A love letter

[spacedlaw]

I don't blog food.
Well, now, that isn't quite right, is it? I do blog the odd recipe and goodness knows that I blog a LOT of food pictures across the internet.

I just don't normally write about restaurants.

First because I think that most of you guys are far away and thus aren't likely to come here and check out the places I could recommend. But also I have this deeply ingrained loathing about having to explain why I like a place (or anything, really).

Blame this on having to go through hoards of heinous compulsory “explications de texte” as a kid – where you have to pseudo-analyse a writer to confirm that, yep, his or her text is worth the reading – goodness knows I do. After so many years, I still today refuse to inspect the reasons as to why I love something, whether it is a story – even more so if the text is a poem – a painting, a piece of music, or a meal.

The best I can come up with is this: If it moves me, then it is good.
To me.
You are entirely entitled to think otherwise. After all, I can't expect you to feel exactly as I do, in particular half a planet away.
Despite what we have been force-fed at school, critique or appreciation isn't so much about how an author grew up, what they had to breakfast on the day or what type of lovers they favour or if they like the colour blue. Beauty -pleasure - is in the eyes, the ears, the hands, the mouth, and the guts of the beholder and – what's more – in the deeper hidden folds of memories and education-driven crinkles.

Having just written that – my sort of disclaimer: the legal education does tend to repeat on one's conscience – I shall now proceed to tell you – albeit only briefly - about my favourite restaurant in Rome, Metamorfosi.



Warning: No matter how corny this may sound, this is love, pure and as unadulterated as it should be.
Though, of course, it can also be steamed, smoked, poached, slow-cooked, grilled, foamed, whipped, charred, infused, sprayed, minced, roasted, pacojetted, etc. (you catch the drift).

I've just returned this Friday to Metamorfosi for a delayed birthday lunch and, once again, I came to realize that this is the best place for me to start the weekend, let alone to treat myself to a few hours of utter pleasure. I always leave the place with body and mind singing in harmony, feeling utterly pampered, reassured that life is worth living, as well as feeling gloriously tipsy.

Why is that? Well...
Wonderful food, brilliant presentation, adorable service, great wines.
Of course.
You see why I have problems with those “explications”? Isn't all this rather obvious?
Besides which, Metamorfosi was just given its first Michelin star, something I've said from the first they were bound to get. And do mark that I just wrote “first”. I don't see them stopping there... So all of the above are per definition a given.
Therefore, if I had to dig deeper and search below the veneer, beyond the surface, I would say that I love Metamorfosi because it engages all my senses, the most important of which being my imagination.

So there you have it.
If EVER you come to Italy and want to sample something different from the nominal Roman fare – all good stuff, just a tad repetitive after a while – go to this place and let your mind blown away.

Metamorfosi
Via Giovanni Antonelli 30/32
Roma
Tel: 06 8076839
http://metamorfosiroma.it/


With gratitude to a great team:
Chef - Roy Caceres
Sous-chef - John Regefalk
Sommelier - Paolo Abballe
And all the unsung heroes, in the dining room and below.

Various pictures...