Roma Eats Food Tour – A review

After researching food tours in Rome, I decided to book with Roma Eats Food Tour Experience. I chose the Vatican tour because I really wanted to visit a quieter part of Rome to taste the local favorites with a local. We spent the morning with Stefano, a friendly Roman archaeologist and food lover. 

We met at a hidden bar at 9 am. Once everyone had arrived (there were only six others in our group), Stefano introduced us to cappuccino and cornetto – a classic Roman breakfast pairing. Sweet and small.

Afterward, we headed around the corner to the Trionfale market. Trionfale market is the biggest in Rome. Since it’s outside the usual tourist area, it’s still popular with locals. During the two-hour walk, I didn’t notice any other tour groups. Mostly older men and women doing their weekly shopping. 

While we strolled, we drank some vino out of plastic cups. It was just past 10 am. The locals were crowding around the stall with their empty liter plastic water bottles. The lady in the stall filled their bottles with wine straight from the barrel. 

Pasta

To start, fried pasta. We visited a pasta counter where they had pasta shapes from Rome and the rest of Italy. Stefano explained which were the local shapes and that a lot of people from the rest of Italy live in Rome. That’s why this shop caters to all. We tasted fried risotto balls, suppli, and fried gnocchi. I could’ve popped those little guys in my mouth all day long. 

Buffalo mozzarella

Just opposite the pasta counter was the cheese counter. A match made in heaven. Stefano advised us to take a buffalo mozzarella ball and pop it straight in our mouths. This was unlike any mozzarella ball you’ll get at an American supermarket. It was plump and juicy. The creaminess matched with the slightly chewy outer coating and salty brine were exquisitely balanced. 

Olive oil

We spent some time at the olive oil counter tasting the many flavors and learning about the olive oil-making process. I even bought one to take home, the chili and garlic flavor was my favorite.

Tomatoes

Just behind the fruit and vegetable stand, we prepared ourselves bruschetta with tomato and olive oil. Far better than that at Dar Poeta. 

Butcher

Before leaving the market we stopped by the butcher to taste the Parma ham and a few other kinds of cheese. Lucky for us, it was Saturday. Saturday is porchetta day. They only make porchetta on Saturday when they know the market will be busy enough to sell every bite. One of my favorites.

Pizza al taglio

We left the market for some pizza al taglio, pizza by the slice. We tasted the classic pizza rossa, pizza with tomato sauce and the seasonal specialty, a white pizza with zucchini flowers and sausage. I loved both. Pizza al taglio might be my favorite thing to eat in Rome. 

A visit to a pasta factory

A real highlight was our visit to a pasta factory. Normally closed to the public, we were able to step inside and even taste some of the raw ravioli – pumpkin and ricotta. It was incredible to see the pasta makers hard at work. 

Gelato

The last of the highlights was the pistachio gelato. I recently had the best pistachio gelato in Murano, Italy. This one is a close second. They definitely used salted pistachios, making the sweet and salty combination just delightful. 

Rooftop view over the Vatican

To end the tour, we enjoyed a rooftop view overlooking the Vatican. The entire day, we weren’t able to see the cupola. Stefano had explained to us in great detail that this was actually intentional. During the city planning, they made sure the cupola was out of sight to protect it. It was exciting to finally get to see it from a beautiful rooftop in the midday sunshine. 

I’d definitely recommend a tour with Roma Food Experiences. Sure, you can follow my list and probably taste almost everything I did during the tour, but it just won’t be the same. The history and culture mixed with the tastings are what make this tour worthwhile. Wandering the market with a local is always better than wandering on your own.

Try to take the Roma Eats Food Tour on day one or two of your visit to Rome. Stefano and the other tour guides he works with are always willing to share tips beyond the tour. He gave us his personal phone and told us to call him anytime during our trip. 

We found some great places to eat in Trastevere based on his recommendations and our own wandering.