The Top 5 Spots for Cacio e Pepe in Rome You Need to Try ASAP

Cacio e pepe pasta

This blog post was originally posted on February 2, 2019 and was updated on September 8, 2020. Cacio e pepe is the classic flavor of Rome, and one of its best and most beloved dishes. Cacio is Roman dialect for “cheese”—in this case, assertive sheep’s-milk pecorino romano—and pepe is black pepper. Put it all together, […]

Pizza alla Romana: Everything You Need to Know

One of the most delicious forms of pizza alla romana is served up by the slice, making it easy to eat on the go.

Pizza is the stuff of legends, literally. Many trace its origins back to Roman times due to an episode in the ancient poem the Aeneid, written by the poet Virgil in the 1st century BC, which seems to describe the dish. It’s certain that people in Italy and indeed the whole of the Mediterranean have […]

The 5 Best Cheap Eats in Rome That All Budgets Should Try

Pasta Chef is home to some of the all-around best cheap eats Rome has to offer.

Rome is a city full of high quality food bargains. A scoop of gelato is rarely more than €2.50, and an espresso costs about a euro. Street food and pizza are great options to save your food euros, but you’re probably craving a plate of pasta amatriciana and a glass of wine, too. Rome is […]

The Ultimate Guide to Eating Gluten Free in Rome

If you're obsessed with Rome, you know not to add garlic to your amatriciana.

With pizza, pasta and bread around every corner, you might think that eating gluten free in Rome is impossible—but you’d be wrong! Although traditional Italian cuisine is largely wheat-based, there are many naturally gluten-free ways to eat in Italy. For example, secondo dishes (main courses) usually consist of meat or fish cooked simply. But what […]

Our Top 7 Tips on How to Eat like a Local in Rome

When ordering coffee in Italian, remember that most locals in Rome don't drink cappuccino past breakfast.

If you’re visiting the Eternal City anytime soon, there’s just one rule of thumb you have to live by: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. And that goes for dining out too! Don’t stick with the normal tourist fare—immerse yourself in all aspects of Rome’s culinary culture instead! From what to order (and […]

7 Essential Things to Do in Rome (and 3 Not to Do)

Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome

Rome has over 900 hundred churches, fifty monumental fountains, seven famous hills, and countless works of art. We haven’t even gotten to all the different kinds of pasta and wine and pizza and gelato to try yet. There is a famous saying about Rome that goes Rome, one lifetime is not enough (Roma, non basta […]