JeanneB

One more somewhat related question:

In Rome, is it proper to go elsewhere after dinner and order only dessert and coffee or wine? We ran into a particularly unpleasant waiter in Paris one time who obviously frowned on our meager order (it was after 11pm).

sheila

Depends where. Small cafes, probably OK; anything more formal, no.

fall06

Wine and coffee are readily available at bars until all hours, but whether or not you will find an appealing dessert there is another matter. The best cakes are usually served by pasticcerias, which usually close up by dinnertime. A ristorante, trattoria or oesteria will not serve you dessert only.

Around the tourist hubs (like the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain) I wouldn't be surprised to find dessert available after 10pm. And certainly you will find gelaterie open.

A late night drink is easier to find.

caroline_edinburgh

"In Rome, is it proper to go elsewhere after dinner and order only dessert and coffee or wine?"

I've never heard of this being done anywhere. Do you do it at home ? But yes, some cafes selling coffee and maybe pastries, some ice cream shops and some combinations of the two will still be open. You couldn't do it in a proper restaurant.

ira

>...and neither is improved by the introduction of bread.<

Hmmmmmmm, interesting concept.

>... apart from eating faster, do you know a way to stop parmesan drying out.<

I keep mine in a plastic bag in the cheese/meat drawer in the fridge. Lasts about 2 mos.

>I wrap leftovers in clingfilm, ... I then store it in a special ventilated plastic container ...<

Why bother with a ventilated container if it is wrapped in clingfilm?

>I wrap my cheese in a damp paper towel also.<

For hard cheeses (Parmigiano, Cheddar), try moistening the paper towel with vinegar (wine or apple is very good) to prevent mold from forming.

fall06

caroline,

here in NYC it's always possible to find places serving cakes and desserts long after 9pm. Many places specialize in cheesecakes, for instance, and people go there just to eat them. Likewise, that was my experience in LA and SF, and most large cities (certainly ones with fancy hotels, too). I'm surprised Jeanne had trouble in Paris finding a dessert spot.

True, fine dining establishments aren't going to simply serve you dessert (although some in NYC will if you sit at the bar).

But the most important thing to know about Roma is that dessert is not a big deal, even in restaurants. The dolci are rarely worth the calories.

caroline_edinburgh

True, fall06 - Italian desserts aren't usually worth bothering with.

I'm used to restaurants most places being open late (and on holiday, don't normally start dinner until after 9); I've just never heard of going to one just for dessert. I think most places would be annoyed at wasting a table.

blackduff

Caroline posted:
<i>I'm used to restaurants most places being open late (and on holiday, don't normally start dinner until after 9); I've just never heard of going to one just for dessert. I think most places would be annoyed at wasting a table.</i>

What you said is very true but there's even more about ordering just a coffee and a dessert. Normally a good restaurant has a charge for the &quot;Covert&quot;. They might charge for bread separate too.

I don't know many American restuarants in the high of the servicing for the supper meal and expect a couple ask for a table for &quot;Coffee and Dessert&quot;. It doesn't allow this in the US neither.

You can always find a cafe on one of the terraces to serve coffee and dessert. In fact, it's the better place to spend a few hours with the coffee/dessert.

Blackduff

fall06

I think everybody is talking past each other here.

Everybody knows that you can't walk into a white tablecloth restaurant at 10pm and just ask for dessert in most places in the world.

That said, I don't think twice when I am in Paris about skipping dessert at a restaurant with the idea that around midnight I'm going to head up to Le Select or La Coupole for a tarte aux citron or some other lovely sweet, and have a coffee or perhaps a nightcap.

Likewise, here in New York, there's no end of places where you can indulge in something gooey all by itself until the wee hours. And there are some high-end restaurants that will serve you a dessert if you sit at the bar.

That is very hard to do in Roma, largely because Italians just ain't into dessert. It's not how they end an evening. You will find bars open -- but the &quot;sweets&quot; in bars are usually not very good, and are more customarily eaten by Italian in the morning with coffee or in mid-afternoon.

If you want dessert to end your meal in Italy, it's best to try the restaurant &quot;dolci&quot; offering of the evening if its made in house (&quot;fatto in casa&quot. And even then, you might find yourself eating a rather dry cake with a fruit filling and powdered sugar.

JeanneB

For Rome, it sounds like the better solution is to have dessert stashed away in the apartment fridge for enjoying when we get home.

I certainly would <i>not</i> walk into a proper restaurant and ask only for dessert...whether in Paris, Rome or New York. The Paris incident happened at Leon Bruxelles---the moules-frite place. Approximately 11pm, about half the tables were occupied. We had been walking for an hour after dinner and wanted a &quot;nightcap&quot;. We politely asked the maitre d' if we might have dessert and coffee only. He assured us it was OK and seated us promptly. I guess he forgot to tell the waiter! (but the creme brulee was actually very good.)