Rome Food Tour – Walks of Italy
The Beehive Rome
January 20, 2013
Napoli Italy
January 30, 2013
Campo dei Fiori in Rome
The Rome Food Tour
Our tour was called Rome Food Tour–Markets, Tastings & Pizza Making with Walks of Italy. It included sampling a lot of food, so I’m glad I skipped breakfast that morning. Our group met in the Campo dei Fiori and shopped around for the freshest, most local produce, before dipping fresh bread into olive oil and vinegar, and sampling three cheeses. We visited a family-run meat shop and tasted some delicious cured meats and sausages. We visited a local pizzeria and put the ingredients atop our personal pizzas. We sampled one of the best gelaterias in Rome and finished up with an outstanding cup of espresso.
What we Liked
Walks of Italy is well-known for their small groups and particularly good tour guides. Our guide, Simona, a Roman who, like most, has a passion for food–and also letting us visitors in on the secrets. The difference between the various olive oils and balsamic vinegar I didn’t know about. The varieties of cheeses and what to buy where. And most importantly where to find the best gelato and coffee in the city. Also to note is the fact that Walks of Italy tours are “all-inclusive” meaning there are no additional or hidden fees.
Where it could be improved
The tour description said “pizza making” and while that’s not necessarily misleading, I should point out that you won’t actually be “making” the pizza. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a fun experience in a real pizzeria with a real pizza chef, but all we really did was spread sauce and ingredients on. It is by no means a lesson in making pizza.
The Final Word
Overall our Rome Food Tour was a fun and informative morning out. Our guide was an experienced Roman tour leader and gave us the information we wanted to know. Walks of Italy has got some great connections around this city (and the rest of Italy) and that enhances the experience. The are a reputable and honest company to deal with.
More Info
Walks of Italy has been up and running for less than a decade, but have already gotten the approval of Rick Steves and other top guidebooks.
They run tours in Rome, the Vatican, Venice, Florence, Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi, Tuscany, Umbria, and Milan.
For more info and to book tours visit the Walks of Italy Web Site: http://www.walksofitaly.com/
1 Comment
Congrats on the fine new website!
Thank you for the review.
No place like Rome, my favorite city after Paris, both of which have been my home for a couple of years and summers.
So many people I have met dislike Rome as they are herded or herd themselves in the typical and congested tourist spots, and Romans can be very sarcastic even when laid back–and make New Yorkers and their sensibilities seem almost backward.
It is in off-the-beaten-path places like Trastevere (off-season) and Testaccio that you find the great markets, the locals, and the best food (and Slow Food restaurants), I have found. Campo dei Fiori and other places in Rome are still magical in the summer, as there is always magic in the air in Rome at night, as young men walk arm-in-arm as do young women even when quite straight in orientation. Rome, to me, is as much about sensuality in all its guises as history–Fellini caught it very well in his films from the Satyricon to Roma.
Never been on a food tour, but I have heard good things about this organization.
Keep up the great work.