A Birthday and Roman Holiday

We have lady luck shining on us! Jason was invited to do work training in Rome for a week and the company said I was welcome to tag along. So of course, we jumped on the opportunity! We were here 2 years ago but I was looking forward to spending a week here rather than the whirlwind 3 days of sightseeing we did last time. Plus, the weather might be much more agreeable this time and there would be less tourists. We arrived early first thing in the morning on Saturday. The weather was perfectly crisp and clear with a blue sky overhead.

With transportation getting into the heart of Rome, you have a few options from the airport. There is the train, an airport shuttle, or taxi. Unfortunately, like most places in the world, the cab drivers many times, will try to take advantage of people and gouge them for driving into Rome. Currently, the price from the airport into the heart of Rome (any hotel there), should only run you 40 Euro. One cab driver, when we asked how much it would be, actually thought about it and blurted out 65 Euro. What a joke. So if you want a cab, challenge them, knowing that you're only supposed to pay 40.
We opted for an airport shuttle that took us for 20 Euro per person. There was a 2 Euro charge for bags I believe (price was 18 Euro/ person).

We stayed for the first few nights at the De La Ville Intercontinental, at the top of the Spanish Steps. We are part of their Ambassador program which we are constantly pleased with. Saturday happened to be Jason's birthday, so I asked ahead if they could have something extra special delivered to the room. Being part of the program, there are automatic room upgrades, free bottled water, a free movie, late checkout, fresh fruit, and a gift themed to whatever location you're in. For Bora Bora, it's bright blue beach towels. For Germany, it's handmade chocolate. For Italy, it's a half bottle of Merlot. Well, after a few confusing emails back and forth, we received what you see here. A plate of an outstanding variety of cheeses with honey and a bottle of sparkling Riesling, along with our complimentary water and gift. So I was very happy that we could start Jason's birthday that way.

Via Del Corso

After a quick nap to make it through our day, we strolled out to the Spanish Steps to walk down Via Condotti toward Via Del Corso. It's sort of like the Rodeo Drive of Rome. The main streets leading to it are also lined with all the high end stores you can think of, Fendi, Prada, Bulgari, Gucci, La Perla, even a Ferrari Store. Less tourists, yes. Less people? No. The streets were packed with Italians who had come into town to hang out for their weekend evening either to eat, walk or shop, or all of the above. I've never seen a Disney store so packed there is a line out the door!

It was nice though, to be immersed in the European lifestyle of people walking everywhere with the occasional taxi or moped trying to navigate their way through the packed street. We stopped into a pizza shop for a way too expensive snack (but we're tourists in a very expensive area, so we sucked it up) and then explored a little farther to get our bearings again.

After some window shopping we headed back to nibble on the cheeses while getting ready for dinner. I had a reservation at Imago Restaurant at the top of the Hassler Hotel which was conveniently located next door to our hotel. The view alone is breathtaking as it's a panoramic view of Rome. This high end restaurant has outstanding service to go along with the delicious and creative dishes.

After you arrive, they offer an appertif of prosecco which you are indeed charged for. =) I was unable to enjoy one since I'm pregnant but Jason accepted one. For nibbling, they bring out various potato crisps and a goat cheese spread that is delicious. Along with that, a warm basket of breads that consist of croissants, rolls, breadsticks, and flatbread.

Following that is an amuse bouche from the chef. This particular night there were three bites which I didn't catch all the ingredients to but there was an eggroll of puréed potato with seasonings, a circle of rice with citrus and caviar on top, and what was essentially a cheese and broccoli ball with some cream a top it. A second amuse bouche was a piece of black cod with eggplant foam and cream.

Unfortunately, as a prego, I was limited to choices on the menu. As a primi piatti, we split a pheasant and 4 cheese ravioli topped with asparagus, parmesan, and incredible sauce. The plating was presented with the ravioli framed in brushes of gold on the plate and the dish was our favorite one of the evening.

For my main course, since I can't eat big meals anymore, I opted for the roman broccoli soup with ginger glazed halibut and cheese in it. Jason decided on deer saddle crusted with blackberries and mushrooms over risotto. Both were delicious and the meat was cooked perfectly. Jason had a well paired pinot to go along with his dish.

Since we were both full and wanted gelato for dessert, we decided to get the check and search for dessert beyond the restaurant. As a last little treat, the chef had a plate of desssert bites. A dark chocolate 'brownie' square over almond cake, a soft almond cup with berry jam, milk chocolate piece, white chocolate truffle with citrus center, soft espresso truffle, and a french macaroon with raspberry center.

As a departing gift, the ladies at the table receive a beautiful box of little cookies to take home and enjoy at a later time. We left with satisfied tummies, needless to say. We returned to the hotel so that  I could change before heading out in search of gelato. We found a Blue Ice gelateria down the street which is a chain of stores around Rome. Now, there's really not such a thing as terrible gelato, kind of like even cold pizza is good pizza. But this is like the ground floor of gelato. It's good but there's much better in the city. That comes in a later post.

We walked in the brisk evening, taking a few pictures of the Spanish Steps while there were less bodies around and finishing our gelato before heading back and attempting to go to sleep. I looked forward to having a leisurely Sunday and settling into Rome.