Mexican food & Martinis at Castroni

I'm as big a fan of spaghetti alla carbonara as the next gal, but after three years of Italian food, I challenge even the most avid pasta connoisseur not to be just a tad stuffata (fed-up) with Rome's parade of amatriciana, cacio e pepe, and arrabbiata.  Don't get me wrong, usually all I need is a one-night pasta break with my pal the spicy-sausage pizza, but occasionally I feel the need to head to Castroni.  Not only does this specialty shop stock ethnic-food staples (Mexican, Chinese, Indian, & the illustrious Betty Crocker), gourmet chocolates, & high-quality Italian products, they also make quite good martinis.

Castroni's Mexican food section is exactly where I stocked up when we decided to throw a South-of-the-Border style party (which, it turns out, is considered wildly exotic for most Italians). Although those cans of 

Photo Essay: Streets of Monti

Here are some of my favorite

street scenes from the Monti neighborhood of Rome.

          

Street-art Madonna near Piazza Madonna dei Monti

Chinese lanterns on lower Via Cavour

Dining in the Ghetto: Sora Margherita

Take a wrong turn and you could miss this food gem tucked away in the Jewish Ghetto. While the flaming red curtains certainly draw attention to this restaurant-cum-cultural society, it took three separate recommendations &  trusted local advice to have our first dining experience at Sora Margherita. First, be prepared to wait if you want a table for lunch (they do take dinner reservations) as we strolled up at 11:45 & returned at 12:30 for the first round of service - a good move considering we heard rumors of two-hour waits at peak times (ie. arrive early!).

You will be asked to fill-out a 'membership card' at the start of you meal for the Sora Margherita Cultural Society (we're guessing for tax purposes as many cafes have the distinction of "book bars" which somehow gives them the right to sell alcohol if they have a few Italio Calvino's lining the walls), and you may or may not receive a menu.  In our case, a confident and efficient woman arrived to announce, "Who's having artichokes?". Yes, we were. "And what about mozzarella?"  Non. "And do you like cacio e pepe?"  Yes.  "And what about angenlotti?"  Yes, ok.  "And how about some chicken?".  Well, yes senora, but maybe that's too much food.  "Don't worry, I'll take care of you...". She was gone in a swish in a third attempt to take the order for a group of flustered tourists clearly confused about the lack of a menu and  unable to accept our server's "suggestions".  This attitude certainly doesn't jive with the energetic vibe of Sora Margherita. Ultimately the staff are there to ensure their solidly Roman fare is enjoyed by all, but this is also a no-mess-around type of place where timing is key with the next batch of diners waiting impatiently on the other side of those fuzzy curtains.