Arrivederci Roma!

Today marks the start of my final week in Rome. I have come to love it here and in particular, have really gotten used to the Italian diet. I would like to spend my last food blog dedicated to Rome on the dishes that I have tried and loved that are so near and dear to Rome. For those of you who have never been here, these are things you'll find on multiple menus around the city, and those traditional dishes that you really won't find anywhere else, at least not done well.

Penne alla arrabiata. This pasta dish, one of the first I tried in Rome, has a little bit of a kick to it. It's like pasta with a red sauce only the sauce has a bit of chili pepper in it. I hope I can find it at home!

Suppli! If there is one thing I wish I could stuff in my pocket and bring home with me it would be suppli. You can see my entire blog post about this blessed snack, but in short, it's rice, tomato sauce, and cheese all deep fried :) 

Porchetta! While it is really native of Ariccia, a small town just outside of Rome, this pork is really worth mentioning. The pig is deboned and then cooked with spices whole. It's best on a sandwich and its so tasty its even good cold! Num num num

Carbonara. If I had to pick one dish that was a major staple of Rome this would be it. We even learned how to make it in our cooking class! It's pasta with a special sauce made of egg yokes, cheese, and panchetta (bacon). It took me the longest time to finally order it off a menu but let me tell you, don't turn up your nose until you try it!

Roman artichokes. While I am not a big fan of artichokes as a rule, it's important to note that it's a big deal in Rome, literally on every menu, and they certainly know how to do it right. Your best bet is to visit a small neighborhood trattoria, and you're sure to get the best artichokes money can buy.

Bucatini all'amatrciana. It's a mouthful to order, yes, but if you like carbonara you'll LOVE this dish. Along the same lines, the sauce is made out of tomatoes, panchetta, and cheese. Where can you go wrong? I'm also convinced that panchetta just makes anything taste so wonderful that I will probably want to add it to just about any dish when I got home.

I wanted to write this blog today more for sentimental reasons than anything else. It's nice to have one comprehensive list of all the truly Roman things I've tried...and also a comprehensive list of all the things I'm really going to miss!

Leave the Gun.....Take the Cannoli

I spent the past few days visiting Sicily, more specifically the city of Palermo. In my final trip to Southern Italy, I have truly realized just how different the are is in culture, architecture, and food. I never usually like to eat the same thing twice, to give myself the opportunity to try lots of things, but in Sicily I did have to make an exception. That food worthy of an exception......the Cannoli.

Cannoli started as a Carnivale treat in Palermo and have now grown to be so popular that they are offered all year round. Many places outside of Palermo, including Rome, advertise "True Sicilian Cannoli" in effort to lure customers in with the "real deal". Cannoli have spread just like the Sicilians themselves and are now found all over the world, including in some bakeries around the USA. I must admit I've had them before at home and never found them so "to die for" that they were worth the hefty fee. Well in Sicily my friends it's a totally different story. Not only are they so good you can't pass a pastry shop by without picking one up, but they're also made here, and cheap! I found a small size one for just 70 cents and a large one with candied fruit for only 1,80! It's amazing what happens when you eat things where they originated. There are millions of recipes out there for cannoli. I can't tell you which is the best, because lets face it, the best thing to do is hop over to Sicily and try the real thing for yourself. However, I've found one here that seems fairly authentic and if nothing else teaches you to make the outer wafer parts well, so that you can fill them with whatever you please (sometimes as we all know the best way to make something you'll never replicate is to just use it to create something new yourself). Feast your eyes on my pictures below and then book your ticket to Palermo!

The Best Meal You'll Eat in Rome......without saying a word

For my Food and Media class this semester, my group has been creating a documentary about Fresh Food Markets and how many restaurants in Rome still use these markets as their primary places to buy ingredients. We have been working in Campo di Fiori and with a restaurant called Trattoria Der Pallaro, just steps away from the market. We found the restaurant listed in a Rick Steve's Travel book, and little did we know that after just 6 hours of filming with the owner Giovanni, we would fall in love. Giovanni and his wife own this tiny place that Giovanni and his father have built from the ground up. They have lots of love to share and Giovanni is probably the most adorable little Italian man I've ever seen. This past Tuesday, we were finally able to eat dinner at the restaurant. It was an experience I will never forget.

