Haute Deli, Roman Style

Rome is a Mecca of delis. They are as ubiquitous as pastry shops in Paris. I must say that this suits me well and I found the quality to be consistently good. However, there is one deli that stands out among the rest. It is Volpetti, located only a few blocks away from the Piramide Metro stop which is 2 stops past Colosseo. The address is 47 Via Marmorata and their web-site is www.volpetti.com. They are open from 8am to 2pm and then from 5pm to 8:15pm. When I got there I was early and they had not re-opened so I wandered down the street and got a scoop of pistachio gelato.....creamy pistachio goodness in a cone......yummy.  By the time I had finished, Volpetti was open and busy. When you walk in you are greeted by a handsome dark foccacia man.  He cuts, weighs and wraps your focaccia, pizza or bread. The focaccia is flatter than what we get in the states and it is seeping olive oil like sweat that stains the paper it is wrapped in immediately. There is a small pastry corner, which is just to round out the offerings with something sweet or ricotta filled. It is the meats and cheeses that take the floor here, though. At least 20 types of raw, cured and air dried hams, many different types of salami and then roast beef, pork, baked ham and game meats. There are raw meats, veal, poultry and pork and some cooked vegetables like giant balls of cooked spinach. The walls are lined with wine from all over Italy and I helped a couple of Korean guys choose a nice Amarone. One of my favorite parts of the store was the salad bar. This was a case filled with 5 different types of marinated artichokes, 3 types of olives, sundried tomatoes and fresh anchovies. Some of the artichokes were tiny, about the diameter of a nickel. They were tender and delicious and a nice contrast to the grilled ones. I also got some salami with fennel and some pecorino cheese with chilies, sort of an Italian version of pepper jack.  Bread, meat, cheese and vegetables and I am ready for a first class picnic. Of course, I have yet to mention that haute deli comes at haute prices! In the words of my ICE co-worker Gerri Sarnataro who owns a cooking school in Umbria, on the Tuscan border called Cucina della Terra, "It's worth it!" I agree with Gerri and just as she has gone out of her way to stop in at Volpetti, I recommend that all foodies should do so when visiting Rome.  You won't be disappointed!