Before arriving in Rome, I was super excited to learn that I would live in the Monti neighborhood (hidden away between two busy main streets: Via Nazionale and Via Cavour).  

While its not as well known as the Piazza Navona or Campo de Fiori areas or as trendy as Trastevere, Monti is featured frequently in the local and international press for its unique boutiques and bars.  

Its also a short walk from the Colosseum and Imperial Forum.   

In ancient times, the neighborhood was considered to be of ill repute and was not part of the city proper.  Now it attracts locals and expats alike, but hasn’t lost is small neighborhood vibe.

Italian cooking classes are on my bucket list, but in the meantime, there are some great places to buy fresh pasta to  throw together an easy meal with minimal effort.

At the corner of Via Palermo and Via del Boschetto, I discovered a small shop that makes fresh pasta everyday.  In typical Roman fashion, store hours seem to vary but it usually seems to be open from 8 am to 2 pm on Mondays through Saturdays (also closed most of August for the Ferraugusto holiday).  

A shop attendant will measure out the pasta for you, which is is sold by weight (half a kilo is just a little over one pound).  I decided to try the spinach and ricotta ravioli and made a quick stovetop butter sage cream sauce to accompany it.  

Not to worry if you are just passing through Monti and don’t have access to a kitchen.  There are plenty of options for fresh pasta including Pasta Imperiale, a cute little stand-up place with a couple of tables at Via del Boschetto 112.  You can choose the pasta type and sauce for 5 Euros.  

Or if you are like me and have a tough time when faced with too many food choices, you can just pick one of the pre-set options which include seasonal specials. 

A takeaway container is perfect for sitting at the nearby piazza and watching the world go by. 

The current seasonal specials include tagliatelle with asparagus sauce.  I resisted my typical urge of adding peperoncino (chilli flakes) to everything.