First it is important to know how the place works. There is no menu, just whatever they are serving that day. As a sign in their restaurant says, "You will eat what we want to feed you". The menu is given to you at a set price and you enjoy your meal family style. And what a meal it is.....

Our antipasti consisted of bread, olives, cheese, prosciutto, salami, lentils, and assorted fried meat and rice balls. That was just the appetizer. I had a hard time restraining myself to eat a normal appetizer portion because everything was so delicious. I have never been a huge fan of lentils but I must say, I had no problem dumping them on a piece of bread and scarfing it down.

Next came the primi, we were given a dish full of pasta, but split between two kinds. Half was the Roman traditional Carbonara, and the other half was a simple pasta with red sauce. I have tried lots of Carbonara in Rome, including my own home made, and I must say this was hands down the BEST I've tasted. The pasta with red sauce was also delicious and I had no problem clearing my plate. And I loved that I got to try a few different things and even though I was eating a lot, at least I was trying multiple things.

The secondi was a selection of meats, vegetables, and potato chips. Since potato chips are pretty much my favorite thing in the world, I couldn't turn down this fresh, homemade goodie. I was also able to try both of the meats which were different, but perfect all the same. Amongst the vegetables was also the traditional Roman artichoke, and Trattoria der Pallaro probably has the best there is.

For dessert we had a homemade tort, the kind we were also able to taste in our filming, so we knew what was coming. I was more than happy to swipe the extra piece for the table as well as my own. After our dessert we were given a small glass of fresh mandarin juice to cleanse the pallet, and of course you can't forget about the red wine and water that was always available. While the meal did cost us 26 euro, a little more than I normally spend for a meal, it was worth every penny and I would even have to say I would pay more for the wonderful experience and the even better food!

Focaccia, Pesto, and Focaccia with Pesto!

I spent this weekend hiking in Cinque Terre. Now the scenery itself is so beautiful that quite frankly, the food could be terrible and it would still be one of the most visited places in Italy. But since it is still a part of Italy, the food is in fact fantastic as well. Cinque Terre is located in the region of Liguria, with its closest  major city being Genova. Genova is known for quite a few regional food specialties, the most popular of which are Focaccia bread and Pesto! You barely have to go 2 steps before you can find a store on the street selling either pesto or fresh from the oven Focaccia bread. You can even find these things at a Tabacchi!

Focaccia bread, as found throughout Italy, is usually just made with bread (similar to that used for pizza) with herbs and oil. However, Focaccia bread near Genova is a whole new beast. You can walk into any given place on the street and find dozens of varieties to choose from. Some include meats, some cheeses, some vegetables, some a mix of everything, and even some with pesto!

One of the greatest things for me to discover about Focaccia bread, after scarfing it down all weekend long, is that it really isn't all that difficult to make. There are tons of recipes out there, just google Focaccia recipe and you'll find something good, but this is one of my favorites. You can see a brief description on this page, then click "Get the Recipe" at the top for the list of ingredients and procedures.

Is your mouth watering yet? You're looking at Trofie with Pesto, a dish that can be found on literally every single menu in this region. The pasta, as well as the sauce, is specific to this region and they really know how to do it right. I will admit I am not much of a Pesto person in general, but after tasting the real deal, I may be turned pesto lover. I love this particular description and recipe for the dish so it is something you can try to replicate at home. They even include pictures of how the pasta is twisted and made so you can try it yourself if you can resist the temptation to just buy it from the bag. It's a tricky pasta to make by hand, and for me I prefer to enjoy it in a restaurant who knows what they're doing, but there are a few good youtube videos available to help you along if you're brave enough.

