Latium

The cooking of this region reflects the influence of three important groups. The Jews settled in Rome two thousand years ago and have contributed a vast number of recipes, including carciofi alla giudia (deep-fried artichokes), mullet with raisins and pine nuts - served cold as a Sabbath dish - and endives with anchovies. All these dishes can be tasted not only in Rome's Jewish ghetto, Trastevere, but in restaurants throughout the city and region.

Amatrice is known worldwide for its magnificent contribution to cooking: it is the original home of the Spaghetti all'Amatriciana. This pasta is a staple in Roman trattorias, but it is so popular that is actually made all over the Italian Peninsula. Of course each region has its own variation; some add onions, carrots, or celery, ingredients that are absolutely forbidden by the inhabitants of Amatrice. Many put bacon or pancetta but the real recipe calls for guanciale, a cured meat from the cheek of the pig. Pancetta is still good but bacon should definitely be avoided because it is already smoked and gives the dish a totally different flavor. Every August, the first Sunday after the 15th, Amatrice hosts the Bucatini all'Amatriciana festival, and the delicious dish can be savored on the town's streets while sipping wine and dancing to local music.

Another characteristic is the tradition of the quinto quarto, a legacy of Rome's slaughterhouse workers who created a wealth of dishes based on entrails, such as coda alla vaccinara and rigatoni con la paiata; these can be savored in Rome's Testaccio, the neighborhood where the slaughterhouse used to be. While stracciatella is the region's most famous soup, pasta with lentils or broccoli is frequently served. Artichokes are cooked alla romana, with mint, parsley, and garlic. Sweets include wine-based ciambellette, sweet fava beans, cornmeal-based pangiallo, maritozzi, tozzetti, zuppa inglese, and a sweet ricotta pie. One of the region's most famous cheeses is Pecorino Romano. Latium's wines include Frascati, Est Est Est, Fiorano, and Aleatico di Gradoli.