As I have said before, there is no better way to begin a vacation than with a foodie adventure. Rome is no exception. As soon as I arrived in Rome, I followed my own advice and went straight to the meeting place for The Roman Food Tour, located in the Trionfale district. Find out why you should not miss a Rome food tour and why I chose the one that I did.

Roman Food Tour

When I searched for the best food tours, I found The Roman Food Tour. I was particularly interested in their foodie tour of Rome’s neighborhoods. You should always venture outside of the touristy areas to discover hidden gems.

What to Eat in Rome

Or should I call it food in Italy. It is no surprise that food plays a major role in Italian culture and society! Italians love to go for dinner or lunch, have aperitivo with friends, or simply chat with the bartender over a morning coffee. Sunday lunches provide a great opportunity to gather the whole family together. Most visitors crave Italian food, but they often fall into tourist traps and eat mediocre food instead of authentic, delicious food.

Rome’s food tour is both a culinary and cultural experience. You’ll learn about the history of the dishes, the origins of the ingredients, and how to select a good bottle of wine at the supermarket. All of this information is valuable and will help you stay well fed throughout your vacation. You’ll know where to eat and what to eat when you arrive in Rome.

You may not remember the beauty of some of the things in the museums but you will talk about your food tour in Rome for years to come!

A foodie tour in Rome step by step

La Pasticceria Sizilian was the meeting place for our Taste of Trionfale tour. Wasn’t this typical Roman food we were talking about? The truth is, Romans like most Italians prefer a sweet treat with their coffee in the morning. It is worth visiting a Sicilian pastry shop, no matter where you are.

Our guide, Lucrezia met us outside the café and we sat down at the table reserved on the terrace. Isn’t having coffee on the terrace of a Rome hotel in December enough to warrant a trip to Rome? These small group tours are great, especially for solo travelers. It’s easy to talk and feel included.

First stop – Italian breakfast

We began the tasting with a cup of coffee and a cannolo. Our server filled the cannolis with ricotta. It is important to not buy cannoli that are already filled. Ricotta cream makes the cannolo squishy. Choose a location where you can fill them right away to get the crispy texture.The best Cannoli is filled right on the spot

Lucrezia was a Milanese who moved to Rome and loved Italian flavors and food. She taught us about the Italian coffee rules.

Pizza al taglio

We went to a pizza place, but it wasn’t just any pizza. It was Roman-style al taglio . Pizza is the most popular street food in Rome. Pizza can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or as a snack. It is also a great late-night dinner. Pizza is cut with scissors and weighed. If you want to eat near the Trevi Fountain, for example, then it will be one of the more expensive options.

We stopped at Bonci Pizzarium – one of the top places in Rome to get sliced pizza. Gabriele Bonci’s pizza is so popular that there’s always a queue in front of the first shop he opened in Trionfale.

It’s impossible to get bored of the pizza. They serve it every day with different toppings. We ordered three types of pizzas and a suppli.

Suppli is a deep-fried ball made of rice and tomato sauce. These are a popular Roman snack. You can find them filled with meat, cheese and pepper.

We chose kale, potatoes, lard and greens for our pizza. It’s not your usual pizza is it? It’s a unique experience. You can choose your favorite flavors after trying different ones. I didn’t use the lard because I had stopped eating meat some time ago. But I really liked the other flavors. It’s funny, I would never have thought to use potatoes on a pizza, but it worked.Pizza al Taglio with the finest ingredients

Third stop on the Rome foodie Tour

We walked from the pizza to La Nicchia Café. La Nicchia was a place you would never find on your own. It is tucked away, in an area where there are few tourists. It was early in the morning and we were the only customers. Our table had already been set up with a sampling platter. Lucrezia led us through the tasting explaining each bite and its origins as well as its place in Roman or Italian cuisine. Artichoke is a popular food in Rome but few tourists get to taste it.

Then, we learned how to distinguish between green and red pestos, and that only one ingredient makes a difference. Next, we had cheeses with truffle honey, parmesan and white truffle cream, followed by the black truffle. Also, we were spoiled with balsamic vinaigrette that was 30 years old and some of my favorite prosecco. La Nicchia also has a gourmet store where you can purchase all of these delicious delicacies.La Nicchia Cafe, Rome: Gourmet tasting

Trionfale Market: The heart of food in the neighborhood

Trionfale Market was the reason I chose to go on this food tour. I’ve been to other food markets around Italy, including Rome. They are always great. Trionfale is not a tourist destination. Locals shop here every day. You can find everything from fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and fresh pasta to bread. This is a foodie paradise.

Three tastings are available at the Roman Food Tour market. Caprese was our first dish, made from fresh mozzarella and drizzled in olive oil. We then tasted Melanzana ala parmigiana, which is a Sicilian dish of baked eggplant with parmesan. This dish is only prepared for special occasions. Two types of local wines were also sampled: a red Cesanese and a white Vermentino. These are the typical wines that Italians drink with their everyday meals.The freshest mozzarella at Trionfale Market

Lunch with the Roman Food Tour

We finally reached the final stop on the tour. A proper restaurant not too far from Trionfale Market. You’re right if you think that you have already eaten too much to sit down and eat lunch. Bring some food with you if you’re going on this tour.Tiramisu at Il Giardino del Gatto e la Volpe

We were given the option of choosing a pasta dish. Amatriciana, Carbonara (typical Roman Pasta), or Gnocchi Quattro Formataggi. The gnocchi was too rich for me, as we had a Tiramisu surprise waiting. In Rome, you can’t refuse a Tiramisu.

Information that is useful

Although there is some walking involved, it’s not a long tour. The meeting point is near the Cipro Metro Station on Line A. The last stop is nearer Ottaviano Metro Station. Useful tips on public transportation in Rome can be found by clicking the link.

At any point during the tour, you will be within 1 km of the Vatican Walls. But I’d recommend a lighter rest of the day. After all that food, I doubt you’ll feel like going to the Vatican.

Booking Options

Book your foodie tour of the Trionfale area here. There are a couple of other food tours offered by the Roman Food Tour that you should check out:

I would choose a Sunset Food Tour at Trastevere as my next option

For those who prefer to visit in the mornings, we offer a Food Tour at Night.

Final Thoughts

Rome is probably on your bucket-list. Think about booking a trip to Rome that includes more than the usual tourist attractions. Make the trip unique, go on a food tour or a pasta-making class. Find non-touristy activities to do in Rome, and make an itinerary tailored to your interests.

Disclosure

The Roman Food Tour invited me to join this tour. All opinions expressed above are mine.

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