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Sunday, May 18, 2008

ROME: I CAME, I SAW, I CONKED OUT







That folks, is just about it for EAT MY GLOBE.

I am way behind on the EAT MY GLOBE blog, but will catch up on that over the next month or so as I work on the final stages of the book. But for DH, at least, it is time to get back to normal.

Not just the blog, however. It is time for me to come to terms with the consequences of a journey that has involved thirty countries (I do still have a small pit stop in Paris on my way back to London as I suppose that I can’t claim to have eaten my globe without a stop in France) over one hundred cities, the same number of flights and the same number of different beds.

The monetary consequences as my bank balance has shrivelled from reasonably healthy to a point where I have already prepared a sign to hold on street corners saying

“WILL DROP TROU FOR FOIE”

The emotional consequences of coming to the end of a journey, which has changed the way I think about just about everything and has occupied my every waking thought and most of my dreams for about two years.

And, of course, the physical consequences of a journey which has seen me put on over a stone in weight, get precious little rest as I get on a plane an average of once every three days and a journey which has seen my middle-aged body suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous gluttony.

As if to remind me of all of the above, the last official stop has been in Rome and my body has finally decided that it should blend in and make like a ruin.

My Istanbul cold has returned and this time it has been joined by a back spasm caused by lugging the best part of 40kgs around the world and a foot that has swollen to the size of a small tank.

Like the most brave of little centurions, I have battled my way through the pain and done a bit of sightseeing, but have spent much of the rest of the time trying to catch up on my sleep and taking painkillers.

So, my foodie experiences here in Rome, apart from a staple breakfast of some hot chocolate and a Cornetto have been limited to a few meals where I have tried some of the Roman specialities.

Two local pasta dishes have got the thumbs up. A splendidly made Carbonara made with raw eggs, allowed to cook in the heat of the Spaghetti and then tossed with bacon.

Even better, bucatini(sp?) matriciana, where long strands of hollow pasta serve as the vessel for a deeply rich sauce of tomatoes and pork cheek.

I have tried yet another pizza, this time what seems to be the favourite, The Margherita. Better than I have tried before but it still seems like an appalling thing to do to good ingredients that have never done any harm.

Best of all, of course, is the meat. In this case a simple plate of Abbcchio, the spring lamb which is flavoured with rosemary, sage and garlic and then, just before serving, with anchovies.

Its not enough of course, to get a true flavour of the city, and it is another one to chalk up on the “must return” board, but given my current state, I am just pleased to have left the hotel room.

I shall be back in London soon enough and shall rejoin HP in his quest to be knocking on the door of every new restaurant and lots of old ones. In the meantime, believe it or not, I am off on holiday to Spain.

Don’t laugh

Thanks for reading along and I hope it has, at least, made some of you want to head off and do some food exploration of your own

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2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

“WILL DROP TROU FOR FOIE”

That can be arranged.

Simon, dear, I was just mentioning you in a post that is about to go up on my blog, and came over to my Bloglines subscriptions looking for my "Thought for the Day."

I am afraid I can't use that, unfortunately, because my readers expect more from me. More profanity, more irrelevance, more density.

But I am glad I stopped by to be the first to wish you the best of EVERYTHING in the next phase of your life...and to express my deep gratitude that we here had the joy of your presence in two of the days of your amazing journey. And also for the miracle of meeting you.

Love from here, forever,
Tana and family in Soquel

Monday, May 19, 2008 1:55:00 am  
Blogger Guy Tremlett said...

Thanks very much for sharing your trip and all the very best with the book. Have a nice holiday - you've earnt it...

Monday, May 19, 2008 5:05:00 am  

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