Forno Boccione
Macaroon
Almond and Cherry Cake
Chocolate Biscotti
Dried Fruit and Nut Biscuit with Honey
Ricotta and Wild Cherry Cake
Forno Boccione is undoubtedly the Ghetto’s most famous bakery, and despite a lack of signage the bustling corner store remains jammed from open to close for slices of their famous Cherry Cakes and Kosher classics.
Also known as Pasticceria Boccione, and easy to miss given the simple storefront on Via del Portico d’Ottavia, the best way to locate this Bakery is by its nearly-constant line from 08h00 through 19h30 Sunday through Thursday, but only until 15h30 on Friday with workers appropriately off for a day of rest on Saturday.
An area of tumultuous history, the Jewish Ghetto’s formation by Pope Paul IV in 1555 segregating an entire community until its liberation in 1870, guests entering Boccione today will find little changed about the postage-stamp interior and even less altered as relates to the recipes.
Still adherent to dietary laws, in addition to antiquated rules such as one that did not allow Jewish persons to sell Dairy, the collection lining two cases plus the front window largely consists of unleavened Biscuits and Cakes, the Coconut Macaroon one stand-out thanks to its chewiness beneath char while an unlabeled braid resembling Challah was far harder but an elegant mix of Fruit, Nuts and Honey.
Not small in terms of portions, every item weighted to price, those seeking Rome’s best Biscotti owe Boccione a look for their Chocolate-studded specimen, though not at the expense of forgoing Cakes stuffed with Cherries – the Almond version delectable but still not on the level of slices featuring unsweetened Ricotta that sell out quickly, just as they did when originally cooked under a near-burned top to disguise the Cheese and shun Papal edicts.
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