Hotel Breakfast

Well, the photo kind of speaks for itself. A classic Italian buffet breakfast at the airport hotel in Rome. First stop is the hot beverage station where the self-serve machine offers all the caffeinated (and non) favorites: caffe' espresso, caffe' lungo, caffe' macchiato, caffe' macchiato con cacao, cappuccino, cappuccino con cacao, cioccolato, cioccolat latte, latte, te' al limone, acqua calda (hot water), ginseng, and orzo. There are pitchers of cucumber-mint water, milk and fruit juice, but the ‘espresso’ machine is highly popular.   In the savory section hot-plates were filled with scrambled eggs and chunks of "wurstel" (ie. hot dogs); cold platters filled with meat and cheese (brie and cacciocavallo cheeses, prosciutto crudo and prosciutto cotto); and a bowl of sliced cucumbers. Sadly, the tomatoes were already gone.  Baskets were filled with an assortment of breads, rolls, croissants. In the cereal section, there were dispensers of muesli, cornflakes and a chocolate looking flake. The chiller had milk, containers of yogurt and (my favorite) a tub of plain greek yogurt.  The fruit was minimal, just oranges and apples. Where were the kiwis, bananas and berries prominently featured in the lobby and elevator posters hailing the amazing colazione for 10 euro?   Ah, then there was the sweet section: trays of torta (cake), crostata (pie), bomboloni (donuts), and of course, the mainstay of Italian quick breakfast - cornetti (croissants).  Cornetti are in every bar on every street in every town in Italy.  I do not exaggerate.  Every bar has an espresso machine and every bar has cornetti.  They are always freshly baked, lightly sweet, and usually filled.  “Un cornetto vuoto’ (empty) is a “healthier’ option, plus more bars/bakeries are offering vegan and whole grain croissants.  At the hotel buffet sweet station, instead of piles of filled croissants, you got to fill your own!  How cool!  I’ve often wondered (yes, I’ve consumed many of these delectables) how they neatly filled the croissants with marmellata or crema or nutella or pistachio.  Now, I know!  Mystery solved - the blip shows the croissant filling dispensers offering a choice of jam - apricot (albicocca) and berry (frutti di bosco) marmellata and hazlenut (nocciola) cream.  Bars always have cornetti marmelatta (various fruit jams) and cornetti crema (custard, Nutella, and pistachio).  I’ve tried them all - except Nutella.  Chocolate-hazelnut in the morning is just too much.
Ok, waiting to head to the airport…ciao, until we are back on American soil.  Xoxoxox.