The French-Italian doctor looked me in the eyes, very seriously.
“You need to invert your cheese consumption,” he said gravely.
No. Such. Luck. Buddy.
Especially when there are incredible options for raw milk cheese in Rome like the elegant shop Beppe e i Suoi Formaggi.
I love my cheese and I have no intention of cutting back.
Cheese pasta served in a bowl made of cheese? I’ll take it.
Mozzarella injected with cream so that it becomes the oozy goodness that is melt-in-your-mouth burrata? I’m all over it.
A man who names his wine and cheese shop after himself and his cheese? Just try to keep me away.
Beppe e i suoi formaggi (Beppe and his cheeses) is one of the best wine bars in the city. It is also the best place to eat cheese, naturally.
Beppe Giovale comes from a long line to cheesemakers in Piedmont. All the Italian cheeses are from his own production (though there is a small selection of lovely French cheese, as well). The wines? Those are from Piedmont too.
In addition to a beautiful counter of cheese as you walk in, there are delicious specialty products tucked into every nook and cranny in the shop in Rome’s Ghetto neighborhood. Think truffle salt and organic honey.
It is a perfect stop to refresh and indulge after killing your feet on Rome’s cobblestones all day. No phone signals can penetrate the cavernous walls, so you will really truly need to shut off an enjoy the cheesy winey sensory overload.
The entire staff at Beppe is amazing and I appreciate their serious lack of judgment when I come in to eat cheese solo. Every now and I then, I will be walking around the city and wonder “Hey… it’s that guy! Where do I know that guy from?” before realizing that he is the man that serves me cheese every time I step into Beppe’s.
Did I mention I eat a lot of cheese?
Go. Enjoy. They will put together a fabulous cheese plate for you. Just ask!
(I usually go to Beppe’s on a whim, as I walk by and decide that yes, my cholesterol could use a little workout. Therefore – iPhone photos only. So sorry).
Beppe e i suoi formaggi
Via di Santa Maria del Pianto, 9A/11
00186 Roma (Centro Storico/ Jewish Ghetto)
Open: Monday – Saturday from 9 am to 10:30 pm
Closed Sundays
Obviously, you need a new doctor.
I will definitely visit Beppe on my next trip. Thanks for the tip!
Whoa, I definitely need to check this place out the next time I am in Rome. Presentation of the cheese is beautiful as well!
Yes! Please do and let me know what you think. Little gem of a place
Amazing, I must try it. It’s great that you can just go solo. I often don’t order plate of cheese in wine bars because portions are always for two. And what can do that I love traveling alone? Dining can be hard for solo travelers 😉
Agreed! But a traveler has to eat! I think the biggest drag is that you can’t sample off a companion’s plate. It always makes me try to order verrrrry carefully. At Beppe’s they will make you the right size platter for however many people you have. Even if it is just me, myself and I.
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