Among all the wonderful experiences available on a holiday to Rome, the cuisine is one of the most delightful. Whether you’re staying in a traditional apartment or a design hotel, Rome provides a range of mouth-watering dining options - from first-class restaurants serving elegantly simple specialties to market delis bursting with locally produced antipasti. For those seeking to make the most of the city's unique cuisine, here are some ideas to get you started. Sample the Local Specialties Traditional Roman cuisine is based on the principles of simplicity and bold flavours, and carries the distinctive tastes of ingredients from the surrounding region. So while the dishes can be recreated elsewhere, the most authentic Roman cuisine is that which can probably be found around the corner from your design hotel. Rome is known particularly for its pasta and meat dishes. In the former, traditional sauces include well-known ones like carbonara and alfredo, and others you may not have come across before such as amatriciana (made with tomatoes, pecorino cheese and guanciale or cured pork cheek) and gricia (a simple sauce made with olive oil, pecorino, garlic and pancetta). Pork and lamb are the most popular meats, and are served richly spiced. A favourite desert is crostata di ricotta, a cheesecake made with ricotta and dried fruits. A Taste of the Ancient The tastes of the ancient Romans may seem strange in some regards, with roasted dormice, live fish and nettle mash being a far cry from what’s likely to be on the restaurant menu at your design hotel! Rome’s founders did, however, come up with some delicious delicacies, including meat dishes flavoured with plenty of savoury spices, and desserts using fruits such as figs, quinces, and medlars. There are ‘archaeological’ restaurants where traditional dishes from the classical era are recreated, so those who are curious can try them. For those who prefer something tried and tested, there is one delicacy that the whole modern world can be sincerely grateful to the ancients for – gelato, an early version of which was enjoyed by the Roman Emperor Nero. Take the Flavours Home If, in your time staying in a design hotel, Rome has given you a taste for the flavours of the Roman table, the best way to recapture it at home is to stock up on authentic ingredients such as olive oil and locally grown herbs, at the end of your stay. Open food markets are a grand old Roman tradition, and make a great place to wander and soak up the colourful, bustling ambience, while browsing the treats on offer. The city’s most popular market, Campo de Fiori, is hard to beat for the range it offers, while there are plenty of smaller ones which are great for atmosphere, and are good way to source a picnic lunch while out and about in the city. Looking for a great hotel in Rome? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for Worldhotels, a company offering top class accommodation in a design hotel, Rome, as well as a selection of unique four and five star hotels around the world.
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