souvenir shopping in rome

One of the most frequent questions I get from friends is what can they buy to take back to the States as gifts? Nothing too big, nothing too expensive. Preferably nothing that is going to break en route. Must be something that is found only in Italy. Nothing designer.

Also, each year, at Christmas, I have to decide what to bring back myself, as gifts for friends. I’m not talking about the big gifts (cashmere scarf for my sister, leather gloves for my mother) but smaller thoughts to bring along to dinner parties, etc.

Here is what I’m bringing back to New York this December, but could easily serve as souvenirs all year round:

Apicoltura, Via Della Dataria 93, This tiny shop is tucked into the street that leads down fro m the Quirinale towards the Trevi Fountain. While most stores in the area sell pure tourist dreck, Apicoltura’s selection of artisanally-made, honey-based products are heavenly. My gifts of choice are the jewel-like soaps. Cut from larger slabs their muted colors float with sprigs of rosemary, lavender and thyme. A real treat are their hard honey candies, soothing and delicious. Of course there is honey too, but I’m always afraid that will break in my suitcase.

San Eustachio , just around the corner from the Pantheon, in Piazza Sant’Eustachio, is best known for their fabulous coffee. The bar is so protective of its magic recipe that each cup is carefully prepared behind a small metal screen. Since it’s hard to take a caffe doppio con panna back with you, you can at least take a bag full of chocolate-covered coffee beans. And even if a lot of people make them these days, San Eustachio’s are among the best. Also love the bright yellow packaging with the cute deer head (symbol of San Eustachio).

Delizie di Calabria is on Via dei Serpenti 20a, in my oh-so-trendy neighborhood of Monti. Almost everything in the shop comes straight from the southern region of Calabria. This is ALWAYS a good source of gifts, and by this time of year I start to get requests from NYC: bitter Orange marmalade for Alice, organic oregano for my sister Robin. I think this year I’ll bring some chocolate-covered, almond-stuffed figs for Melissa and some truffle-speckled cheese for Phil.