If you have the best fortune of assembling Rome-based totally chef Cristina Bowerman, you at once know you’re in the presence of a special person. She has an enviable and dynamic power commensurate with her expertise and power. Even her seemingly handy fashion and well-known fuchsia red hair scream boldness, strong points, and understated self-assurance. The Bowerman experience is cosmopolitan, modern, and – certainly – mouthwatering. Cristina was born to live this existence, but it failed to start in that manner. Born in Cerignola, Puglia, Italy’s south, she constantly dreamt of larger reports and travel.
Her dad and mom despatched her to a global college, and they went on to end up an attorney. However, an American vacation at age 26 would change the route of her lifestyle for all time. After just a few days in the U.S., she phoned her Italian mother and father to tell them she wasn’t coming home.
She enrolled in forensic research at the University of San Francisco and, enamored with American culture, she immersed herself in neighborhood lifestyles. Moving slowly into the eating place zone with a detour in the picture layout, she started running in restaurants. She gained a Culinary Arts diploma at the University of Austin (a famed Parisian Le Cordon Bleu).
In the end, again to Italy, she aims to bring some Italian revel in the lower back to the U.S. And open a restaurant there. But it’d seem destiny had other plans for her. When she changed into providing her first Michelin megastar for Glass in 2009, she changed into the only lady that 12 months, a true trailblazer.
With her restaurant ventures in Rome (such as the 2017 start of the most important eating place space the metropolis has ever seen, Romeo Chef & Baker, Giulietta Pizzeria, and Frigo Gelateria), she is still reducing aspects and pushing culinary barriers in a rustic that is steeped in tradition.
She admires Roman cuisine because it is richer and more complex than what the general public thinks. It uses elements typically known as scraps or even low-end, such as innards, tendons, and even sheep’s milk pecorino cheese—things she loves using in her kitchen.
Bowerman says, “Rome constantly surprises me. Within the last ten years, the city has seen an amazing evolution in the culinary discipline. Besides what we recognize as traveler traps, the Italian capital boasts many superb, best-eating places.”
Here are her recommendations for where to eat and drink in Rome.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
For Roman dining at its most genuine, those ‘in the know’ head to Testaccio. Carved into the historic Monte Testaccio – an artificial hill fashioned by way of centuries of discarding clay amphorae on the site – is Flavio al Velavevodetto, supplying all of the conventional specialties you’d count on from a Roman trattoria. Try the pasta alla Gricia, a Roman delicacies recipe made with three easy substances: guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino cheese, and black pepper.
In Fucina
More than a pizzeria, Bowerman says In Fucina could be defined as a “restaurant that loves pizza.” Located in Rome’s Portuense district, they pinnacle their fluffy, cloud-like pizza dough (made with organic stone-milled flour) with components sourced from nearby artisans and manufacturers.
Salumeria Volpetti is not your average deli. As soon as you walk in, you’re welcomed via an explosion of Italian gourmet forte objects. They have countless wine choices, large buffalo mozzarella balls, row upon row of prosciutto, homemade pieces of bread, and plenty more.
Do your grocery purchasing or grasp a short bite from their deli counter. Volpetti additionally runs Taverna Volpetti, the casual eatery around the corner with a superb Roman-stimulated menu. Osteria Fernanda is the product of chef Davide Del Duca’s large revel in various Michelin-starred restaurants’ kitchens. It turned into his dream to run a restaurant offering handy haute cuisine. Here, the traditional and cutting-edge integrate into Davide’s progressive creations. Try the fairly priced tasting menu or order his incomparable bucatini all’ Amatriciana.
La Baia, Fregene
About an hour east of primary Rome within the beach metropolis of Fregene, La Baia is more than an eating place serving clean, regionally sourced fish with an excellent selection of wines. It’s additionally a traditional Italian seashore club. From 6 pm, revel in an aperitivo at its kiosk bar on the seashore, with notable glowing wines, craft beers, cocktails, and a buffet of exciting international finger ingredients (consisting of vegetarian and vegan alternatives).
