Zum Gemalten Haus
Where? Zum Gemalten Haus (Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt, Germany) Map Menu
When? Friday June 19, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? German
I left behind the pizza, pasta, tiramisu and gelato, and traded it for sausages and sauerkraut in Frankfurt, Germany. The mood is jovial on this sweltering Friday afternoon, and the city is celebrating a local specialty - apfelwein, or apple wine. I've been told that there are many restaurants serving traditional Frankfurt fare in the Sachsenhausen area, which is south of the Main River in Frankfurt. As I exit the metro station at Schweizer Platz, I find myself in the middle of a large multicultural street festival. There’s music and many delicious smells, but I'm here for something authentically German, so I'm off to Zum Gemalten Haus. I’ve got a seat looking right at the bar with a small glimpse into the kitchen, and I love observing the workings of the restaurant.
Drink
I have to try the apple wine. The menu reads "our apple wine has been traditionally made from local apples since 1936 and matures every year in our wooden barrels into the golden-yellow drink that is known far beyond Frankfurt am Main". In addition to the classic, you can also get a rosé apple wine and a non-alcoholic apple wine. It's very slightly fizzy, dry and not sugary like a cider. There's a subtle floral hint, but the apple flavour is not as strong as I was expecting it to be.
Mains
Butchers Plate with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, black pudding and liver sausage, German style pork
I'm going to say it - the food has a very typical German colour palette. The blood sausage is tasty, not as rich like some black pudding as I’ve had in the past. It’s been boiled, it doesn’t have a crust and it comes apart easily with the pressure of the knife. Similarly is the other sausage, which is quite meaty and doesn’t really feel like it has a lot of binding agent like flour. It’s almost got the consistency of corned beef. Both sausages still have the metallic clasps used to keep the casing together and I feel this could have been potentially dangerous. I love the pork chop though, it’s tender and juicy, and goes perfectly with the creamy mashed potatoes. The sauerkraut is very sour, painfully so.
The restaurant has very little airflow even though the doors and windows are wide open. I’m sweating heavily, especially because of the alcohol. About 15 minutes after starting to eat, the apple wine hits me like a train. It takes a while but I finish everything: pork, potato, cabbage and wine. I’m kinda glad I’m only in Frankfurt for two nights, there’s no way I could eat like this every day.
Posted by Jeremy at 5:34pm on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments :: 
Osteria del Tempo Perso Oca
Where? Osteria del Tempo Perso Oca (Campo Marzio, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Thursday June 18, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian
It’s my final night in Rome and I have one more food checkbox: Pompi’s famous tiramisu. It’s a chain store with a branch near the Spagna station, so I’ve chosen an osteria close by. The name apparently translates to Lost Time Goose?! This area is very touristy because I'm right near the Piazza del Popolo, but it’s a lot quieter around the corner. I’m seated outside under the tent, with a gentle summer breeze blowing through and the smell of coffee in the air. Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits is playing, so even though this obviously caters to the tourists, I hope the food is still good. The sparkling water is chilled to an excellent, refreshing temperature, and I'm so impressed that I have to note it down.
I was somewhat keen on the fried squid, but it has the frozen food warning, so I’ve gone for the stuffed zucchini flowers instead. I was also going to get the cacio e pepe, but I need a protein, so I went for the spaghetti with mixed seafood instead, which thankfully doesn’t have the frozen food warning.
Appetiser
Fiori di Zucca Fritti: fried zucchini flower filled with mozzarella cheese and anchovy
It’s actually pretty good. A squirt of lemon juice really brings everything together. I think the batter could be a bit crispier and a tad more seasoned, but I’d happily eat that again.
Mains
Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare: spaghetti with seafood
It’s taking a while, it’s been 15 minutes since I finished my starters, but it finally arrives and it smells great. There’s a great selection of seafood - mussels, clams, octopus, shrimp and squid. I love sucking the juices out of the shrimp head. They haven’t given me any bread to mop up the sauce, which is unfortunate, because it’s quite nice, buttery and tasty.
I decline dessert because I need to head to Pompi before closing time. I choose a pistachio tiramisu, which comes neatly boxed, and I walk to the Spanish steps to enjoy it. It’s phenomenal. So light and fluffy, with a full layer of crushed pistachios for texture and a strong pistachio flavour. Molte bene!
Posted by Jeremy at 1:54am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments ::
La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
Where? La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (Monti, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Wednesday June 17, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian
They were fully booked when I came here a few days ago, and when I tried to make a reservation online, the website service they were using tried to charge me CAD$5.50 for the privilege of booking, so I literally just walked back to the restaurant and did it in person. Today, I’ve been seated outside where I can watch people walking by, but there’s also the smell of the street and cars, which is mildly unpleasant after the downpour a few hours ago. As I'm sitting, many people have turned up off the street and tried unsuccessfully to obtain a table without reservation, so I feel like I’ve done well for myself.
Appetiser
Bis di Crostini: Crostini combo - chicken liver pâté, parmigiano cheese + lard, seasonal vegetables, pecorino cheese
I love chicken liver pâté, so I went for the crostini. There’s also a vegetable one, which is healthy if I forget there’s lard. The pâté is heaped generously on the toasted bread, and it is wonderfully rich and tasty. The vegetable one has a lot of cheese and what looks to be fat from a slice of prosciutto, so it also tastes excellent. Any spillage of oil, pâté or sauce has been duly mopped up, and my plate is spotless.
