Now that we have recovered from the shock of eating Thai food in Rome (and thanks to the commenter who admitted to eating Chinese twice on a Rome visit – and honestly, why not? It’s like any big city with a vibrant immigrant demographic, complete with good restaurants. David told me about an Ethiopian restaurant near the Termini that he likes.) – here’s some food photos. Remember, my budget did not include big meals or elaborate dinners. And I feel kind of awkward taking photos of plates of food in a restaurant.
First, the obligatory, “Italian Outdoor Market” photos:
These are Campo de Fiori, but rest assured, far off the tourist track, the outdoor fruit/vegetable/and meat stand is a vital part of much of at least Roman life. In my Monteverde neighborhood, the stands that looked just like this were open and busy in the early morning.
I thought meat prices were quite high, to the point of “exorbitant” but the fruit and vegetable prices were wonderfully low. David says that (not surprisingly) decent wine can be had for dirt cheap – 1.5 Euro for a bottle that satisfies poverty-stricken English teachers (which is either a good or bad thing) Perhaps Roman residents can clarify and expand on that. I got a pound of either Clementines or tangerines (not sure what they were – I’m fairly sure the former) for  less than a Euro a pound, and they were delicious.



Artichoke season.
More later.
 
Later:

Roman Fast Food:

When you get, say, pizza to carry away, (as opposed to walking out and eating as you go), it’s very carefully wrapped in paper for you:


The objects on the right are croquettes, or whatever they call them in Italy. I had a very confusing conversation with the guy behind the counter about them, because he spoke no English at all. I wanted to know what the various kinds were, but he just kep telling me how much they cost. I got that. So he fiddled around, and then finally started telling me what they were, including the more round ones, which he identifed by pointing to the pizza containing the same foodstuff – eggplant. Oh, okay. I’ll take two. But then I discovered he had already placed two of the others, the first subject of inquiry, in my order. Oh, never mind. David ate half of the stuff anyway. (I thought he had said the others were chicken, but the actually seemed to be mosly rice with a tomato sauce binder.
Gas or no gas?

Gas
Other vaguely food-related photos:

Sounds like a good plan. Somewhere in Trastevere.

Cat (on right,on top of table) cleaning up.

In the Jewish Ghetto
I call this one, “Tryng to use up Euros at the Rome airport at 5:30 AM”

(Note: The candies and Nutella Mystery Glop is not for me, but for people back home)
And there ends the food-related post. I did have good meals, but I didn’t take photos of them, unfortunately.