RomaPolacchi

Giada invites some of her family members to help her cook some of her favorite recipes from growing up in Rome . Giada and her aunt debate the finer points of pancetta and wine sauce in Bucatini all'Amatriciana while enjoying Fritto Misto with a lemon mayonnaise as they cook. The classic Roman dishes turn out superbly and the cooks have a great time. See more episodes from her new show on Saturdays at 1 pm and Mondays at 4:30 on the Food Network .

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.

Delta Airlines is offering a non-stop flight to Rome from JFK for $647.00 November 19-26. Just in time for your Thanksgiving vacation. Maybe instead of turkey at your in-laws this year you should enjoy a nice saltimbocca alla Romana in the Piazza Navona!

San Francisco got a taste of Italy today when Giada came to Williams-Sonoma in Union Square. The Modern Traveler braved the two hour line to meet Giada and get her newest cookbook, Giada's Kitchen , signed. Giada is just as fabulous in person as she is on television-and even more personable. Find out when Giada is coming to your town !

On November 3 at 10:00 am the Food Network will air Molto Mario: Trastevere on a Sunday . Join Mario Batali in Rome for a gastronomic stroll through one of Rome's most interesting neighborhoods-and learn how to prepare some of Rome's most interesting dishes. Fried zucchini blossoms are destined to make an appearance. If you can't wait for the show to try the recipes, see the Food Network for a preview.

If you missed Giada de Laurentiis' specials on recipes from her hometown this past May and July, you can get the recipes on the Food Network's website. The two episodes featured recipes from her childhood in Rome, including deep-fried artichokes and gnocchi and swordfish with citrus pesto inspired by the lemon trees growing in the backyard of her family home. For more recipes based on Roman standards and Italian favorites, see the Food Network on-line or watch her show, Everyday Italian , weekdays at 4:30 pm EST. A new show, Giada at Home , premieres October 18 at 1:00 pm, and will feature Giada's expansion into cuisines other than Italian.

Yes, you love her recipes-but it's really her cute smile and sense of style that make you such a fan! Well, you have the chance to meet Giada in the flesh-she's going on a tour to promote her new cookbook, Giada's Kitchen , which was just released today. Check her website for the calendar of her book signing appearances and get your copy of the book signed by Giada herself!

Not far from the Campo dei Fiori and Largo Argentina is a restaurant that specializes in traditional Roman fare-and teaches anyone willing to learn how to make it! Renato e Luisa (Via dei Barbieri 25) is run by Renato Astrologo, a native Roman who learned the meat business from his butcher father. Renato has taken many of the old-fashioned Roman recipes and lightened them up for today's lifestyle. You can find out how to do the same on your next visit to Rome by emailing him at info@renatoeluisa.it. See a recent article in Tastes of Italia magazine for a personal account of the cooking lessons.

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!

Are you dreaming of the baked artichoke hearts ( carciofi al forno ) that you had on your last visit to Rome? What about your favorite Roman risotto? The food of Rome is distinct within Italy, and the Italian restaurants in the U.S. will rarely feature Roman dishes. So you can do the next best thing until you return to Rome-make it yourself! The cookbook Roma : Authentic Recipes from In and Around the Eternal City by Julia della Croce features contemporary recipes from Rome and the region surrounding the city, Lazio. In addition, she provides informative sections on Roman wine, cheese, typical Roman ingredients, and even some restaurant suggestions for your next visit. My favorite recipe, rigatoni with broccoli sauce, uses an unexpected secret ingredient-anchovies! Roma: Authentic Recipes from In and Around the Eternal City