I know I haven’t been with you for a while (more on HeartRome-hits-USA later) so thought I’d come back to you with a bit of a bang.
Be warned: these pics might make you want to hop on a plane and join me in Rome immediately!
Today I attended Taste of Roma – a festival of food, showcasing some of Rome’s best chefs.
The three day event was held on the grounds of the Auditorium (about a 10 minute drive north of the historical centre) and featured cooking demonstrations, tastings and stands hosted by 10 Rome chefs who prepared 3 plates each. Some of these dishes at respective restaurants would cost upwards €30-40 so the chance to try them at a cost of around €5 per plate doesn’t occur too often. So plates created by the likes of Roy Caceres (Metamorfosi), Heinz Beck (La Pergola) & Cristina Bowerman (Glass & Romeo) enjoyed on the lawn at a bargain.
On recommendation by a foodie friend who attended last year, I purchased the premium ticket at €55 which was all inclusive (as opposed to the standard €16 entry fee and pay-as-you-go option).
This afforded us a little VIP treatment with prosecco on arrival, 3 tasting plates, a glass of wine, a coffee to wrap things up and a cookbook – but not just any cookbook, the ultimate Italian Cucchiaio d’Argento: Ricette Regionale (a regional Italian cooking encyclopedia if you like!).
A surprise highlight was the Romeo ape (a little 3 wheeler truck) – the outpost of Cristina Bowerman & Roscioli brothers’ Prati restaurant – which is set to become a foodie fixture on the streets of Rome. Serving up the best panini in town, I had to go back for a second pancetta one!
Gratefully, the scheduled rain held off while we ate and drank to our hearts content.
And here’s the evidence (sans a few items I didn’t photograph because we couldn’t resist devouring in seconds):
Heinz Beck (La Pergola)
Spaghetti cacio e pepe with lime marinated prawns
Stefano Marzetti (Hotel Splendide)
Fresh saffron pasta filled with ossobucco served with a smoked cacio e pepe cream
Arcangelo Dandini (L’Arcangelo)
Polpette served with rosolio and roast pepper mayonnaise
Cristina Bowerman (Glass Hostaria)
Matriciana filled ravioli with crispy guanciale
Arcangelo Dandini (L’Arcangelo)
Mustard and sweet spice rabbit sandwich
Well organised and patronised, this was foodie heaven at its finest.. With more combined Michelin stars you can count on one hand, are there better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon?
Signing off (finally back in Trastevere)
Baci, Maria