For those of you more like me and may just be interested in making the pesto, the food network offers a good recipe I've posted here. Signing off from the land of Columbus.....Eat well and enjoy your pesto!

Pizza Pizza Pizza!

This past weekend I visited the Cilento Region of Italy with my school group. The entire purpose of our trip was to be immersed in the Mediterranean Diet and boy I'd say we did just that. 3 days, and about 10 pounds, later, I feel like I have a grasp on how pizza, pasta, and cheese play a role in the Mediterranean Diet.

Aside from some sightseeing, everything was based around food. We visited two Mozzarella di Bufala farms and were able to taste it and see just how it was made. I was on Bufala overload by the end of the trip but even now I will say it truly is fantastic.

We also were able to visit a sea port to see fisherman bring in their fresh catch of the day. I was able to try a shrimp and it was the freshest, most delicious thing I've probably ever had. It's easy to get grossed out by the barely living fish, but the fact of the matter is that people come to the port to by them like this and then cook them right away, giving them the fresh, tasty, and good for you meal that has kept them so much healthier for so many years.

And now the pizza. I had pizza a grand total of 4 times in 3 days and I can't even say that I got sick of it.    At first glance I could not imagine how pizza could be good for you, or such an integral part of such a healthy diet but if you do it right, it is actually a great choice. Even this article will back me up, and talks about pizza preventing Cancer! Good thing I had tons of it this weekend then. We visited a pizza factory where we were able to see how it was made and try about 5 different kinds of pizza with various ingredients and types of dough. I also got adventurous and tried a pizza with a fried egg. Being adventurous certainly paid off as it is one of the best things I've ever had! (and don't worry, I do realize that I claim every new thing I try is the best thing I've ever had).

I must say, knowing that all this pizza, Italian style of course, is so good for you, I am really interested to get a recipe from my cooking teacher. I could get used to having an Italian style pizza for a meal and calling it a healthy choice!

From Pizza to Paella: A Trip to Spain

Taking a break from my usual talk of Italian food, I spent this past weekend in Barcelona, Spain...where pizza and pasta come right from the box, but fish is served fresh from the source. So, I did my best to consume only Spanish food and as much seafood as possible. And let me say by making this choice I was not disappointed.

For my first meal in Spain, lunch in fact, we went to a small cafe on the water. Since it was warm weather I went for a tuna fish salad, something nice and cool. It was not as I was expecting...like a tuna fish salad would be at home, but it was even better. As shown below, the tuna, so fresh I could barely stand it, was served on tomatoes and a bed of lettuce and onions. Even though the heat can sometimes take away my appetite I ate every last bite.

For dinner that same night I kept with my stand and we ate at a seafood place. The name of the restaurant was Somorrosto, and I have my Let's Go Europe Book to thank for finding such a great place.

The first thing to understand about Spaniards is that they eat their dinner very late, even by Italian standards. We got to the restaurant around 9:30 and had to wait and were not seated until 10:15....because the restaurant was so crowded. Even then, people were still sitting down to start their meals as late as 11:30.  To read more about Spanish eating habits, take a look at this great article from Spanish Lifestyle Magazine. Anyways, once we were seated, we were quick to order pan con tomate....a starter of bread with tomatoes, and a pitcher of sangria to share.

My friends ordered ravioli with brie cheese and shrimp and I ordered a sauteed prawns dish. As I ordered the waitress looked at me hesitantly saying it was a starter dish and may have less than 10 prawns. I'm not sure about you but  where I come from 10 prawns is a feast. When I got my meal I found that the prawns were the size of a small shrimp, but there were still 16 for me to enjoy, clearly an entire meal. I could barely finish it in fact, but the quality of the seafood was far too good for me to leave some on my plate. I would certainly recommend this place to anyone visiting and would also recommend trying these dishes or something like them. The pan con tomate is found just about everywhere and is an essential starter or tapas choice.

