Rome Wins a Coffee Contest

At the beginning of 2008 the Italian magazine Altrocosumo held a contest between the coffee shops of Rome and Milan. The coffee testers of the Istituto internazionale assaggiatori caffè tried coffees in both cities. Rome won and nine of its coffee shops were designated winners. Who will win in 2009? Below is a list of the best coffee shops in Rome. Caffe Colonna nella Galleria Sordi was given the top rating. Receiving honorable mentions were Caffe Maneschi (via del Corso), and Tazza d'oro (via degli Orfani), l'Antico Caffe Greco (Via Condotti), Giolitti (Via offici Vicariate) Sant'Eustachio (Piazza Sant ' Eustachio), Rosati (Piazza del Popolo), Baby Bar (via del Corso), Castroni Caffè (Via Flaminia) and Bar Centralissimo (Via S. Maria). Buon Gusto!

Giada's Roman Favorites

Giada de Laurentiis has her own website and social network: giadadelaurentiis.com. Among the event calendar, blogs and occasional recipes are Giada's worldwide favorite restaurants and hotels. Naturally, the Modern Traveler is most interested in her Roman favorites. Three hotels that Giada recommends are the Hotel de Russie, Grand Hotel de la Minerve (near the Pantheon) and the Boscolo Hotel Exedra (Piazza della Reppublica). Her restaurant choices are even more interesting. For cafe life and excellent pastries, she recommends Caffe Greco on the Via Condotti. Ciampini is her choice for gelato and chocolate croissants, and Gusto makes her list for pizza and antipasti. Giada is never wrong when it comes to food, so Buon Appetito!