A year later, I'm still exploring my market.
I used to buy my eggs at the supermarket until I "discovered" the egg vendors. The prices are cheaper and the eggs are fresher. What the heck took me so long?
I met up with Erica at the market last Friday. She wanted to check out the fish. Afterward, we stopped by my egg vendor.
Erica wrote a lovely ODE to the egg and the memories of her Roman nonna feeding her a raw egg "shake" for her merenda (Italian for a mid-afternoon snack).
The eggs marked "Da Bere" (to drink) are the freshest of the fresh. You have to eat them within a short period of time.
The vendor was speaking Italian very quickly, so I missed the explanation regarding how these eggs are different from the others.
She said the eggs come from the Le Marche region.
Their eggs are delicious. I can totally taste the difference between their eggs and the ones I used to buy at the supermarket.
Trionfale is not the closest market to my house but it's worth the schlep.
8 comments:
those are the perfect eggs for zabaglione. Perfect. Really, really fresh eggs are a luxury. Actually, really fresh food is a luxury in general. We are very fortunate here in Italy, aren't we?
yes, we get our eggs from the amish farmers, and they are delicious! we enjoy them so much. the flavor is richer, and the yolks are a deep yellow. glad you found fresh eggs. so much nicer than the supermarket, and it's nice to support the small farmers.
I used to keep a few chickens in the backyard (when I get to work on my backyard, I intend to get a few cuckoo marans (a french breed) as soon the backyard is suitably safe for them). I couldn't believe how good the eggs tasted compared to what I bought in the store. There are urban farmers here in the states who keep chickens in larger cities. They even have their own magazine and I read about a couple of gals who had a business of chicken sitting in Portland or Seattle. Chickens aren't difficult to take care of and they are wonderful garbage disposals/pest/weed controls although they won't limit themselves to weeds. I once found one of mine sitting quite innocently in some potted up herbs looking at me quite quizzicaly as I laughed my head off at what she was suggesting she become. They were very well fed with slugs, snails, beetles, worms, store bought lay mash and my arugula. They are also quite social. There are Italian breeds of chickens. Hmm, I can't remember if you have a balcony. Why don't you start a new fad in Rome?
My Sicilian nonna used to make us homemade eggnog with raw eggs and a drop or two of sweet vermouth! Small World...
I have just arrived in Rome, a broke and bitter person, working as an au pair. Recent college graduate - film major. It seems we have a few things in common...
I have yet to go market shopping but your blog looks like it will be very helpful for this and many other Roman activities! Would love to chat sometime.
-Moira
diana - Yes we are. I try to remember that when standing in line at the post office.
dorinalouise - The yolks are so yellow here. I agree it's nice to support small farmers/vendors when possible.
homebody at heart - I've read about the urban farming in the States. No, I don't have a balcony. Where my parents live in the Caribbean there are chickens and very loud roosters. My parents don't have any but some of the neighbors' chickens like to stroll over and pick at their garden. My father was not pleased. Ha.
gil - Yum, eggnog. I love it but because it's so rich, can only drink a little at a time.
moira - welcome to this crazy (but amazing) city. Hope your new job is going well. See you on Twitter!
Yum. Thanks for posting this - going to Rome next weekend and I know where I'm buying eggs! They'll be perfect for soft boiled eggs!
misplaced texan - buon viaggio!
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