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American Christmas Traditions in Rome

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We did it.  We finally had a traditional Christmas.  We’ve been married and living in Italy for three Christmases now, and this year we had a traditional Christmas at home.  I couldn’t have been happier about it.  It was what I needed.  
 
Rome is beautiful around the holidays with all the lights, so it’s not hard to get into the Christmas spirit here.  One of my favorite places to go is to the Christmas market in Piazza Navona.  It’s magical at night with all the lights.  It’s also a little bizarre with all the overpriced commercialized goodies for sale at the market among the beautiful, ancient buildings and fountains, but it’s still a lot of fun to walk through.  You can read more about the Christmas market in Piazza Navona here.  

Continuing with our traditional Christmas, we decided to put up a Christmas tree this year.  We don’t have a lot of space, and we certainly don’t have much storage space, so we opted for a small tree.  The little tree was perfect for our little family.  I love having it on at night for the lights to give off a soft glow … so relaxing.  You can see our little tree below, and if you look closely, you can also see our little angel.  

On Christmas morning we woke early to open gifts.  Our little Dolce also had his own presents to unwrap.  He’s only slightly spoiled. 😉

*If you missed meeting Dolce, you can check out the newest little member of our family here.  

Dolce with his Christmas loot … balls, mice, treats and a walking jacket.  

Dolce having fun with his new toys.

For lunch, I prepared traditional southern dishes.  They are what I grew up eating every year for the holidays, and they taste like home to me.  We had cornbread dressing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole.  We also had roasted chicken (for the hubby since I’m a vegetarian) and cranberry sauce “substitute”.  Everything was made from scratch.  There are no French’s fried onions or cream of any kind of soup mix here in Italy, and other typical ingredients are hard to find (think sweet potatoes).  So at the end of the day, I was patting myself on the back for pulling off a traditional southern American holiday meal in Italy.   

*If you would like any of the recipes, you can find them here on Why Rome’s Pinterest, under ‘Expat Food’.  
  

When it comes to cranberry sauce, I’m a canned girl.  Always have been.  All for the better in Italy though because I have never seen whole cranberries here (or even cranberry juice for that matter).  Isn’t that strange?  Anyway, I found the perfect cranberry sauce substitute.  It’s lingon jam from Ikea.  To me, it’s a tad bitter sweeter, but does the trick and gave me the cranberry sauce “fix” I was craving. 
 

Sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and nut topping

Green bean casserole with homemade fried onions

And desserts, I couldn’t leave out the desserts … brownies, banana nut muffins & bread, chocolate almond candies, and cookies with dried cranberries (from the States), dark chocolate and hazelnuts.  Needless to say, we were STUFFED at the end of the day, and I was one happy girl with a belly full of American food! 🙂 

Southern Food Delights…in Rome

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Sweet potatoes and black eyed peas … found in Rome.  I couldn’t believe our find!  Just a few of the simple things that make my southern heart swoon.  

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Coming to Rome? Don’t get a fine for eating!

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Pizza, pasta, gelato … I bet these are some of the things you plan (and dream) on eating when you visit Italy.  I bet you’ve even gone so far as to dream (and plan) on grabbing a gelato and eating savoring it while you take in the sights of the fabulous Piazza Navona … the Spanish Steps … the Coliseum … or any other famous landmark in Rome.  Hold that thought though.  Don’t think you’re going to transport yourself onto a movie screen when you visit Rome and eat your heart out around the city, like so many countless films you’ve seen before.  

Why you ask?  Well, because as absolutely absurd as it may sound, it is now a crime to eat on or around any public monument or landmark (which is every place you turn in Rome’s city center).  It is a crime that can be fined from 25 – 500 Euros (about $32 – $650 USD).     

No more stopping at my favorite gelateria and walking to Piazza Navona while I sit and enjoy my cool treat and take in the energy of the piazza … ancient fountains, street performers, artwork, people watching … it has all come to an end.  That is, unless I want to pay a hefty fine for enjoying my gelato in that picturesque setting.  And I can tell you, I do not.  

This crazy rule is not only for gelato.  It also applies to eating a panino (sandwich), a slice of pizza, a bag of chips, or any other snack food or dessert.  

As NBC News noted on their website, after receiving fines and learning about the new law, several tourists pointed out the fact that there are no signs in the vicinity alerting people that they are no longer allowed to partake in any food or drink while near the various monuments.  NBC News reports that police in the area were asked about the complaint and said there was no need for signs.  A local policeman patrolling the area is reported as saying, “It’s common sense. You can’t dirty such a beautiful and historical monument with ice cream and bread crumbs just because you can sit on it.”  You know, dirtying and vandalizing a historical monument is one thing, but trying to control the free world is entirely something else.    

