Rome: Camponeschi

Camponeschi

Franco

Camponeschi

Piazza Farnese

+39 06 687 4927

In Piazza Farnese, there is a cozy place to enjoy an aperitivo with good company. Camponeschi caters to artists and art lovers alike. The walls are lined with unique paintings that are for sale from local artists. Franco, the server we visit every time, greets us warmly. He makes a mean strawberry bellini with prosecco and fresh blended strawberries. Served hot pink, and in a martini glass, just what a girl likes! To compliment our perfect pre-dinner drink, we are given an arrangement of crostini. Some mortadella, some tomato, some salami. Also to munch on, fresh mozzarella balls, potato chips, and olives. This was a pre-dinner snack. So, as you can imagine, it was a well-deserved 4-pound weight gain after this trip! Nevertheless, I kept going.

Art on the walls

Chips, olives, and crostini

Tomato bruschette

Fresh mozzarella for the table

Next door is Ristorante Camponeschi, which has brilliant reviews. I have yet to try it, but it's on my list for next time. 

Sidenote: As I was googling ‘mortadella’ to make sure I spelled it correctly, I couldn’t help but notice the Wikipedia description… it’s “a large Italian sausage made of finely hashed or ground, heat-cured pork sausage, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat (principally the hard fat from the neck of the pig). “

I felt my stomach heave when I read that description, but I was quickly won over again by the further talk of mortadella with pepper, nutmeg, pistachios, and olives. It is so delicious, so please do yourself a favor and never read the details on ANY meat product. Ever.

The delicious hard pig neck fat (MORTADELLA)!!!