A Horse of a Different Color

Time for more typo goodness. We had to take a photo of this menu, from a restaurant where we ate yesterday right outside the Pantheon in Rome. Can you find the typo that made us laugh the hardest? The thing about it is that they actually spelled the hardest part correctly. Ironically, this is how I pronounce the term so I can spell it.

Can you find the typo? Let me rephrase that...can you find the one that made me laugh?

Eat Like a Roman

When one is going to Rome, what's the first thing most people say? Usually, it's some form of "ahhh, the food!"

And that's no mistake. The food here is incredible: fresh seafood, delicate pasta, light broths, intense sauces, and that amazing gelato.

Usually on Wednesdays I share some sort of food news with you. Today I'll just tantalize you with our meals. Last night, I had an odd coincidence happen. I found a dish on the menu that I had just read about in one of my books on ancient Rome. It was Strachetta, which consists of very thin slices of beef sauteed in olive oil and garlic, and served on a bed of bitter greens. Delizioso!

Here are some of the other meals we've had:

Antipasti + Prosecco

My three-tomato soup and Matt's octopus salad - both with glasses of Frascati.

Grilled tuna with fresh vegetables

Handmade pasta filled with pumpkin, served in a light broth with vegetables.

Ciao, Roma!

In preparing for a trip to Rome, it's almost impossible to narrow down the huge lists of books that can inspire, advise, and inform your trip. There are probably 10 specific periods in Rome's history that fascinate me, so the stack of books could be daunting.
But here are three that made my list, and inspired my trip. More books (especially about my favorite Roman time period) later this week.

Rome
by Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes gives us a very personal journey through Rome's history and culture. He skips a bit quickly through ancient Rome for my taste, but paints an incredible view of the Renaissance. As the former art critic for Time, that really shouldn't surprise, but to be fair Rome had an amazing diversity of artists, sculptors, composers, and architects who created stunning works during the Renaissance.
I used Hughes' book to find hidden gems like Villa Medici.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling

by Ross King
It's astonishing to realize that Michelangelo only received the commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel almost as a consolation prize. The project he most wanted was to sculpt the Pope's tomb, but instead he was convinced by Pope Julius II to paint his now-famous scenes. Michelangelo was not know for his paintings and he didn't have experience with frescoes. Add to that the cost to his health (and his pocketbook), and you can understand how the gorgeous ceiling became the bane of Michelangelo's existence.


Sprezzatura: 50 Ways that Italian Genius Shaped the World
by Peter D'Epiro
Sprezzatura means the art of effortless mastery, and after just a few days in Rome, it does seem as if the Italians mastered (or created) almost every form of art.
D'Epiro showcases 50 of the top Italian cultural achievements, from developing the calendar (twice) to the first orchestra, and from love poetry to logic. This is a sharp and humorous look at how the history of Italy has shaped the world's culture.

Everything Old Is New Again

The Guardian and The Millions both recently wrote about the books we love to reread (click here for the piece on The Millions). I have several series of books that will pull me back in every few years or so. It's as if I'm seeing old friends after a long absence.
I don't think I could go so far as to read the same book at the same time every year, but some books just deserve that revisiting.
I started to reread Colleen McCullough's Rome series in anticipation of my trip in May. She has spun magic out of a dry history, bringing to life some of the greatest names in ancient Rome - Pompey, Cicero, Sulla, Marius, Spartacus, and of course, Caesar.
She also does an amazing job of mapping the streets, describing a soldier's life, and detailing the making of laws and governments in a way that keeps you engrossed and turning pages. That's quite a task.
If you haven't read the series, start with The First Man in Rome. I just finished "hanging out" with my favorite bad dictator Sulla in Fortune's Favorites and I'm about to watch the triumvirate between Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus disintegrate into civil war in The October Horse.
What are your favorite old friends in the book world?

Beautiful Bookstores

Flavorwire recently posted its list of the most beautiful bookstores around the world. I'm of the mind that if it is a room filled with books, then it is already beautiful, but I get where they're going with this.

One of my favorites is on the list – Shakespeare & Company in Paris (left) – which I was lucky enough to visit last summer. It's the quintessential old bookstore, with uneven wooden floors, low ceilings, overstuffed chairs (and shelves), and so many nooks and crannies that it makes you feel as if you're just about to stumble onto a hidden treasure. And you are. The only thing the kept me from buying everything I wanted in this bookstore was the phrase "overweight luggage fees."
After looking at the stunning photos of bookstores in Flavorwire's list (click here), I'm now ready to embark on a round-the-world trip to see them all. I particularly love the converted Dominican church in Holland and the four-story wall of books in Portugal.
I do plan to visit Bookabar in Rome this May, and I already have The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles all mapped out for my trip at the end of this month.
Are there any others that you feel should have made the list?  I would have included Hatchards in London (see below), which has been selling books since 1797. I'd move in there if they would let me.