This has been a busy week. I’ve finally handed in the manuscript for my next book. Tentatively titled Eating Rome, it’s my take on the delicious city I call home. It won’t be out for quite a while (early next year I think) but the last few weeks have been spent applying final touches and searching for perfect words.
All this to say I haven’t had much time for the blog. But I didn’t want to leave things completely post-less, so thought I’d share this photo with you.
This has got to be my favorite temporary monument in Rome. The leaning tower of artichokes. The restaurant Giggetto, located in the Jewish Ghetto, puts it up each year at this time. They wait until the peak of the artichoke season, when the very first big round artichokes, called cimaroli, bloom their way through the markets of Rome. These are the first artichokes to appear on the plants, and are the biggest and most tender of the all-too-short season.
This year, I think because all of the rain, the season is a bit earlier and the artichokes are certainly bigger. Scary big. Like as big as a child’s head big.
If you’re in Rome during the next week or two, make sure you stop by to see the tower. I can’t decide if it’s too funny or too beautiful. I think it’s both.
And if you’d like to follow my endless fascination with taking photographs of these purple and green globes you can follow me on Instagram (Eminchilli , where I invented my own special hashtag #carciofogram) or follow me on Facebook (you don’t have to be my friend, just hit ‘follow’)
And in case you were wondering, these artichokes get switched out daily for fresh ones since the main point of all this carciofomania is the chance to eat them deep fried.
No better way to enjoy an artichoke than alla giudia.
So, we need to schedule a trip to Rome as soon as we find out when your book will be available? Sounds like a plan: please share the planned publication date as soon as you have it!
No worries about that, you’ll hear about my new book loud and clear!
My, but I bet your book will be wonderful – another reason to postpone that trip a little bit! I love your artichoke hashtag, and il torre pendente rocks it. no doubt.
I absolutely cannot wait to try a fried artichoke in Rome once I arrive in April! Any recommendations on for restaurants in Pigneto?
In Pigneto there is Primo, Necci, and Rosti. But for fried artichokes I”d stick to the Jewish Ghetto.
My memories of Rome include eating the famous fried artichokes (can’t remember how to spell the Italian name) at Giggetto a couple of times over several trips and in January 2013 at another restaurant in the ghetto. When I am lucky enoough to go back to my favorite city I certainly will eat them again!
going to Venice in May. Would love some suggestions. I don’t have an iphone ori padto download your Venice app.
A lot of my Venice reccommendations are also on this blog. Just do a search for Venice on the right. Also, you can find most of the links on my Face Book page for Eat Venice.
Thank you!!!
My favorite! I too take too many pictures of artichokes! You’re not the only one. I’m glad there’s someone else… 🙂
Love it Elizabeth! Giggetto is always a stop for us when in Rome, thanks to you and your Eat Italy app =) Heather
Can’t wait to see you new book! I remember all your great artichoke posts and this one just makes me want to jump on a plane to Rome. Thanks Elizabeth.
We are crossing our fingers that there will still be some when we get there! OK…praying!
I just watched “Stanley Tucci, Searching For Italy” on CNN. This episode was about Rome. He visited a restaurant that he highly recommended, but did not give its’ name! The owner and chef is a Jewish woman, in her 80’s, who survived the Holocaust. Her specialty, of course, are the artichoke dishes. Her first name is Italia. The last name SOUNDS like, Talyacoatso. That is MY spelling according to how it sounds, not the correct spelling.
Could you help me identify this restaurant name?
The restaurant he went to is one of the newest in the neighborhood and neither I, nor anyone I know, have ever gone there. It mostly caters to tourists, and is not where locals go. I too found it very odd that he didn’t even name it.All that said, I’m happy to let you know where I go: Piperno, Sora Margherita, Giggetto, Pompiere and Il Giardino Romano.