RomaPolacchi

Major foodie Robert Sietsema's series Eat Like A Roman on Gourmet.com is all about the unusual cooking methods of the Ancient Romans and how to bring them into the modern world. Recent articles include an attempt at Roman placenta (which is not that kind of placenta-it's actually a cross between lasagna and cheesecake!), garum (a fish sauce which the Italians still use today and call colatura ), and a simple cilantro, mint and feta salad that you'll want to make for your friends. If you want to attempt some Roman recipes yourself, try Mark Grant's cookbook, Roman Cookery: Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens.

The April issue of Gourmet Magazine spotlights a little-known neighborhood in Rome: Pigneto , just outside the Porta Maggiore (pictured in this engraving by Piranesi). In the past, Italian film directors used the neighborhood to depict a poor Italian village. Now it has been rediscovered by artists and students-and there are great restaurants and bars for you to visit. Gourmet recommends Bar Necci (Via Fanfulla da Ludi 68) for lots of movie memorabilia and the restaurant Primo (Via del Pigneto 46) for roasted pig and linguine with octopus. The April issue of Gourmet is chock full of all sorts of recipes , restaurant recommendations, and gorgeous pictures from all over Italy.

Gourmet Magazine has a show on public television that takes well-known "foodies" around the world to taste and make the most amazing dishes. These episodes are now available on gourmet.com for you to watch at your leisure. The first season's shows include a special on the foods of Italy and Rome. The recipes are also available on the website and highlight two of the best dishes of Italy: fried artichokes and fried zucchini blossoms (pictured above). Enjoy the episode "Italy:Home Cooking" and dream of your next trip to Rome!