right under the Portico D’Octavio, can’t be beat. The restaurant is still family run, and the brothers (one of whom my sister went on a date with once when we were teenagers) are still in charge.
Rather than give you a complicated lesson in carciofi, which I would never attempt at home, I’ll insert this video clip from Diary of a Foodie which we did a couple of years ago, at Gigetto’s.
Sora Margherita
30 Piazza delle Cinque Scole
06 687 4216
Gigetto
Via del Portico d’Ottavia 21
06 686 1105
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Da Giggetto is fine for food but the wine list is terrible, so that is why I now love Ba Ghetto. Thanks for the post. I love the violet artichokes!!
What about Piperno???
Beautiful, luscious post–I have loved both these restaurants. AND it’s great to see you’re with Evan of Angeli, a favorite Italian restaurant in my Los Angeles neighborhood!
Sarah: I’ve heard mixed things about Ba Ghetto. Including (!) food poisoning.
Mom: Yes, I love Piperno! http://www.elizabethminchilli.com/2010/06/sunday-lunch-in-rome_02.html
So glad you know and like Angeli Susan.
I have been a fan of Da Gigetto for over a decade but was put off a couple of times last year when the food was not up to standard and the service was terrible. Hopefully they have gotten back to their normal good standards! Their artichokes are fantastic and so is their fish soup. I love this video and will share with anyone who wants to make these Jewish style artichokes- any missing secrets that you learned for the beginning part of the recipe?
We had a great meal at Gigetto when we were in Rome (with Steve, remember?!). The carciofi were perfect; so was the tripe. I really think you SHOULD give us “a complicated lesson in carciofi, which” you SHOULD attempt at home”! Why not? I tried them in a deep fryer the week we got home; they were, in two words, not great. But I’m going to keep trying. How else will I get them?
I have to second the Compassionate Hedonist–we ate at Ba Ghetto twice in 2 days during our March visit to Rome, once for lunch and once for dinner and both meals included their terrific carciofi alla Giudea (their cous cous is pretty impressive, too!)
have trued most and to date, big kudos for the deep fried artichokes found in Watsonville Ca. magnificent!
These’chokes’ are grown in fields all over. Talk about fresh. Served with a spicy yummy sauce, a nice icy cold beer
what more could you want.
One day I think I need a research trip to California!!!
I love this post! I prefer the Sora Margherita because of the great vibe there! Throughout your article though, and in the video too, you misspell the name of the restaurant, which is “GIGGETTO” (giant sign above the entrance). It’s petty, I know, but respect etc. Thanks as always for your great blog!