When in Rome: 5 Must-Try Dishes in This Ancient City
Rome’s food scene doesn’t need a hype man, but many people don’t know about the city’s many delicious dishes that aren’t pizza and pasta. Whether you’re visiting this ancient city for a weekend or a full month, you can’t leave without eating your way through these must-try dishes. Here’s what belongs on your plate when you’re in Rome.
Supplì
Supplì are fried rice balls stuffed with tomato-braised meat and a pocket of molten mozzarella in the center. Romans call that pull of cheese “telefono” because it stretches like an old phone cord. You’ll find them at pizzerias and street food counters.
Porchetta
Rome’s version of porchetta is a whole pig, deboned, seasoned with rosemary, garlic, and fennel, then slow-roasted until the skin cracks and the meat inside stays juicy. You’ll find it carved at markets and street stalls, usually stuffed into a crusty roll. It’s casual food by Roman standards, but the flavor is anything but.
Carbonara
Yes, it’s famous. No, that doesn’t mean you’ve had the real thing. Roman carbonara has no cream. It’s guanciale (cured pork cheek), egg yolks, pecorino, and pasta water. The heat from the pasta cooks the eggs into a silky coating without scrambling them. If you’ve only had the cream-based version, Rome will give you the authentic flavor.
Artichokes Roman Style
Carciofi alla romana shows up at Roman tables in spring, but you’ll find it year-round in the city. The whole artichoke contains a stuffing of garlic, mint, and parsley, and these flavors bloom when they’re braised in olive oil and white wine until the artichoke is completely tender. You eat the whole thing, leaves and all, and you’ll never see an artichoke the same way ever again.
Coda alla Vaccinara
This one’s for the adventurous eaters. Coda alla vaccinara is oxtail braised for hours in a tomato sauce with celery, pine nuts, raisins, and sometimes dark chocolate. It came out of Rome’s working-class neighborhoods, where nothing went to waste. The meat falls apart, and the sauce is deep and complex.
Eat Like You Mean It
Even though it’s one of the myths about Italy that the best food is only in the most famous areas, Rome holds its own in the culinary scene, and these must-try dishes prove it. When you’re in this ancient city, give your palate a treat by sampling these and other delicacies. The food might end up being the best part of the trip!
