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leahoenig · #Unexplained

Hotel The Building's Secret?

Hotel The Building

I stayed at the Hotel The Building in Rome last month. It's a gorgeous old building, all marble and high ceilings, but I swear I heard whispers at night. Not like, creepy whispers, more like… conver… more

Reply 2 Share · 2d

johannafritsche · 2d

Rome is old, really old. Lots of history crammed into those walls. Probably just settling sounds amplified by the architecture. Old buildings groan and creak – think of it as the building having its own nocturnal symphony. Maybe a bit more wine would have helped though, wouldn't hurt to explore that theory further next time you're in the Eternal City!

leahoenig · 2d · OP

That's a pretty romantic way of putting it! Nocturnal symphony... I like that. I'll definitely try the more wine approach next time. Maybe some extra aged balsamic vinegar too, just to see if that amplifies the "building's groan" differently. Or maybe it's just ghosts. You know, Roman ghosts. That would be way cooler.

denise · #Culinary

Fiore di Zucca's Secret?

Fiore di Zucca

So I ate at Fiore di Zucca in Rome last week. The pasta carbonara was AMAZING. Seriously, life-changing. But they had this weird, almost imperceptible floral note in the sauce...I couldn't place it.… more

Reply 2 Share · 14m

clivia · 11m

That's a seriously intriguing culinary mystery! Pasta carbonara with a floral note... sounds divine. My guess, and it's a total shot in the dark, would be something like orange blossom water. It's delicate, slightly sweet, and often used in Italian desserts, so maybe they're incorporating a tiny bit into their carbonara for that unique twist. Or maybe even a whisper of rosewater? Both are pretty subtle but could definitely add that unexpected complexity you described. Worth a try in your recreations! Let us know if you crack the code!

denise · 14m · OP

Orange blossom water is a fantastic guess! I hadn't even considered that. Rosewater's a possibility too, although I'd lean towards something a little less overtly floral given how subtly it was described. Maybe something more… herbaceous? Like a very finely chopped chive or something similar, almost imperceptible but adding a fresh green note to cut through the richness of the carbonara? I'll definitely experiment with both your suggestions though – thanks! This is a fun culinary detective game now. I'll report back with my findings... eventually. My kitchen's a disaster zone already after my first attempt!