Many of us are guilty of thinking of the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel when thinking of Rome. Rome is rich with history, so it’s easy to get caught up in all the tourist traps. Why is this important to cookbooks? Well, food is an introduction to culture. Ancient recipes and customs can get lost by more streamlined meals. While looking through The Roads to Rome: A Cookbook (via Amazon; affiliate link) it is apparent this is a homage to all of Rome, not just the parts we are familiar with.
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The cover itself is gorgeous, and the photos inside are equally as jaw-dropping. The dichotomy of Roman culture and food is clearly illustrated in the photography. There are dishes that look complex, luxurious and delicate along side very rustic, almost primitive meals. Basically, it is like you are taking a virtual tour of Rome in the eyes of a local rather than a tourist.
There are stories and recipes scattered throughout to give you a more personalized experience of each region’s particular Italian cuisine. But here’s an important thing to note: Roman cuisine doesn’t come from Rome, exactly, but from the roads to Rome—the trade routes that brought foods from all over Italy to the capital.
All of the recipes are clear and concise throughout The Roads to Rome: A Cookbook (via Amazon; affiliate link.) For some of these recipes, there is an in depth history lesson; some are complex; and some are new classics that will be a part of our weekly meals.
Jarrett Wrisley is a great guide for us as we cook our dishes. By understanding Roman culture in the present and past we are better able to cook these stunning dishes. There’s a larger understanding behind each and every recipe.
I could gush about The Roads to Rome: A Cookbook (via Amazon; affiliate link) all day. It is beautifully photographed and written. There are not a lot of books that do a deep dive in food and culture. I think that’s something to be greatly appreciated. Are there some places that you wish you knew more about their culture and food as a local?
~Kaiti
