I thought that I was going to have to leave Rome without eating a proper artichoke, but today came up aces. We were shut out of Da Giggetto, which means another visit and I’ve still never had carcioffe ala guidia. Da Giggetto II was open, though, where I ordered (and then immediately ordered a second) carcioffe romana.
Then, while eating this beautiful pizza at Zigaetana (murals on the walls, painted in the 30s in trade for meals) I noticed a placard for carcioffe romana partially obscured by the bobbing head of another customer.
The artichokes at Zigaetana were not as perfect as those at Da Giggetto II, and overly seasoned. They were, however, very similar to my last attempt at home-cooked artichokes, which I find somehow reassuring.