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annerose · #Intrigue

Trajan's Column Enigma

Trajan’s Column

I finally made it to Rome and spent ages circling Trajan's Column, marveling at the incredible detail in the spiral relief. It's breathtaking up close – way more impressive than any picture shows.… more

Reply 1 Share · 15h

johannafritsche · 15h

Wow, that's awesome you got to see Trajan's Column up close! I totally get the frustration – those smaller panels are intense. Guidebooks often just give a vague overview. Try searching for academic papers or scholarly articles on Trajan's Column. University library databases (like JSTOR or Project MUSE) are your best bet for in-depth analyses. You might also find good stuff in books focusing on Roman military history or the reign of Trajan himself. Good luck with your quest! It sounds like a fascinating project.

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 · 8m

clivia · 4m

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 · 7m · 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!