Rome
Avoid tourist menus, they say. It was definitely easier to stick around the big landmarks and eat in the historical center, but our favorite places were away from the multitudes where “menu turistico” is considered an abomination.
We found out about the Testaccio area the day before we left Rome and we literally went to town. Testaccio is a foodie’s dream where you come to eat real Roman food, with real Rome locals, made by real Romans.
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- Mordi e Vai in the Testaccio market serves sandwiches made to order by owner Sergio Esposito based on his family original recipes.
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- Hubby’s meaty sandwich was so good I almost cried—braised beef with sauteed ciccoria (bitter greens.) I had the Roman style artichokes served on ridiculously fresh bread with slivers of Pecorino Romano. Yup, I ate it before I snap a pic!
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- The true definition of Dolce Vita. Pasticceria Barberini in Testaccio is heavenly.
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- Away from Rome center. Close to the Vatican and my heart. Gelateria Millenium serves one of the best gelatos I had in Rome.
Links: Pasticceria Barberini in Testaccio, Gelateria Millenium, Mordi e Vai.
Venice
Venice is the most beautiful, picturesque and unique place I’ve ever seen. It’s magical and mesmerizing. I heard about the Venetian rat-swimmers, the rotten smells of the canals and the mediocre overpriced food. All myths, except for the food.
We were deliberately ripped off almost everywhere–but I didn’t care. Venice is Venice. Even still, we managed to eat some traditional specialties and have some euros left to spare on gelato.
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- The traditional Venetian squid ink spaghetti from Trattoria alla Madonna was excellent and reasonably priced.
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- Best gelato in Italy. Period. I wish I could go back in time to eat yet again their yogurt and passion fruit gelato. Gelatoteca Suso.
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- These were the happiest gelato guys in Venice! Gelatoteca Suso.
Links: Trattoria alla Madonna, Gelatoteca Suso
Florence
Florence is simply beautiful. The art. The Duomo. The history. The food. It seems practically impossible to have bad food in Florence. Maybe we got lucky–which makes me love Florence even more– because anywhere the tourists outnumber the locals the odds are stacked against you.
My short love affair with Florence started at first bite. Call me crazy but all the Michelangelos and Boticellis had nothing on the Fiorentine food.
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- Acqua al 2 steak was so good. Cooked in a balsamic reduction sauce, this amazing creation takes steak seasoning to a different level. I know the picture doesn’t seem appetizing but this steak was tender, juicy, and the sauce was better than chocolate.
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- The Aqua al 2 strawberry risotto was also delicious and we nearly licked the bowl leaving not a grain to show.
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- Oh this ravioli. Too good. Spinach and cheese ravioli in cream sauce with avocado and pomegranate seeds.
Link: Acqua al 2
Somedays we were just too tired, too hot, too cranky and we ate dinner in our Airbnb home! Shopping local ingredients and prepping some of our meals was one of the highlights of this trip to me. Sure Italy was memorable but nothing made me happier than sitting at the dinner table after an adventurous day, sharing memories and food with the people I love the most!