My husband and I were giddy with excitement planning our 15 year anniversary trip to Italy. Our first stop was Rome. Of course many things come to mind when you think of The Eternal City...The Colosseum, The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel...but to a couple of foodies, you dream of sampling all the authentic Italian mainstays. So before we booked tours to all the magnificent ancient ruins (and we definitely took in all the sights during our stay!), our first priority was finding the best food tour in Rome, and I think we found exactly that!
Al Geardino del Gatto e la Volpe
The key to finding the best tours of course is research, research research! I found and booked a tour that takes you into the heart of the Prati neighborhood, a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy districts. It was important to us to eat where the locals eat to get an authentic experience. The Roman Food Tour (http://foodtourrome.com/) and Raluca, our guide were spectacular and exceeded all expectations. Not only was Raluca super knowledgeable, but she was so personable, it was like we had been friends for years! We loved getting to know our fellow food and wine tasters throughout the night as well.
Being on a highly rated food and wine tour, I expected great food and wasn't disappointed at all! From freshly filled and dipped cannoli to prosciutto and fresh cheeses to the best pizza I've ever had in my life to homemade gnocchi and ravioli to the creamiest gelato I've ever tasted. On top of that, some fantastic local wines. I'm so glad we got the real Italian experience instead of the typical tourist fare. We even got a recipe for the gnocchi to bring back home and try and it was wonderful....brought us right back to that spectacular night!
So, the food and wine exceeded expectations by far, but what I found surprising was just how much I learned on our 4 hour evening out. Not only about the food, but so much about local culture and customs. I am SO glad we booked this tour for the first full night of our stay. We learned how to order a cup of coffee at the "bar" properly (hint: don't just order a cup of coffee!). We learned how to spot authentic gelato vs the chemical and air-filled stuff they try to pass off to tourists who are more than happy to shell out their Euros on the fake stuff. Helpful tip: The gelato shouldn't look like a big mound of neon colored stuff in the case. We learned to pass on the cannoli unless they fill it to order. But mostly, we took away the love and care the Italians bring to their food. It's an expression of love to cook for someone or to share a wonderful meal. We left with a huge appreciation of the food, the culture and the people. The food and wine tour was definitely a top highlight of our trip and we will be booking a food tour at the beginning of each new destination we visit!
