Top Ten In Rome- Eat As The Romans Do...

Article provided by When In Rome Tours , a full service tour operator providing Rome and Vatican Tours.

It goes without saying that when traveling to Italy, half of the fun lies in the food. This is precisely why we insist that When in Rome, you should EAT as the Romans do.

What better way to start out your day in Rome than with an Italian sugar and caffeine bomb.


1. A morning espresso or cappuccino at a reputable coffee bar in Rome such as the Tazza doro bar near Rome’s Pantheon.

2. Make room next to that coffee for Italy's bombastic answer to the cream-filled donut: the bomba con crema. While it may look like your run of the mill sugar donut, there is so very much more to it than meets the eye. Best if you can find them still warm (when you can actually smell them from out the door and around the corner from the bakery)!

Try the bomba at Dolce Maniera, Via Barletta 27 by Ottaviano Metro Station

3. Mozzarella di bufala - This milky white ball of perfection is a wonderful appetizer along with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a few cherry tomatoes or Rughetta (arugula). Tip: mozzarella should be eaten at room temperature, so if you buy it at the local market be sure you let it sit for a few hours before you eat it.


4. Culatello di Parma - Similar to the Prosciutto di Parma but an even more select cut. At 40-45 Euro per kilo, it is practically worth its weight in gold (although anyone in their right mind would rather have a block of culatello than a gold brick any day- you will only need a slice or two to realize why). This is not the stuff you want to be making sandwiches with. Buy it at a good quality deli, and savor it on its own.


5. Bucatini all’amatriciana - The pillar of Roman cuisine. This classic is made with guanciale, or pig’s cheek (some substitute pancetta which is also good) in a tomato sauce and sometimes spiced up with some hot red pepper. The best place to sample an authentic Bucatini all'amatriciana is at Vecchia Roma, a trattoria that has been serving this dish up for decades. It is served inside a wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese and is churned about inside the wheel on a cart by your table before it is served on your plate. Vecchia Roma is located at Via Ferruccio, 12/C just a block from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.


Rome's Best Bucatini all'Amatriciana

6. Spaghetti alla Carbonara-For a high-creamability variation of the Amatriciana (who wants to count calories on vacation in Italy?), Spaghetti alla Carbonara is made with eggs and Pecorino Romano cheese. Vecchia Roma also makes a delicious carbonara.


7. While Italians do embrace their own regional cooking, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has become a staple food throughout the nation. Try it on pasta, risotto, pizza, or even on its own. Tip: If you get the chance, try some that has been aged for 24 months and savor its flavor before grating it onto anything.

8. Gelato - No matter the season, no matter the hour, there is never a wrong time for gelato. When looking for a great gelateria it is usually a good idea to stay away from tourist stands and chain gelaterie.

9. Cannolo - Originating in Sicily, the cannoli craze has now gone global. For the best cannoli in Rome, head to a good Sicilian bakery such as Ciuri Ciuri in the Monti neighborhood and you will soon know the meaning of ricotta-induced bliss.


Italian cannoli with Chocolate Chips


10. Hot chocolate (also known as hot pudding). Before you depart, a hot chocolate is an experience you really must have. Certain bars such as the Alice bar on Via delle Grazie right by the Vatican will keep it churning in a machine so that when it is poured, your spoon will practically stand up on its own inside the cup.


Article provided by When In Rome Tours http://www.wheninrometours.com/, a full service tour operator for Rome and the Vatican.

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Why Italian Americans Need to Take Lessons From Native Italians On How to Enjoy Life.

Work, Work, Work..it seems the American work ethic is breaking us down. Get up early, walk the dog, get the kids ready for school, take out the garbage, get lunches ready, be dressed for work, yada, yada yada. In today's times of the American lifestyle, we are being pushed to our breaking point. No time to take lunch, so you eat at your desk while still working on your computer. You don't take a break to digest your lunch so you end up with heartburn till you leave at 6 or 7 pm. Then you get in the car or mass trans. and commute your ass home for another 1/2 to hour or maybe even more if you live in the Tri-state area.

I mean really, when is there time to take care of you and have a peace of mind or tranquil, stress free days...hmmm? Never. Then when you do have a day off its on the weekend and then everything is jam packed into two days..and poof you are now officially run down. Do you know why the health care system and industry are thriving..??? Its because the American population is probably the sickest and most depressed due to work and lifestyle ethics.

We are the most worked with little vacations and no time for family leave, maternity (getting paid is another issue). I mean, really if a woman wants to have a baby she has to worry about if her maternity leave is covered or how well her health insurance will cover it, (if she has health insurance) needless to say things are tough.

Americans are by far the strongest willed, most diligent working force in the world. (in my opinion). We have formed our lives to coincide with the work schedule. Without work we suffer, no work, no money, no freedom to do and buy what you want. So, we have to make some compromises and take what our ancestors have done in the past and still do and implement into our daily lives.

The Italian culture is notorious for living the good life, 'la dolce vita.' This term is used often and its annoying, but by this you should really take the culture and its assets and use them to improve your life here in America. Italians take their time when it comes to eating, they only choose the best of foods when shopping. I noticed here in America, we are very easy to satisfy on quality control and really don't expect much on the quality end of food. We should be as picky as the Italians and demand the best of food and quality for ourselves. Also, the food quality is to blame for much sickness. Eating healthy, good food can make a huge difference in how you feel.

Take the break after lunch, go outside, walk around, inhale the air. Savor the moments. I think every time I am in Italy, I learn something new about taking care of myself. This last time in Calabria really opened my eyes to wanting more for myself in the sense of personal development. Its really hard to explain what those tangible things are..but if you've ever been in Italy you know exactly what I am talking about. The Italians have a great daily schedule with long breaks in between, but if you ask an Italian they would probably find something wrong with their lives and schedules too. I guess we have to pick our fights carefully.

We are lucky to be Italian and Italian Americans, life is short, take the time to grow your personal development, read up on culinary, wine, travel, lifestyle literature or whatever else interests you. Find out what the Italians are up to and how they enjoy their lives, model your own life as they do. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, but in this case just do as the Romans do (period.) We can all learn a little from each other. Tweet