How to eat and drink your way around Rome like a local

Image credit: Instagram.com/jessica.saliba

As the capital of Italy, Rome certainly knows how to put on a show when it comes to good food. Famous for many dishes, the city is a haven for foodies wanting to get an authentic Italian experience — fresh pasta, pizza and aperitivo included. And despite all the sights Rome has to offer — walking around the city is like stepping back in time, or, at least back to high school history class — it’s the food that really tickles our fancy. The best way to do it? A food tour, naturally. 

As part of their recently launched ‘Experiences’ option for travellers, Luxury Escapes is now offering food tours all over the world, including Rome. We enlisted the help of Linda Sorgiovanni, one of the company’s expert guides, to put together her must-visit places in Rome. The resulting guide is a food lover’s dream. From exactly how to drink your coffee like a local to the artichoke dish worth swooning over, Linda’s picks go beyond the classic pizza and pasta — although they aren’t forgotten about either. 

COFFEE:
Espresso is a pure ritual in Rome and because the Romans have the best water in Italy — some of the ancient aqueducts are still supplying the city and its 2,400 drinking fountains — they say they have the best in Italy, too! Local coffee favourites include Sant Eustacio and Tazza D’oro. 

When having an espresso, you’ll want to sip your coffee standing up, the way locals do. Coffee isn’t complete without a sweet biscotti. Head to a bakery making original recipe biscotti with raisins, such as Antico Forno Roscioli , one of the only places you’ll find open at 7am. 

Image credit: Instagram.com/mbchoices

EAT:
Typically the main meal of the day is lunch where one eats carbs — so opt for pastas or pizzas for lunch and a protein like meat or fish for dinner. Traditional Roman pastas include carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe, generally made fresh daily when you stop in at a local pasta stand. Try one a little back from the main plazas – there’s plenty of long-running local favourites a stone’s throw from the tourist hotspots.

Pizza bianca in Rome is a local speciality, grab one on the go and walk with it like a local. 

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Savour the traditional ‘alla giudia’ Jewish artichoke, a delicacy in Rome’s historic Jewish neighborhood.

Rome also has a great tradition of fried food. You’ll fall in love with their small bites for snacking, such as delicious fried zucchini flowers 

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Gelato from one of the best local gelato artisans, Gunther Rohregger, can be enjoyed at any time of the day!

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Buying from local vendors is still a beloved ritual in Rome, so be sure to visit the city’s squares and marketplaces to meet the region’s bakers, grocers, cheesemakers and butchers. At the stands, make sure to try mortadella (a light pink, smooth textured Italian sausage) and prosciutto – Italians do cured meats like no other. Farmers’ market Campagna Amica del Circo Massimo is open only on the weekends, but boasts a fantastic array of food including cheeses, olive oil, wine, sausages and truffles. Bring your camera to capture the picturesque displays of fresh fruit and vegetables.

DRINK:
Drop by the hip Tiberino Bar in the district of Trastevere for a classic negroni before dinner. In Piazza Trilussa visit Stefano Caligari’s Trapizzino for a glass of biodynamic local white wine — typical grape varietals includes Ottonese and Malvasia di Lazio.

Combine your sip with a snack by stopping in at a local bar for an aperitivo with bites, then enjoy a later dinner like locals do.

Experience this and more via the ‘Rome in a Bite’ tour by Luxury Escapes. Visit: LuxuryEscapes.com.au

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