In this Rome food tour we will touch on a few of the city's most cherished food traditions, with an emphasis on Rome's revered street food culture as we walk through the historic city center with our docent, a food writer, chef or culinary educator on the hunt for the best coffee, chocolate, pizza, and gelato. 

• Savor traditional Italian street food
• Learn what to eat in Rome
• Visit shops that highlight Rome's rich food culture
• Led by a gastronomic expert 

Rome Food Tour

This walk begins close to the Jewish Ghetto, where we can sample some of Rome's legendary fried snacks. These delicious snacks make up a large part of traditional Roman gastronomy and can be traced back to the Jewish community. Depending on the season there may also be the opportunity to taste carciofi, or artichokes, which are a specialty of the city.

What to Eat in Rome

Though our route through the historic center will vary depending on the season and the interests of the group, we will hit several different local shops that highlight the rich food culture of Rome. Whether it be pizza, coffee, gelato, or biscotti, all of our samplings will teach us a bit more about the tapestry of foodstuffs that are integral to the cultural attitudes and history of the city.

Italian Necessities: Coffee and Pizza

Our time will most certainly include an experience with a coffee (or cappuccino) at one of two historic cafes near the Pantheon. Here, we will discuss the history of coffee culture and its introduction into Italian society in the 16th century. We will also delve into the fierce rivalry between historic coffee shops who go to extreme lengths to safeguard their trademark brewing processes. Depending on the day and weekly roasting schedule, we will have the rare opportunity to observe the roasting process and learn about the sourcing of coffee beans all over the globe.

No Roman food tour is complete without a slice of pizza. Though originally emerging from Naples, pizza, and more specifically, thin-crusted Roman style pizza, is the major player of the city's street food scene. Pizza al taglio, or by the slice, is the epitome of an on the go nosh, quick lunch or late-night midnight snack. At a local pizzeria, we will discuss characteristic varieties, especially the renowned pizza Bianca, together with the common accompaniment to pizza- fritti, deep-fried vegetable snacks.

End on a Sweet note

We will wrap up our walk at a family-run, artisanal gelateria, where the gelato is made by hand using the freshest ingredients sourced from all over Italy. We will discuss the difference between industrial and hand-made gelato and the docent will train our eyes to differentiate ice cream created with chemical additives, as opposed to genuine products. In addition to classics like pistachio and hazelnut, we will try more inventive variations like chocolate and Nero d'Avola wine, and sage and raspberry.