One of the things I like about living in Italy is the approach to grocery shopping.  Generally I shop at the produce market near the house. Most neighborhoods have their own markets and mine is that of Corso Trieste. Corso Trieste is somewhat of a bourgeois area in the nothern central part of Rome.   The catacombs of St.Priscilla, Villa Ada and Coppedè are also located here.  Above is a foto of the outside of the Mercato.  Looks like a garage until you go inside.

We don’t eat much meat, but when we do, we buy from this butcher who sells only Chianina beef.  Not only does he sale good quality food, he is also “molto simpatico”.

Not only does he sell meat, he sells temptations. Above are various ways that he prepares straccetti (meat strips).  Look at he chicken straccetti made with chicken, dried apricots, almonds and black pepper–yummy.  By the way, if you’re into Italian cooking, take a look at Elizabeth Minchilli’s in Rome Food Blog.  She has many great recipes.

Next to the butcher is the butcher’s wife’s bread stall. There’s always a line –Italians are bread dependent.

The bread is fresh and there are so many different types to choose from.

As  for produce, I love the colors.

I always buy from Clara.  Going to the market is somewhat of a social event–you don’t just buy food, you exchange ideas as well.  Clara and I talk about different things regarding life in general.  But we also exchange recipes. She gave me one of our favorites–chestnut and mushroom soup.  Her recipe is moreorless similar to THIS ONE but without the cream.  Yummy!

And we buy fresh eggs from this woman. All fresh and wrap’t in news paper instead of cartons.  You can buy just one egg if that’s all you need.

The corner near the market where the itinerant vendors park.  Rome has a history of itinerant vendors and outoor markets.