Dolce Forno Naima — Local services in Genoa

Probably the best focaccia I've ever had in my whole life. And trust me, I've had plenty!

I was in Genova for a day trip and I really wanted some focaccia. I ended up here because Google told me to and I'm so glad it did.

When I entered, they were literally taking out of the oven a new tray of focaccia with stracchino cheese (for non-Italian people: it's a fresh soft cheese you can only find in this country and once you've had it, you'll never be the same ever again). The smell was so good, I had to stop and order something!

The two gorgeous women working there were the best. Not only we had some genuine laughs while serving a constant flow of customers coming in, but they took the time to guide me through all of their choices of focaccia with kindness: classic, with olives, with onions, with stracchino, with pesto, even farinata, torta verde, and polpettone!

If I had three stomachs and a couple of hours alone in there, I probably would have cleared the store. Instead, I just settled for an unhealthy amount of various types of focaccia.

The classic focaccia is authentic perfection: thin, oily, and with that thin layer of saltiness that just makes it special. You can't buy enough of it! The focaccia with stracchino (otherwise known as Focaccia di Recco, but this is off-brand because it's Genova not Recco so they can't call it that) is bliss on a tray: it slides right inside of you with ease, making you feel undiluted joy with every bite. The focaccia with stracchino, ham, and potato slices is excessive in the best possible way and I loved it for that. Finally, the focaccia with stracchino and pesto: this is what heaven is made of. When I'll pass away, I want to be buried inside this focaccia. I want to be preserved for eternity in cheese and olive oil. When aliens will dig me up, they will know I had impeccable taste and I died happy. I don't care what your dietary restrictions are, you must have a slice of it. Or more than one, actually! Honestly, I regret not taking more of it but my liver is very happy I didn't.

The old port is a few steps away, if you plan to come here (as you should) just sit on a bench and enjoy whatever you'll end up buying. Especially if it's a sunny day, just go, eat something indulgent, enjoy a simple moment of happiness... you can think about your waistline another day....

Being an amateur baker and lover of bread I went on a self-guided focaccia sampling tour, trying focaccia from 6 different places back-to-back in the area (there are a lot). Based solely on the focaccia, this was the winner! It was crisp on the outside, while slightly soft and doughy on the inside, with just the right amount of oil. When you ripped off a piece with your teeth, more bread came with it as it stretched a little like mozzarella cheese because it was so fresh and elastic. My only complaint, it was so good it left me...

Nel cuore del centro storico di Genova, a pochi passi dal porto, si cela un piccolo scrigno di bontà: il Dolce Forno di Naima. Gestisco un B&B e, senza esitazione, invito sempre i miei ospiti a varcare quella soglia: perché qui la focaccia non è semplice pane condito, ma un rito, una promessa mantenuta, un’esperienza che resta. Prima ancora del profumo che avvolge, colpisce l’attenzione all’igiene: il locale, seppur raccolto, è immacolato; le mani che servono non toccano mai denaro e impasto nello stesso gesto, perché rispetto e cura passano anche dai dettagli. La focaccia viene offerta con delicatezza, tagliata con cura e destrezza, come se ogni fetta fosse un piccolo dono.E che dono è! La focaccia di Naima si distingue con eleganza dalla folla indistinta di forni che spesso cedono a compromessi e oli di bassa qualità (come olio di sansa, spesso quasi la norma a Genova). Qui, invece, ogni morso è sincero, fragrante, limpido. Non a caso, le sue creazioni sono imitate, talvolta maldestramente, dalle focaccerie vicine, ma l’originale resta inarrivabile. Se volete vivere un momento quasi mistico, non potete privarvi di una delle focacce di Naima. L’ambiente pulito, la gentilezza e l’accoglienza calorosa fanno da cornice a un’esperienza che profuma di...