All posts by Heart2Heart

One of the most important feature in the Portrait Roma iPad 
  The Best Ice Cream ( gelato) 🙂  There are many many gelato stores so its good they narrowed it down for us and both nearby the hotel.  I like Grom and it was very near the hotel, but that is available already in IFC Mall in Hong Kong and I just saw a branch in New York in Columbus Circle, so we decided not to go here  

 We went to Giolitti which was near our lunch at Il San Lorenzo so we went here.  They had many flavors to choose from!  It was very full with a long line so we sat in the dining area which was full service #venchi #giolitti #gelato #h2hicecream #h2hrome  You cannot sit in the dining area if you do not order from the full service menu They differentiate the full service with bigger portions and of course you are paying for sitting down and the service, hence the prices are higher Just around the corner by Portrait Roma is Venchi! The hubby who loves ice cream preferred Venchi @venchi1878 because their flavors are limited and in that limited offering – they are mostly on the chocolate side and thats what he likes, CHOCOLATE! In the area near the hotel there are many gelaterias but make sure to go inside the Pantheon.  There are no entrance fees and it is so historical and beautiful.  Our son was having class at the Pantheon while we were having gelato nearby 🙂  

 At Portrait Roma @lungarnocollection @ferragamo they give you an iPad in your room where you can find instructions about the things in the room, appliances, sauna, tv. There’s information about tours, restos, shopping etc. Then you can use it to take you anywhere ( maps) and you can communicate with the hotel for anything. It came in handy everyday!! We were lost for our tour so i used it to skype with the concierge. And also because of the language barrier its always easy to contact the hotel staff who can speak English and can help for anything. The only setback is the portability but I would still take it because it is so useful.  #portraitroma #lungarnocollection #h2hrome  The hotel even has their own tours.  We tried to do this tour but because it was raining, we had to cancel  All the instruction on how to operate the appliances in the room are all in the iPad  Even the pillow menu is there! LOVE IT!!

 We wanted to have pizza of course and so Jaime took us here.  They not only have good pizzas but many other Italian food.  We most especially like the name because our niece is named Emma 🙂 Our uber driver ( who is also a tour guide ) told us that Italians only eat pizza for dinner.  It is only the tourists that eat pizza a for lunch or merienda.  I do not know if that is true but in Emma there were many Italians having pizza for lunch.

  I saw a guy in the counter cutting a leg of ham.  I asked him what their most popular pizza was and they said the cinco jotas pizza which is Spanish ham.  I do not know if he is saying that because he is trying to sell his ham ( haha ! ) But anyway, We did not order it because we do not want to eat Spanish ham in Italy 🙂  If ever we prefer to eat prosciutto when in Italy.  #emmapizzeriaconcucina #h2hpizza #h2hrome Thin crust pizza – margherita red cow, anchovies and prosciutto  C lick below to go to to their website

Pizzeria con cucina

Delicious dinner at La Terrazza in Hotel Eden by Chef Fabio Ciervo in @hoteledenrome #laterrazza #hoteledenrome #h2hmichelinstar #h2hrome I highly recommend this restaurant, we had a good time
 Beautiful view at the terrace.  (The photo was a bit difficult to take because of the reflection)  We did not understand but we could have ordered ala carte and just choose the dishes we wanted in this list.  We ended up getting the ONE DISH PER COMINCIARE and were so full again.  We never learn! haha!! We tried to choose different dishes so we could try more and have an assortment and we just tasted from each other 

 Close up of the menu for those that could not read the one above Dessert ala carte menu

 My Dad loves vongole so Jaime chose this place which has fresh seafood.    In Italy, they charge you for bread per person 🙂  The best presentation for Calamari fritti 🙂   This looks like a small portion but it is a lot 🙂  A different take on vongole from what we are used to.  But delicious still.  Pasta in Italy is the true al dente
 Fish of the day which was very good and very fresh  Uni  Very serious in Italy 🙂   In the basement where the restroom is – there is a private room 🙂  

 Our son is on his second month in Rome and is loving Europe. I tease him that he is already Italian. Papa agrees – Half “Ita” and half “Ilonggo” ( haha!! )  He is on a semester abroad and chose Rome. There’s so much more out there other than New York City !! His school is in the Trastevere area and so they live nearby school. He showed us around his area. He has walking classes where they go to the actual sights and artworks that they are studying. He scheduled his classes from monday to wednesday so he can travel to nearby cities in Europe from thursday to sunday. What a great opportunity for him to be doing this

*** Trastevere is considered by many most authentic Roman quarter because, Although not far from major tourist areas in the city has maintained its distinctive rhythm and lifestyle. The district begins,at one end, with the tiny and so beautiful Tiberina Island.
This island was founded (the legend say…) before 500 BC from a bundles of wheat, today the site has the Fatebenefratelli Hospital. Also the main point is the beautiful view from the island that is scenic; with the Tevere River and the lights of Rome as a frame. #Trastevere #h2hrome #h2heducation

He took us on tour around where he lives and where his school is.  I love the cobblestone streets and the feel of the old city

 He first lived on top of that sign – the window above it – but they moved because there was not enough space for the 4 of them  They were lucky to move here which was a building with 3 floors and a rooftop which they had all to themselves!!  LUCKY!!! 

 7 course Dinner after the opera at Il Pagliaccio @ristoranteilpagliaccio  #ilpagliaccio #h2hmichelinstar #h2hrome

Click below to go to their website

After Dal Bolognese, we walked a few steps to have coffee at Hotel de Russie @hotelderussie  It’s owned by a British – Roco Forte who has hotels all over the world #hotelderussie #h2hrome Beautiful Terrace!!!

At the terraza at @hotelderussie look for Arthur Mendoza and he will make you a good cup of cappuccino.  He has been working in Rome for
13 years. He started as a helper but because of his initiative he is now a barista. #h2hpeople #h2hproudtobepinoy #h2hrome

Bolognese is a specialty from Bologna which is why it’s not always in the menu in Rome restos. So to be sure you get your bolognese in Rome, go to Dal Bolognese 🙂  Everything else is good not only the Bolognese.  It is also in the heart of Piazza del Popolo or Plaza of the Pope
Grilled artichokes Tortellini Bolognese Spaghetti bolognese Cotoletti Milanese