Every meal was an adventure during our time in Italy, and we found some unbelievable flavors that we’ll never forget, and one dish we won’t be ordering again.
Margherita pizza in Naples
Naples is the birthplace of pizza, so we knew we had to do it right. We found a small pizza joint tucked away in a tiny alley overflowing with the delicious scent of pizza ovens. The crust was thin and airy with the perfect amount of char. It was topped with sweet tomatoes that tasted like they were picked fresh from the garden that morning and creamy melted mozzarella. My husband turned to me after one bite and said, “How are we ever going back to regular pizza?”
Spaghetti alla Carbonara in Rome
We thought we knew what carbonara was supposed to taste like. Then we went to Rome. Their version is way different than what we both had. First off, there is no cream, like in the American version. The sauce is actually made with egg yolks, pecorino cheese, and the pork is guanciale instead of bacon. The sauce was rich and creamy with a hearty bite every time we sunk our teeth into the salty pork. I asked for it to be topped with Parmesan and was given a look that spoke volumes: “Oh sweet tourist.” My husband hasn’t let me live it since.
Florentine steak in Florence
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my husband’s eyes sparkle quite like when the porter brought our bistecca alla Fiorentina to the table. It was huge, crispy on the outside and rare on the inside. Drizzled with olive oil, we ate the most expensive steak of our lives at a casual restaurant filled with Italian patrons. I tried my best to finish my half, but thankfully my husband devoured his with the appetite of a true Italian and proclaimed it “the best steak of his life.”
Arancini in Sicily
Arancini were one of our favorite snacks in Palermo. We picked these fried crispy rice balls up from a street vendor while shopping at the city’s bustling markets. The arancini were filled with ragu, mozzarella cheese, and peas, still steaming when we bought them. So good, we bought more on our way out. Eating these arancini while dodging vendors yelling and scooters zooming by was the most Sicilian thing we’ve ever done.
Cacio e Pepe in Rome
We knew we had to try cacio e pepe while in Rome and it ended up being one of our favorite dishes we had while in Italy. It seemed so simple with just four ingredients: pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and pasta water. Yet it was so flavorful and comforting. We ordered it at a traditional trattoria located just outside the historic center. It was made fresh and served hot. The sauce was creamy and coated every piece of pasta, but there was no cream in it whatsoever. We definitely understand why locals are so proud of this iconic pasta dish and will order it again on our next visit for sure.
Tiramisu in Venice
We had to try tiramisu before leaving Italy, and eating it in Venice made it extra memorable. We ate it at a small family-owned cafe. It was light and creamy with soft coffee-soaked ladyfingers and topped with just enough cocoa. It didn’t taste overly sweet like some we’ve had in the States. Instead, it tasted fresh and delicate. We could see why this dessert is so famous and will definitely order it again if we find ourselves in Italy. Sharing our tiramisu overlooking one of Venice’s lesser canals was such a perfect moment that will stay with us from our trip.
Gelato in Florence
We got plenty of advice: stay away from gelato that’s piled high in display tubs; you want gelato that’s served fresh. So we headed to the gelateria that was recommended by locals. We ordered pistachio and stracciatella and dug in. The texture was creamy like velvet, and the flavor was clean with an intense punch, not too sweet. My husband even announced pistachio was his new favorite flavor.
Sea urchin pasta in Sardinia (the one we’ll never eat again)
Sea urchin pasta was recommended by our server as a local delicacy in Sardinia, so we had to try it. The dish arrived tantalizingly, a light orange sauce topped with fresh parsley. But upon the first bite: dry, crusty, and ultra-intense.
We both tried to swallow more down, but it just kept getting worse. The server came over to see how we liked it and we just sat there awkwardly nodding like it was delicious because we didn’t want to offend him. Lesson learned: just because something is a delicacy doesn’t mean you’ll like it.
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