May 1: Italian Labor Day

Saturday was Italy's Labor Day. The markets and stores were closed and workers enjoyed the sunny day at parks and the sea. Not too far from our home, in the piazza in front of the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano, there was an all day (and night) concert.

For May Day picnics a traditional food is fava beans and pecorino cheese. Romans will just set out the fava beans in their pods with a hunk of pecorino cheese. Each person opens the pods for themselves and eats the raw beans with a piece of cheese, probably washed down with some white wine.

Last night we went to a restaurant on the Janiculum Hill and I had their pasta of the day: Schiaffoni with fava beans, pecorino cheese and pancetta. It was delicious!

Schiaffoni comes from the word "schiaffeggiare," which means "to slap." Because of its bulky size, the noodle tends to slap the sauce around on the plate, giving it the name schiaffoni.