From The Telegraph: Italy's DIY restaurants turn the tables on bureaucracy.
An old farmhouse that serves up delectable food at absurdly low prices is the new hot-spot for Rome's gourmets, still hoping to dine out well however dire the state of the economy and their personal finances.
But Mario's, as the place is called, is not a restaurant. Rather, it is a home where the owner chooses to cook for guests he welcomes as friends in return for "a small contribution".
Known as a private or fai da te (DIY) trattoria, it is one of a new category of eateries springing up across Italy, a response to soaring prices since the introduction of the euro that have put good food beyond the reach of many people.
An added attraction of such unofficial establishments is that diners can still smoke at the table despite draconian anti-tobacco laws.
Also, running a DIY trattoria often means paying no taxes, as well as evading strict health and safety rules and the requirement for a licence, which on its own can cost a restaurateur €70,000 (£47,000). [continue]
Link found here at Dappled Things.
Posted on July 7, 2005 10:21 AM. Filed under: Italy.