Top Popular Foods of Rome

Everyone knows that when taking a trip to Italy, half of the fun is in the food. While it is hard to find a truly bad meal in Italy, not every restaurant in Rome is serving up top quality fare. Here is a list of 10 must-try foods while visiting Rome and a few pointers on where to get them at their finest.

First things first. Start out the day as the Romans do with an Italian sugar and caffeine bomb.

1. A delicious espresso or cappuccino at the Tazza d’oro bar near Rome’s Pantheon or another reputable coffee bar.

Cappuccino with a heart designed by my favorite Roman bartender

2. The perfect accompaniment to that coffee is without a doubt the bomba con crema. Though it may look like your run of the mill sugar donut with cream inside, there is so much more to it than that. These are best when fresh, so before you buy one ask how long ago they were made. If they have been sitting there for more than half a day, don’t waste the calories on it and wait for some fresh ones!

One bite of this bomba and you will be changed for life

After you have done a bit of sightseeing in Rome and you are ready for a savory meal, below are some essential tips for eating well in Rome.

3. mozzarella di bufala – this milky white ball of love is a wonderful appetizer along with a good quality olive oil, a little salt, and some fresh cherry tomatoes or Rughetta (arugula). Mozzarella is best served at room temperature, so if you buy some at the local market make sure you leave it out for a few hours before eating. At a restaurant it should be served at room temperature.

When it comes to mozzarella, bufala is best

4. Culatello di Parma – Much like the Prosciutto di Parma but an even more selective cut. Pure food of the gods – at 40-45 Euro per kilo you will only need a slice or two to realize why. Do not stuff it into a sandwich as to do so would be sacrilege. Savor it by itself. Buy it at a good quality deli, and be sure that the color is on the light side as in the photo. The darker the meat, the lower the quality.

At 40 Euro per kilo, Culatello is worth its weight in gold

5. Bucatini all’amatriciana – a true Roman classic. This dish is made with guanciale, or pig’s cheek (some restaurants substitute pancetta which is also good) in a tomato sauce and sometimes with a bit of peperoncino. My favorite is at Vecchia Roma, a restaurant that resembles an ancient Roman cave and has been serving this dish up for decades. It comes inside an opened wheel of Pecorino Romano (not parmigiano!) cheese and is blended inside the wheel in front of your table before serving. 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- A more fattening version of the Amatriciana (hey, you're on vacation). Instead of tomato sauce this is made with a creamy sauce made of egg and cheese. Vecchia Roma also makes a delicious carbonara.

How do Italians eat like this and stay so thin?

7. From Turin to Trapani, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has been adopted as a staple food for Italians Used to top pasta, pizza, and even on its own, only 100% natural ingredients are used to make this wonder cheese. If you get the chance, try some that is aged 24 months and enjoy it on its own before grating it onto pasta or anything else.

In Italy, Parmigiano can even be used as collateral for a mortgage

8. Gelato - No matter what time of year it is, gelato is always in season in Rome. At any given time, one will see Italians enjoying a delectable cone of cioccolato, pistacchio, nutella, or any of the hundreds of flavors put on the earth to tempt us. When looking for a great gelateria, it's best to stay away from tourist stands and chain gelaterie.

Gelato: how to choose?

9. Cannolo – Originating in Sicily, the Cannolo has now invaded the world. Try to find a Sicilian bakery such as Ciuri Ciuri located in the Monti district and you will understand why Cannoli have Italians and tourists alike fully addicted.

Italian cannoli with chocolate chips

10. An anytime comfort: hot chocolate. A cioccolato caldo in Italy is something you must experience before leaving. On a cool day, find a bar that serves hot chocolate from a machine that keeps it churning. If you are concerned because your spoon stands up straight when you dip it into the cup, rest assured and know that you have a winner.

Italian hot chocolate (a.k.a. hot pudding).