Eat like a Roman sounds so cliché, right? If you are in Rome you’re at least eating in the company of locals. But, what about actually being welcomed into their home for a home-cooked traditional meal? It’s a concept that certainly falls under the category of unusual things to do in Rome, given that you can’t just knock on doors and invite yourself to the dinner table.
On my recent trip to Rome I gave it a go (not the knocking on doors part, but a pre-planned meal), indulging in a ginormous Roman feast at the home of a local chef / sommelier. Oh, it was delish.
How did we get to eat like a Roman (with a Roman)?
My pals from the Italy travel site Browsing Italy introduced me to this new dining concept by a company called BonAppetour. It was developed by a group of Singapore-based wanderlusters who wanted to create a unique on-the-road experience through a social platform. BonAppetour connects travelers with locals to share a meal, conversation, and culture. Does it get much more soul-satisfying than that?
I booked our meal a couple months in advance. The BonAppetour site is very simple with a huge array of dining options – from traditional to the not-so-traditional – one host in Rome offers a Mexican fiesta. It’s been nearly a year since my last trip to the States, so I was tempted!
I was immediately taken by Alessandro’s dining experience. He is a chef and sommelier so the meal promised wine pairings with the local fare. Sold.
He gave us a list of menu items and we were to select one item per course. Admittedly, I accidentally told my travel pal that we got to pick one each thinking we could try different things. Alessandro was kind enough to make it all since it was my friend’s first time in Italy and my first time using BonAppetour.
Our Roman Feast
Alessandro’s location is near to Vatican City, which was perfect as we were staying in the equally close Prati neighborhood. Upon arrival we were greeted by our new chef friend and his lovely girlfriend (and sous chef), Elena. The weather was warm so they had set up a beautiful table on the patio. We started with greetings and introductions over a meat and cheese aperitivo spread with a glass of sparkling wine.
Antipasti
Bruschetta paired with Five Roses, Leone de Castris 2014 (Puglia), Negroamaro (90%), Malvasia Nera (10%). Fun fact: The first rosé bottled in Italy.
Crostini Romani is made of anchovies and provola (provolone) toasted on bread. It was paired with Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina del Sannio 2014 (Campania), 100% Falanghina.
Primi
Spaghetti alla Gricia is a simple traditional Roman pasta dish of spaghetti, pecorino romano, pancetta, and olive oil. We got a treat because Alessandro used the more decedent guanciale (pork cheeks) in lieu of pancetta. This paired with the Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina del Sannio.
Rigatoni all’Amatriciana, like Spaghetti alla Gricia this is also a common pasta dish in Rome. I love me some spice so I had to go with the Amatriciana because of the heat. The sauce is made with pancetta, tomatoes, and chili pepper. Of course, we got lucky with that more traditional guanciale instead of pancetta (not that there is anything wrong with pancetta!) Paired with Five Roses, Leone de Castris 2014.
Secondi
We had two traditional, simple secondi with two sides: Slices of beef with arugula and cheese. Pork steak in red wine. Served with sautéed beets and a fennel salad with oranges.
The wine pairing for both was Atina Cabernet Sauvignon, Il Podere del Falco 2010 (Lazio). It was fruity and elegant – I suspect my first noteworthy taste of a wine from Lazio.
Dolce
Cheesecake topped with so much fresh and vibrant fruit it was almost difficult to cut into it! (Almost!)
Sweet salami with hazelnut cream; I live in the land of hazelnuts, so when I saw this on the menu I simply had to have it. It was amazing.
In Italy you know you have made friends when the limoncello makes an appearance. Homemade, naturally!
The whole experience was wonderful. We had an opportunity to get to know some locals who are excited to not only share their culture, but learn about others. We felt like old friends by the time we went home. Sadly we didn’t have a refrigerator at our B&B or we would have gladly taken some of the leftover dolce they offered us!
Experience Your Own Roman Feast
BonAppetour operates all over the world with a focus in Europe and a lot of options around Italy. I look forward to trying more dining experiences like these. We’ve hosted winemaker dinners and tasting programs for our wine tour clients, so I might just look into adding Girl’s Gotta Drink as a host!
If you are interested in giving it a try email me and I can send you a credit for 23 euros off your first experience. And, if you find yourself in Rome you simply must visit Alessandro and Elena. They also rent a holiday home near St. Peter’s. Check out their meal options, including fish and barbecue dinners.
Check it out!
See more photos from the dinner and my entire Roman holiday on my Facebook page (yes! Girl’s Gotta Drink is FINALLY on Facebook!)
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Salute!