My second day I explored two long standing Spanish traditions, tapas and paella. Fof lunch, we stopped at a cafe on the street and ordered paella. While we ordered chicken, or mix, paella, the dish started in Valencia containing seafood. Paella has much history behind it and it's important to understand before you can look into the food of Spain.

For dinner, we had a friend who is studying in Barcelona take us to an authentic Catalan tapas place. I ordered Cava to drink, a Spanish sparkling wine, and was able to munch on all sorts of traditional dishes that our entire table ordered. The entire concept of tapas was very interesting to me, and I especially loved experiencing it at a place where we had to ask for recommendations....because they didn't have an English menu.

If there is one other thing to take away from this experience, besides the incredible food, it is my new outlook on food media. The friend who brought us to the tapas bar had found the place on a food blog.  A Catalan women had posted about her favorite places and it has now become a go to place for an international student. I keep this blog up weekly, talking about my food experiences, but it never occurred to me to use this platform in reverse.  While clearly my opinions can never compete with a locals, it is interesting to really start to think of all the ways digital media can be used to spread food traditions around the world. With this blog, I set out to compare the food in the United States to that of Italy, and various other countries a long the way. I think now I have found a very important similarity, tradition. Whether its tapas, pizzas, or burgers and fries, there is always something to talk about. I guess you can say I had my break through today. And maybe when I am back in the United States I'll pay a little more attention to how it all works ,and to participating in American traditions I've never even heard of........

Gelato Showdown

MMMMMM gelato. Before your mouth starts watering too much.....I've decided today to shed some light on the gelato scene in Rome....and let people know there is more than the number one place listed in guide books to find fantastic gelato. In fact, I may have found a place to top it.


Giolitti.....known all over Rome as the best place to find Gelato. Dozens of flavors to choose from, a massive size small cone, the option for cone or cup, and the perfect location just steps from the Pantheon. Seems to have it all right? I would agree with you...until I met another contender. While I still give Giolitti its well deserved props for number of flavors and the option of cones ( I am a cone person myself), I have to say I may have found my new favorite pistachio in town.


Introducing.....Il Gelato di San Crispino.

Located just steps from the Trevi Fountian...another quite ideal location....San Crispino takes us back to the way gelato should be done. They have a limited number of flavors....but they are all done perfectly. The gelato is kept in tin canisters and covered...giving off a professional vibe...not to mention authentic. They only serve in a cup here....this is simply to preserve the flavor of their gelato. I must admit I've been spoiled by the number of options other places, however what they do have they do right. San Crispino is definitely the place for fruit lovers and for those who prefer to step away from the run of the mill chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

You can feast your eyes on pictures and all sorts of information on these two places here:

Giolitti

Il Gelato di San Crispino


When in the mood for pistachio, I will be doing my best to head back to San Crispino. However, when I'm ready for some chocolate or just really craving my cone, there really is no place like Giolitti. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to find a contender to Giolitti. I now have more than one option for finding fantastic Gelato. But don't let my thoughts sway you....try them both to decide who really has the best selection, the best prices, and the best pistachio in town.

Seven Days Without Pizza Makes One Weak

Does this apply to you? Pizza lovers around the world I invite you to listen up and start to drool as you hear about one of the most famous pizzerias in the world, Antica Pizzeria Da Michele.

This pizza place is located in the birthplace of pizza, Naples. At any given time you can find nearly an hour  wait to get one of these pies. They sell just two kinds, margherita and marinara, both traditional pizzas to Naples. If you think that sounds awfully plain, its clear then that you haven't tasted it. While you can read much of the history on the website, and I won't bore you with it here, it was started in 1906, is a small, traditionally run place, and they use only the finest ingredients. If you are lucky enough to get a seat in the first room, which I was, you can see them make the dough, add the ingredients, and put the pizzas in the oven, take them out, and put them right on your plate. Be prepared to sit at a shared table, wait in crazy lines, and maybe even eat your meal on the quick side, but I promise you you will not find a better pizza.

