Bezoeken van Mr. Foodoso bij Lievito Francesco Arnesano

We were there for the maritozzo. Lievito di Francesco Arnesano was on our list for a while, everyone said it was one of the best in Rome. Four people, Tuesday morning, breakfast.

Let's start right away with the sore point. The maritozzo with cream, which was the reason we were there, disappointed us. And quite a bit. The size has shrunk compared to how we remembered it, the cream was scarce and above all whipped too much, almost buttery, heavy. The dough? Perhaps a touch overcooked, not airy enough. The sweetness was right, that yes. But we're no longer talking about a maritozzo that makes you raise your eyebrow. It's become an ordinary maritozzo, and for one that had the reputation of being in a league of its own, that's a problem.

The pizza, though, still kills it. Excellent, well executed, at the highest levels. No complaints there.

Oh, the pain au chocolat. It won us over halfway: airy dough, well-crafted, but the chocolate inside was almost a ghost. The two sticks weren't even distinguishable. A real shame, because the foundation was there.

Five euros per person for breakfast in Rome, that's always fine. Only when you pay for breakfast that's supposed to be special, you want it to be special.

Would we go back? For the pizza, yes. For the maritozzo, for now, we'll see.