Ciao!
Last weekend I went to Rome. The purpose for my visit? To eat local foods. When the opportunity rose, I decided to book my train tickets and accomodation with a friend and spent two days and two nights wondering around Rome mainly walking, eating and drinking. To me this is the definition of a perfect holiday.
In this week’s Merenda newsletter I share what and where to eat and drink in Rome.
Cari Saluti,
Emilia in Bologna
Breakfast
A walking distance from our Airbnb is the infamous Il Maritozzaro a local neigbourhood bar making Maritozzi: a type of brioche bun filled with whipped sweetened cream. I had never tried one before and thought this would be the perfect spot to try my first maritozzo. Luckily we were two, so we could share our first one. I really enjoyed it. It’s a fluffy, airy bun, and they fill it right under your nose with whipped heavy cream. They also did versions with an additional spread of pistachio, Nutella and custard on top of the maritozzo.
There’s history of the Maritozzo dating back to Ancient Roman times, and there are several stories of its origins. The etymology of the word maritozzo comes from the word marito (husband). Stories tell it was given to the husbands made by wives for a meal, but and also to future brides as a symbol of love. Either way, today the maritozzo is a perfect, filling dessert and a sweet way to start your day.
Where to find it
Il Maritozzaro, Via Ettore Rolli 50, 00153 Rome
Check their Instagram page here
Street Food for lunch
It was great to have two full days, as we could try different types of foods in between breakfast and dinner. I tried Suppli for the first time, a local roman street food which is filled with rice, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. It’s the perfect little snack to share or have as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Another classic street food we tried was the roman pizza. We found this place in the Monti neighbourhood, and tried a selection of different types of pizzas. You pay buy weight, so it’s convenient to choose several varieties. My favorite? The Carbonara one. Pizza della Madonna is part of the Slow Food movement.
Where to find them
Suppli Roma - Trastevere
Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137, 00153 Roma
Pizza della Madonna dei Monti
Via della Madonna dei Monti, 110, 00184, Roma
Dinner
My first meal I had in Rome, was dinner at a classical spot in Trastevere Trattoria Da Teo. My local friend had recommended it, but I didn’t have a reservation. Fortunately, I managed to get a table around 9:45 after a 25 minute wait, which was a the perfect time to go for a little walk and drink in Trastevere.
To start with, I ordered the carciofi alla giudia, the fried artichoke which was delicious. Da Teo is known for its carbonara, which was really good but a huge portion. As we were two, we decided to share the Amatriciana and Carbonara. We didn’t have room for any mains, but for dessert our kind waitress brought as two small dishes off menu. A small tiramisu and a whipped mascarpone cream with strawberries was the perfect way to end our first meal in Rome.
Where to find it
Trattoria Da Teo
Piazza dei Ponziani, 7, Rome, Italy
Drinks
Looking for a spot to grab aperitivo in between walking and meals? Head to the Bar 404 Name Not Found. I give them extra points for serving my go-to order Spritz Misto with an olive, (which is typical for a Campari Spritz).
Tira e Molla
Located in Tuscolano Nord, head to this atmospheric outdoor bar for after dinner drinks.
A Fantastic Modern Restaurant Recommendation
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