Mains
Filetto di Pescato del Giorno: Catch of the day with potato crust and sun dried tomatoes
The catch of the day is sea bass, also known in Italy as branzino, a delicate, white fish with a sweet flavour and flaky texture. This, however, is not what I was expecting. I mean, you can't even see the fish. If anything, it should be served on top of the potatoes with the tomatoes and olives on top of that, or to the side. It’s very hot, but it is tasty and the tomato sauce helps to accentuate the natural sweetness, while the olives provide the salinity. I do wonder if it’s perhaps a bit dry because of the high heat continuing to cook it while I’m eating. It's fine but just a bit basic.
Dessert
Crema Fredda di Zabaione: Cold zabaione custard (egg yolks, sugar and Marsala wine), warm dark chocolate sauce
I am a sucker for custard and I've never tried this Italian take on it, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go. Oh man it’s good. The sugar crystals and Marsala wine are prominent, while the chocolate gives it that hint of richness and bitterness. The biscotti provide a textural element to enjoy the custard. I love the way the pieces just sink slowly after being placed on the surface. Though the portion seems small, it’s very rich and filling, and despite my talents, I dare not try to lick the martini glass clean.
That was a good meal, even though the fish was a little bit disappointing. The zabaione alone was worth the reservation process. Although the receipt says tips are appreciated, I will be happily not tipping and trying to quash this dumb North American custom.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:41am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments ::
Roma Sparita
Where? Roma Sparita (Trastevere, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Tuesday June 16, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian
After watching the sunset on the Aventine Hill, I've headed over the Tiber River to the neighbourhood of Trastevere, which boasts a myriad of restaurants slightly away from the main tourist centers. However, the prevalence of English is very audible, which is somewhat reassuring to me. There’s no sign for the restaurant I want to go to, Roma Sparita, but finally I spot a lone menu with the restaurant’s name at the entrance, which is by the Piazza di Santa Cecilia. I have a short wait - even at 9pm! - but I’m seated outside in the cool summer air and I feel good about my life choices. The menu has allergen information extensively documented throughout, as well as the same frozen food footnote that I saw on the menu yesterday.
Drink
I don’t have any pressing engagements tomorrow morning, so I decide to have a glass of wine. I’ve chosen the cheapest option, the Malvasia Puntinata from Cincinnato, a few hours southeast of Rome. It’s smooth and buttery, with a hint of pear. It’ll go nicely with my clam gnocchi.
Appetiser
Insalata mista: Mixed salad
The salad arrives first. It’s nicely presented, and comes with the full compliment of Italian condiments: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and complimentary bread.
Mains
Gnocchi alle vongle veraci, fiori di zucchina: Gnocchi with clams and zucchini flowers
It smells great and tastes even better. It’s got a hint of spice, with plenty of garlic and herbs. The sauce is very tasty and the gnocchi are soft and fluffy. Even the tomatoes are pretty remarkable, sweet and juicy. None of that sauce has gone to waste, I have mopped up everything with the bread and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The plate is spotless and I'm so impressed with my own efforts that I want to document this.
Dessert
Panna cotta: with fresh strawberry
I was tossing up between the panna cotta and the tiramisu, but when the waiter tells me there’s a fresh strawberry flavour for the panna cotta, it's a done deal. It’s got a slight jiggle, and the texture is perfectly smooth. It’s a lovely way to end an excellent meal.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:41am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments ::
La Mucca Biricchina
Where? La Mucca Biricchina (Monti, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Monday June 15, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian
My first choice of restaurant was full, so I needed to come up with an alternative. I'm reassured by some wise words from my Italian pastor: “you won’t find bad food in Rome”. Down the street from my original choice is this osteria, near Cavour station, and it’s mostly empty, which may be a bad sign. The walls are decorated with beautiful murals depicting Italian life and famous Roman landmarks. I was interested in their seafood pasta, but upon opening the sticky menu, there's a footnote saying that the seafood is in fact frozen, and my heart drops. At least they’re honest? I choose an appetiser and a mains, neither of them being marked as frozen. If I finish early, I’m going to grab some gelato from Gelateria Dell'Angeletto down the street.
The table near me ordered a starter of prosciutto and melon, and that is literally what has been served in front of them. Slices of melon and prosciutto draped over them, with no thought given to presentation or garnish.
Drink
My drink of choice is a local soda with juice and pulp from Sicilian lemons. It’s refreshing and fizzy, very reminiscent of a Lift, which I miss dearly.
Appetiser
Cozze alla Marinara: Mussels marinara
I really hope I don’t get food poisoning from this but it’s usually easy to tell if mussels are off. It smells nice, fragrant with tomato, parsley and garlic. I dig in - it's good. However, the bread is burnt, but thankfully it's not a big issue because of the free basket of bread that everyone gets with their meal. I’m doing my utmost best to prevent a mess but one, a shell drops on the floor after my shell plate overflows, and two, as I’m opening one of the mussels, it snaps and splashes the tomato broth all over me. Fortunately I'm not wearing white, and I'm also wearing a quick-dry tank top, so no major damage. I’ll clean this up later.
Mains
Lasagna
It doesn’t look like a regular lasagna? But it smells very cheesy and appetising. After a few mouthfuls I can tell this is going to be a stretch to finish, but it’s pretty decent. I’m glad it’s not seasoned any more than this, the saltiness of the cheese provides enough flavour as it is.
Overall, pretty solid. Not particularly interesting or outstanding, but something enjoyable enough for the night. They don’t accept credit card, but I luckily have some cash on hand to pay.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:08am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments ::