Lazio excels in its culinary offerings, with many claiming it has the best regional cuisine in Italy – a remarkable compliment considering the competition.
The impressive variety of dishes and ingredients is partly due to its central location, having been the heart of a vast empire rich in diversity of races, cultures, and, of course, cuisines. The empire is long gone, but its culinary legacy remains.
That Lazio’s cuisine is a delight is beyond dispute. Dishes like potato gnocchi, Bucatini all’Amatriciana – a type of pasta with tomatoes, guanciale or pork cheek, white wine, and pecorino cheese – Rigatoni alla Pajata – pasta with tomatoes and veal intestines – or the famous Spaghetti alla Carbonara – with cheese, egg, pecorino cheese, and bacon or guanciale – will thrill pasta lovers.
But the list doesn’t end there: Coda alla Vaccinara – stewed oxtail with vegetables – or Saltimbocca alla Romana – veal bites with ham and sage – are also must-tries, although not vegetarian-friendly.
As for wines, perfect to accompany the region’s specialties, Arpilia or Castelli Romani stand out. The Montefiascone Est! Est!! Est!!! has a fascinating story tied to its name: A high-ranking man traveling through Italy asked his servant to mark the doors of taverns with the word “Est” for the best wine. In Montefiascone, the servant wrote the word three times to emphasize the fantastic quality of the wines.
For desserts, Amaretti – almond cookies made with sugar and egg whites – Pupazza Frascatana – a cookie made with flour, oil, honey, and orange shaped like a woman – or Torta della Nonna – made with custard and pine nuts – are particularly famous.