“Ciao bella! Cosa cerchi? Vuoi un gelato?”
Translation: “Hi beautiful! What are you looking for? Do you want gelato?”
When is the answer to that question ever going to be no?
Gelato and coffee all day? Yes, please! Rome is the paradise of the foodies and the coffee addicts. Whether you are looking for the perfect plate of pasta or indulge on a gelato, I can assure you there is a flavour for you hidden somewhere around the streets of the Centro Storico or between the walls of the lively Trastevere neighbourhood.
Going into the streets of Rome is an overwhelming experience to all the senses; every street has its own history to tell, the city shines as much at night as it does in the daylight, the colours are perfectly synchronised in every corner, and the flavours of each dish create a unique experience.
I have been on a food quest every since I moved to Rome, making it my mission to get my hands on the best food in the city.
Now, I would like to take you through my favourite places bite by bite. Shall we?
Get your daily coffee dose at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè:
Start off your morning right at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè at Piazza Sant’Eustachio in the center of the city. During my last visit I was greeted by Raimondo, who guided me through the summer specials and advised me to get a Romeo & Giulieta with a Arogosta con crema; the dream of the coffee addicts with a sweet tooth!
The Romeo & Giulieta is a cold speciality made with frappé-style coffee, a touch of chocolate mousse and whipped cream on top. The aragosta is a small and crunchy pastry, filled with a soft vanilla cream.
The best pizza in Rome at Da Baffetto:
What would be a visit to Rome without trying pizza in one of its most famous pizzerie.
Mr. Volpetti Idolo, best know as Baffetto, is the founder of this famous restaurant and I was greeted at the door by his staff with big arm gestures as only Italians do the first time I went.
I went to Baffetto for my birthday in March and our waiter recommend the funghi, cipolla e salcicia pizza. This pizza is prepared in a thin crust, glazed with a soft marinara sauce and topped with mushrooms, onions, sausage and grated cheese. You think you know pizza until you try it at Baffeto.
Carciofo alla Giudia at Portico d’Ottavia:
Portico d’Ottavia is a street located in the historic heart of Rome and has many restaurants for you to choose to try the Carciofo alla Giudia. This is one of the most famous dishes of the Roman Jewish cuisine. It is mainly served during spring time. The preparation of the dish is quite simple: the artichoke is deep-fried once to soften it up. Then, the artichoke is cleaned up eliminating the outside leaves. Finally, it is fried one more time and seasoned with salt and pepper. It has a crunchy texture on the outside and it’s soft on the inside. I recommend sprinkling some lemon juice and olive oil on top!
Gelato at Gelateria della Palma:
Your visit to Rome wouldn’t be complete if you don’t have a gelato. Whether you come during winter or summer time, this has to be a must-eat during your visit. I’ve try gelato in many places, but my favourite is Gelateria della Palma in Via Maddalena. This place has over 150 flavours for you to choose from and it is the official ice-cream distributor of the Pope’s favourite flavour: crema del cardinale!
I am more of a tropical-flavours-and-sorbet kind of girl so I went with lemon sorbet, passion fruit and coconut (made with soy milk). Enjoy!
Dinner time! Pasta alla Carbonara at Da Robertino:
This is one of my favourite Italian dishes and this restaurant is well known for it! This type of pasta is a Roman speciality and when paired with a nice glass of white wine, makes for the perfect dinner. At Da Robertino the pasta is cooked al dente and topped with a carbonara sauce made with pancetta, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and a special touch given by sheep’s milk.
Rome has a plate for every palate! Buon appetito!