If my pictures aren't enough to have you convinced, maybe you'll trust Rick Steves, along with authors of various other guidebooks, who list it as a top place to go. Without buying his book, you can see what Rick has to say here on youtube. Start the video at about :49 if you're not interested in what he has to say about the streets of Naples.

Also, those of you who are avid readers or movie goers may recognize this place as mentioned in the book turned movie "Eat, Pray, Love". Julia Roberts, or her character, attends this pizzeria in Naples to get the feel for the birthplace of pizza. You can see the clip, also from youtube, here.

If your ever anywhere Naples, in Rome or somewhere you can sort of consider close, there is no place better for pizza. Don't worry, you can easily fit The Pompeii Ruins and a pizza in all in one simple day trip from Rome. We did.

Venice...the land of tourists, water ,and seafood!

While I won't get too much into the touristy things, I must comment that Venice is a magical city and you simply must try and make it there once in your life. Nothing can compare to the feeling of walking off the train and expecting a crowded street, and getting a canal instead. Pictures and stories really cannot do it justice so while I realize I am about to tell stories and show pictures of Venetian food, trust me you should just go see for yourself.

The first thing I will say is to never, in any city, underestimate the power of a picnic. Italy is famous for its cold cuts and cheeses, and of course wine, so I highly recommend taking the time to have a picnic Italian style. We went into a little meat shop and bought some salami and cheese (Asiago and Pecorino) and some potato chips as a side. I had brought a bottle of wine with me from a vineyard visit, so the last stop was a local Forno for some fresh baked rolls. It was perfect to enjoy inside or out, and after ordering in Italian, the owners spoke no English, I felt truly Italian even if just for one meal.

Now on to the big stuff. SEAFOOD! There is no shortage of it in Venice and you can find some of the best around if you know where to look. We stopped at a place near the Rialto Bridge that advertised for its attentive selection of fresh seafood. We were not disappointed. I split the grilled Sea Bass and potatoes with my mom....while my dad enjoyed a spaghetti and clams dish.

The history of seafood in Venice, and the role it played in their trade empire is something to read about. While again, I can say stories cannot do it justice, you can get a good sense of the Seafood culture in Venice here. I hope you enjoy the stories and pictures, but mostly I hope you can make it there to try for yourself!

Forget the Art.....Let's talk about Food!

While Florence is known for its wonderful selection of art and leather goods, I toured both major art museums and spent way too much money on leather trust me, I was most surprised by the great food! I suppose when you think of Tuscany as a whole you think food and wine but it didn't always register with Florence in particular. It didn't take long for me to think of Florence as food and wine as well. I spent two nights in Florence, thats 6 meals, and I didn't have anything close to a "just ok" meal. For lunch, I experienced my first Olio, a little bar that sells sandwiches and the like. I had the luxury of sharing and got to eat half of an eggplant sandwich and half of a salami and cheese sandwich. There were different bread options as well as the option of a side of fries. I was proud to have ordered for myself and my parents entirely in Italain, and was even prouder of our food selections (see below).

Our first dinner allowed us to sample the staples, each of us had some version of beef a la Florentine....and none of us were disappointed. You can read this article to get a grasp of what the "a la Florentine" really means and how a dish is prepared in this manner. Of course we also had to have the classic Chianti wine of Tuscany with our meal, and based off of my wine tasting training, however limited, I was able to taste the true Chianti flavor and enjoyed the wine near the place of its origin.


Our second dinner experience was much different, but fun and exciting. We signed up for a 3 course "meal deal" including wine, water, primi, secondi, and side for a flat fee. This small trattoria style restaurant was perfect to capture the small town feel and I felt like I was eating in a true Italian kitchen. The restaurant also permitted street musicians to enter the restaurant so we got to listen to some nice accordion music while enjoying our meal. Between the three of us eating, we were able to capture a good sampling of traditional Italain dishes. Tortollini, Penne arrabiata, and spaghetti bolonese as well as Tuscan sausage, chicken, and pork chop. We left this adorable little place fatter and happier and ready to rave about the food of Florence right along side the art and the shopping.