Ahh.. the city of Rome… what other city conjures up images of pizza, gelato, ancient dwellings and scrumptious Italian delicacies.
The Eternal City truly has it all and along the way in it’s illustrious albeit sometimes turbulent past, the locals have whipped up some amazing dishes and food items that have become… well eternal!
Excuse my cheesiness and let’s get straight into the blog where I list the top 5 traditional Roman food items that you must try on your next trip to Rome!
1. SUPPLI
This Roman street food might look familiar to you, and that’s because you may have one stage crossed paths with it’s older sibling Arancini. In this version, suppli are smaller fried rice balls filled with meat, sauce and gooey mozzarella.
You’ll find them scattered around the streets of Rome inside pizzerias usually, and an insiders tip is that these go perfectly with a nice glass of red!
To try some of the best suppli around, head to Supplizio (an easy name to remember, right?), a street food venue headed up by Chef Arcangelo Dandini who has converted his passion for these fried delights into a full-time business.
While I do suggest starting off with the original filling, be bold and try the other unique flavor combos such as the cacio e pepe suppli filled with Pecorino Romano cheese and fresh black pepper or the burro e acciughe- butter and anchovies!
2. ARTICHOKES
Now I’m fully aware of what you must be thinking at the moment; What do you mean just artichokes, Steph? But trust me on this one.
In Rome, you’ll find there are two ways of serving up artichokes, the traditional Roman way, or the Jewish way which was made popular in the Jewish Ghetto.
Roman artichokes or carciofi in Italian, are stuffed with garlic, herbs and oil before they are cooked in a pan. They are traditionally served warm or at room temperature and have a soft, velvety texture.
Then there are Jewish artichokes which are fried once, and then once more after a resting period to produce a brilliantly crunchy and satisfying dish. You’ll find this version on the menu in and around the Jewish Ghetto but be warned as they are extremely addictive!
3. CACIO E PEPE
Next on the menu, we come across an iconic Roman dish that may sound simple, however, you’ll quickly discover an explosive flavor pairing like no other! The word cacio is a slang word in Roman for Pecorino cheese and pepe just means black pepper.
So yes, the simplicity of this dish which has two miniscule ingredients as the star of the dish may sound boring but it’s really anything but. It’s a creamy dish that locals love, and tourists fall in love with, found on the menus of every restaurant in Rome.
Where can you find cacio e pepe? Well, as I said pretty much anywhere, but the real star is Da Felice in the neighbourhood area of Testaccio. It’s an institute in itself having been around since the late 1930s but its how they serve the pasta dish which adds an element of excitement.
The waiter will prepare the dish at your table before your hungry eyes, adding in the right amount of black pepper and pecorino cheese, tossing it to create a creamy delight. The smell of this dish is amazing by the way! Very comforting and homely with a sharpness from the pepper.
4. GELATO
It’s borderline impossible to walk the streets of Rome and not come across a gelateria. In fact, I would bet a lemon sorbet on it. So while you’ll never lack in quantity the many gelaterias found in Rome, what this does mean is that the quality is quite skewed.
Steer clear of those gelato shops in the center of the tourist hot spots, especially around the Trevi Fountain as you’ll find that the ingredient lists aren’t always as natural as one might first think.
I want your gelato experiences in Rome to be as good as it gets, so venture a little off the beaten path and you’ll discover the creamiest, fruitiest and decadent gelatos there is!
I’ve said this before on another blog of mine, but a good hint to spotting out the real from the fake is checking out the color of the gelato.
You know that when an apple is blended, it loses its bright green colouring and instead is white, right? So if you see a green apple sorbet, a pale, almost white color is what you’re looking for, as opposed to fluorescent green.
Gelateria del Teatro is one of the best gelato shops in the city, which is evident by the lines of locals that wait for a delightful cup of the pure yumminess. Try the Amalfi Lemon if you’re looking for something citrusy and refreshing, or the lavender and white peach for a unique blend of summer and sweetness in a single spoonful.
5. PIZZA
So while pizza wasn’t created in Rome – that title goes to the lovely Southern Italian city of Naples- there is plenty of Roman pizza joints in the city to keep your pizza cravings satisfied. Pizza al taglio, or by the slice, is a popular Roman street food that is the perfect handheld accessory (in my opinion!) when you’re walking around the city.
Where you can find pizza slices? In just about every street food pizza shop or bakery in the street, and it’s a cheaper alternative to when you would sit down and eat a whole pizza.
For a perfectly hot slice of pizza straight out of the oven, visit Antico Forno Roscioli, a family who have got this street food down to an art, with their dough being rated among the best in Rome!
*Side note on this: you’re looking for a crisp dough that is thin but thick enough that it will hold its integral structure. This particular bakery may go light on toppings, but you’ll find that’s the best way to really taste the light base, which is arguably the start of the dish.
But let’s talk about toppings! I think the best way to go about it is to get one slice with traditional toppings, maybe a marina with a zingy sauce, cheese and herbs and then get another slice with ingredients that you may have never tried before, or at least not on any pizza!
What’s an example of this? CasaManco is a new kid on the block in terms of pizzerias but they’re offering up seasonal toppings that have become the talk of the town. Why not give their oranges, smoked provola and bacon pizza a try? The combination of salty and sweet is the perfect way to step out of your pizza comfort zone!
After all that pizza, you may need some time to digest and what better way to do this than on a Historical Rome Walking Tour with Sightseeing Tours Italy!
They’ll take you around famous attractions in Rome like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona, giving you tidbits of information about the local legends and historical facts about the Eternal city.
Pizza slices with a little bit of history thrown in? Sounds like my perfect afternoon! How about you?
Check out Rome City Tour for all the tours in the amazing Rome!
About the Author
Carolina Burgio is a travel blogger based in the fantastic Melbourne. Carolina is the owner at Life Well Travelled.
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