Another thing that makes the matter even worse, is that many eating establishments have very limited or no seating available, forcing patrons to take their food to go.  Where exactly are people supposed to eat?  This I would like to know.  

I would also like to know why the city can’t put those same policemen in place to prohibit the horrid men who force roses into your hand then try to get money from you by chasing you down, or the men who shine the damn toy lasers that they are trying to sell directly into your eye (pet peeve of mine, can you tell?), or the men who sell illegal goods displayed on a bed sheet along the sidewalks who speak ugly words to you if you gaze an extra second at their merchandise and then not stop to by something.  To me, these are a few of the things that are ruining and dirtying those beautiful and historical monuments.  Nothing is being done to address those matters.  

So … if you’re planning to visit Rome, don’t plan on eating your Italian treats outside while enjoying the fresh air and taking in the amazing scenery the city has to offer.  You’ll have to savor your morsels inside.   

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VICE … A New Gelateria in Rome’s City Center

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There are several new artisanal gelateria shops that have recently popped up around Rome’s city center.  With the summer blazing record breaking heat temperatures, I’ve been inclined to make it my mission to visit all of them in an attempt to keep cool.  Poor me, right? 🙂 One of the shops I recently visited is Vice.  There are several locations around Rome, but the newest one is located in Largo Argentina.  The shop is directly in front of a bus stop where popular buses #40 and #64 stop, and is right next to the #8 tram that runs across the river to Trastevere.

When I first arrived, I was a little taken aback by the decor.  Vice is not designed like other typical gelaterie.  It has a futuristic feel, and made me think of the inside of an igloo.  The fun design is very bright, and everything is white.  The only pops of color are the mouth watering and eye pleasing gelati.  There is a puffy, cotton-like design along the ceiling made to look like snow, and the shiny, textured walls look like ice crystals.  From the appearance, I expected a burst of chilled air to kiss me in the face when I walked inside.        

Although the design is fun, the gelato is the real star of the show.  Vice uses all natural ingredients without adding hydrogenated fats, coloring or preservatives.  In addition to leaving out “the bad stuff” and using organic milk and fresh eggs, Vice also uses some of the finest ingredients around, using lemons from Amalfi, pistachios from Brante, Sicily, and walnuts from Sorrento, just to name a few.

I had a sample of the lemon (limone), and it was quite good!  I was in the mood for something creamier though, and went with pistachio (it’s my go to flavor, and I usually judge a gelateria based on the taste of their pistachio) and cheesecake.  The pistachio was good (it passed the test), but the cheesecake was really delicious.  The unique flavor of the cheesecake won me over.

If you’re looking for a fun gelateria using fresh, natural ingredients, I definitely recommend making a visit to Vice.

Vice
http://www.viceitalia.it
+39 06 6476 0833
Open 7 days a week, from noon until midnight
 
3 locations:
  • Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 96 (Largo Argentina)
  • Via Gregorio VII, 385 (not far from the Vatican)
  • Viale G. Marconi, 207

 

Down By the River in Rome

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Want to know one of the best things about summer in Rome?  It’s Lungo il Tevere, the open restaurant, bar, shopping and music festival along Rome’s Tiber River.  It’s so nice to have so many entertainment options in one place.  Not to mention, it’s nice to be near to the calm, flowing waters of the river on a warm summer night.  If you’re looking for a romantic night out with your sweetie or for something the whole family will enjoy, the Lungo il Tevere is great for everyone!  

So what can you expect to find at Lungo il Tevere?  Just have a look at the photos below for an idea of all the fun you can experience.  If you’re interested in going while you’re in Rome, you have until September 2nd.  The fun starts to pick up when the sun starts going down.  Entrance is free, but if you would like to shop or have something to eat or drink, you will need to pay for your items.  

The venues along the river are getting set up for the evening before the sun starts to set.  

The sun is beginning to set, and patrons have already made their way down to the river for an enjoyable evening.  

There are plenty of little bars/pubs set up for you to relax and enjoy a cocktail.  

There is also a free basketball court and tennis court set up for you to play games.  (We’ve had a lot of fun with this!) 

There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from for riverside dining.  

You can also lounge along the river’s wall while you enjoy a cocktail or smoke from hookah.  

There is always fun musical acts performing, and it’s nice to sit out and enjoy the bands.  

You can also do a little shopping.  You can find art, clothes, jewelry, purses and many other items.  

You can also stop to challenge your friends in a game of foosball, or table football.  

Looking for a little more family fun?  You can play fair-style games to win prizes and stuffed animals.  (You will have to pay to play these games.)

As you can see, Lungo il Tevere is quite a popular place at night time.  

The venues extend down the river, and the lights they project are so pretty from the bridges above.  

Have you been to Lungo il Tevere?  What’s your favorite thing to do there?