10 Things I Love About Rome

We’re bringing you a flavour of culinary hotspots around the world by asking chefs to tell us about their favourite places. Here, Mitshel Ibrahim of Ombra, in London, shares his food experiences of Rome

- Mitshel Ibrahim

Anyone who knows me knows that the way to my heart is through pizza, pasta and fried food. Even though I’m from Milan, it’s Rome that really does it for me, food-wise – the fact that they do so much with very little draws me in every time. But it’s all interlaced with tradition, history, and a crossover of cultures from different regions of Italy and the city’s Jewish settlers. The amazing produce available and the number of unique dishes on offer make it a truly incredible destination for food lovers – Rome is a city that I can never stay away from for too long.

1 When you think of Italian food, pizza is one of the first things that comes to mind. Italians love all sorts: there are those who prefer it ‘rossa’ (no cheese), those who like it ‘bianca’ (no tomato), those who swear by Neapolitan-style, and those who prefer it Roman. Roman ‘pinsa’ pizza is made from wheat, rice and soy flours, and is slightly thinner than usual, with a much crispier bottom. With more water and less salt than traditional dough, pinsa is lighter, airier and easier to digest. Toppings range from the classic tomato, oregano and olive oil, to more inventive slices, such as courgette, fresh ricotta and lemon zest.