Best fried artichokes in Rome?

[vvv03]

We're off to Rome in a few weeks. Someone told us they had some terrific fried artichokes in the Jewish ghetto (I don't even know where that is) and I'd love to get some good ones. Any suggestions?

[seal]

No disputing the fact that Piperno has great artichokes.

But, fyi, with the exchange rate as it is, they cost about $25 US each, or about $50 for an order of two large artichokes.

[toitoi]

Hey, it's a holiday - hang the price.

[mbfant]

No question Piperno is an expensive restaurant. Giggetto, Paris, and Pompiere are cheaper. Sora Margherita also has the artichokes in season and would be much cheaper, but I don't know whether they have them out of season.

There are French artichokes available in the markets, which is probably what the restaurants are serving.

[jen kalb]

Im no specialist, but I know you can get artichoke plants to produce multiple secondary and further shoots through various methods after a main harvest- also that they can be grown in the north - like in the eastern US for different harvest seasons. So they are available more througout the year than traditionally.

[Betty]

I'll bet they have found ways to extend the season as Jen suggests. I saw them growing in home gardens in Ravenna in July a couple of years ago.

[elizabeth2929]

Re: the prices of artichokes at Piperno. In mid-May, it was 16 Euros per order -- each order has two artichokes. One artichoke is a satisfying portion per person. So that cuts the price of an appetizer to about 8 Euros -- about $13.00 more or less. No way did we pay 50.00 for two artichokes.

[seal]

We paid 32 euro for an order of 2. Who do you know? ;o)

lol - now that I think about it, we may have had 2 orders. In wine there is truth perhaps, but not memory.

[chezfredo]

I dined at Trattoria da Giggetto and enjoyed the artichokes (and everything else) very much. The Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere are really great areas to meander around. Lots of great food and local flavor to be found there.

[mbfant]

Artichokes are no longer in season, but the restaurants that specialize in the Jewish fritti manage to have them all year. It's a sort of don't ask, don't tell thing. In the Ghetto, Piperno is the best. Many people like Giggetto and Al Pompiere, but they aren't in the same league. Paris, in Trastevere, is also very good. The owners worked in Piperno for years before opening their own place.