Fall in love with Roman cuisine as you enjoy la dolce vita in Italy

The popular Roman dishes of today have little in common with ancient Roman cooking. In fact, ancient Roman cuisine was shaped by necessity, simplicity and the Mediterranean climate. The upper classes enjoyed a varied, sophisticated diet with exotic ingredients such as spices sourced from all corners of the empire. The ordinary people on the other hand consumed a diet largely based on locally available ingredients such as grains, legumes and vegetables along with olive oil, wine and honey.

Celebrations were always marked by a feast with a variety of places, always with a focus on seasonal produce, cured meats and cheeses. They even invented the first kind of iced dessert, like ice cream, by mixing snow from the mountains with sweet fruit and honey. Today, there are some inner city restaurants that serve ancient Roman dishes and of course, if you are looking for an interesting souvenir, a bottle of Conditum Paradoxum, or mulled wine, is a great way to remember your trip.

Roman cuisine stands out among Italian cuisine for its simple, hearty recipes, many of which have originated from the working classes. Since work requires strength, the dishes are tasty and full of energy. 

While pasta is present, the best Roman dishes often contain offal, a nod to the cuisine’s humble origins. Back in the day, offal was called quinto quarto, the "fifth quarter”, and was the cheapest part of the animal. Some workers were even paid in offal. While it is not the most sophisticated food, when it comes to Roman food and drink, it sure will keep you fueled to explore all the things to see in Rome.

Of course, the history of Roman cuisine is fascinating, but what is even better is tasting its delicious flavours. Be sure to make a list of all the Roman dishes to try so that you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive. Just make sure to keep some room in your stomach for pudding as there are many tempting sweet treats for you to try. 

This plate is probably the most well-known of all Roman pasta dishes. But don’t be fooled by the recipes you have tried at home. The real Spaghetti alla Carbonara doesn’t contain bacon, mushrooms, parmesan or cream. It only has three ingredients: beaten raw eggs, guanciale (an air-dried bacon made from pork cheek) and Pecorino Romano (a smoked sheep's cheese from the region). Who would imagine that these simple ingredients can create such a delicious dish? 

If you like spicy tomato pasta, you are in luck. This classic Italian pasta dish originates from Rome and the sauce is a combination of tomatoes, garlic and red chillies. This is then poured over penne pasta and garnished with a sprig of parsley for a finishing touch. Since this dish is on the hot side, it has been given the name Arrabbiata which comes from the Italian arrabbiato which means angry. Yet, it is virtually impossible to feel angry when the food tastes this good.

You may be familiar with the antipasti (starter) culture in Italy, but in Rome, they take it to the next level with delicious recipes like Suppli al telefono. This is a type of croquette that has been filled with rice, tomatoes, meat and mozzarella. 

The name suppli comes from the French word for surprise and telefono was added due to the strands of mozzarella that form as you take a bite, reminiscent of old telephone cables. 

Rome has historically had a very affluent Jewish community with many traditional Roman dishes adapted from Hebrew ones. After being expelled from Spain in 1412, many Sephardic Jews settled in the Italian capital and brought their dishes with them. One of which is Carciofi alla giudia which literally means Jewish-style artichokes and these are fried in olive oil and cut into the shape of a rose.

As the name suggests, this dish translates as Roman tripe. Veal tripe to be specific. This is cooked together with tomato sauce, calamari, pecorino romano and roasted vegetables. It is not uncommon for tourists to mistake this as a pasta dish thanks to the shape of the tripe, but this recipe is pasta-free.

A marriage of pasta and offal, this is Roman traditional food at its best. Rigatoni is a large tube-shaped pasta which, in this recipe, is paired with pajata which is the small intestine of an unweaned calf, fed only with its mother’s milk. This simple dish is cooked in tomato sauce and topped with a generous sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese. 

Widely considered one of the most refined dishes in Roman cuisine, despite its humble origins, Coda alla Vaccinara is braised oxtail cooked with vegetables, celery, herbs, spices and sultanas. This is a real winter warmer and an ideal dish to enjoy in between sightseeing during the autumn and winter months.

Think pasta, cheese and pepper and you have the basic ingredients of this star dish in Roman cuisine. Tonnarelli is a fat spaghetti made with fresh eggs. Meanwhile, Cacio e Pepe translates to cheese and pepper. So this famous Italian dish is actually pecorino cheese mixed with the cooking water of the pasta, tonnarelli and of course, freshly ground black pepper. It's these simple pleasures that make you fall in love with Roman cuisine. 

Now that you know what to order, it is time to explore the city. As you can expect, Rome is home to many noteworthy restaurants, but of course also many tourist traps. The trick?  Do as locals do and make a beeline for the most traditional and authentic neighbourhoods. You will know where to find them as you will be guided by the heady smell of delicious home cooked food and the streets will be adorned by clotheslines hanging haphazardly over the narrow alleyways. 

One of the best places to start your gastronomic adventure is the Trastevere District. Stroll along its narrow, cobbled streets full of character and lined with the most typically Italian trattorias and restaurants. Yet it is not all Roman cuisine here. This area also serves up a fusion of international flavours, all with an Italian twist. 

Keen to step off the tourist track? Set your GPS to the neighbourhood of Garbatella in southern Rome. It is a far cry from the Rome you see in the holiday brochures but rest assured that here you can enjoy a truly local ambience and delicious Italian cuisine. Another district known for its traditional cuisine is completely off the beaten tourist track. Look out for the traditional trattorias serving typical Roman food.

Rione Monti is closer to the centre of Rome and is the oldest district of the city, near the Colosseum. Whether you are in Rome with friends or solo travelling, spend your day sightseeing around Rome, checking off all the must-see, important monuments then head to the picturesque area of ​​Suburra, just a stone’s throw away. Here you can admire the beautifully conserved old buildings, the lively charm, quirky shops, quaint bars and popular trattorias where we can enjoy authentic Roman cuisine. What’s not to love?