Rome has an extensive network of local farmers markets.
One may not necessarily be in your neighborhood,
But a lot of neighborhoods have these.
Supermarket food is very good in Rome.
But if you buy from the best stalls in your local Mercato d'Autore,
You are likely to get raw ingredients that are absolutely amazing.
Even the weak stalls won't be too bad.
A few differences between farmers markets in Rome and markets in other major European cities.
Some cities have just one big central market.
Others have a few markets but they are all big.
Others have markets that only show up on very particular days - so you have to time your cooking appropriately.
(I was never able to do this. I never ran out of dinner just before market day.)
Rome has a very nice system of lots of average size markets, not too big, not too small, that are open six days a week.
No microtiming.
No vast scale of duplicative stands.
But just enough in each market so you can get what you need
And most food stalls have enough competition to keep them honest.
(Okay there is one big huge Mercato Central if you are really looking for massively expansive options and super rare stuff.)
Frankly, Rome's neighborhood mercatos seem exactly right sized to me.
The mercatos compete with lots of individual brick and mortar food stores selling more specialized stuff.
Many of these are superb.
We have been following our landlady's advice which has been excellent.
Veggies, Charcuterie and Cheese come from the Mercato.
Bread and prepared dishes come from a freestanding bakery.
Meat comes from a very small meat-only butcher.
(Not sure where I will go if I want something beyond his limited range.)
Health food stuff comes from the health food store.
Wine and everyday stuff like canned fish come from the supermarkets.
We have been eating like kings and queens.
While I love the massive scale of grand markets like Borough Market in London and the huge market along the Saone in Lyon,
The Mercati d'Autores seem more right-sized and practical to me.
I don't have to go on a major expedition downtown to get good groceries.
I like the Roman system a lot. read more
