ABBEY:
Tenuta Torciano New Year’s Eve Dinner €135/person
I have no expectation of what a New Year’s Eve dinner at a winery entails. So off we go to Tenuta Torciano.
We were fetched by a golf cart from the gate and was served a glass of white wine as we wait for the dinner to start. We were able to take snaps at their gazebos as well as their garden. The main hall have a barn-fell to it and it came alive with the holiday decorations and live songs. Our table ia filled with wine glasses and bottles of wine.
We had diced tuna, chicken liver, tomato flan, and anchovies for starters and followed by crepe with sausages and risotto with prawns. The second course is grilled beef sirloin and a fillet of sea bream. And it ended with chocolate mousse. Every item is paired with wine. And the glasses are being refilled as soon as you finish them. We really took our time to immerse ourselves in the experience; to enjoy the food, drink the best wines, and spend quality time with our “dates”. All of us were ushered outside as the clock strikes twelve midnight to welcome the New Year. Of course we toasted to it with wine. Haha. It’s free flow. I really enjoyed it. It is fulfilling (physically and emotionally) and quite relaxing.
Ristorante Dillà €20+/pasta
There are so many horror stories of tourists be duped by restaurants to pay for exorbitant prices for food that is not good. To avoid tourist trap? Do what the Romans do. We asked the staff at one of the shops where we bought leather goods where do they go for lunch or dinner. And they replied “At Dilla”. The restaurant is not that big but the place is packed. We walked in and were told that we can have a table but only for one and a half hours. On my mind that is more than enough to have dinner but we were wrong. With that kind of ambiance and great tasting food and wine, one and a half hour is not enough. I got lasagna. It was al dente, cheesy and rich tomato sauce and we pair it with a glass of wine. We took our time to savor the food and left the place filled. That is a good recommendation.
LeLAVAIN €3+/pastry
We were finding our way to Trastevere and we came up seeing the sign of LeLAVAIN. I thought this was the same as LeVain bakery in New York but it’s not. We checked out the store. We got coffee, and sweet and savory pastries. The taste is the usual as with other cafes but they have more variety than others. Good way to fuel as we head towards Trastevere and other places in Rome.
Casa and Bottega €8.50/tiramisu
We’ve read that you’ll get eye-rolling once you have a cappuccino after 12 in Italy. That didn’t stop us to get our caffeine fix at Casa and Bottega after walking around Rome. The cup of joe is the usual but the tiramisu tastes great. The bitterness of coffee that soaked the lady finger pastries complements well the mascarpone; sweet, bitter and creamy. Be sure to not miss the little shop or their pop-up tent at the street.
Er Buchetto €6/sandwich
One of the food we would like to try is porchetta sandwich. After roaming in Rome and before going back to the hotel we were on a hunt for our dinner. After a few bus rides and a little walking, we found ourselves at the front of this tiny shop with a couple of customers awaiting their order. It was a delight to see the porchetta being sliced and putting them between bread. I knew right there that it is good. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed our sumptuous giant sandwich with wine. A great reward after a long day.
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| 🇮🇹 Local Delights: Exploring Authentic Eats in Italy |
WILL: Italy is a culinary paradise, and after our experience in Switzerland, we weren't sure what to expect in terms of dining options in Italy.
Our much-anticipated dinner at Tenuta Torciano for New Year's Eve exceeded our expectations. Included in our 4-day, 3-night package, this five-course meal paired with their own wines was a delightful journey for the palate. Despite initially thinking that spending five hours on dinner might be excessive, the lively atmosphere, live music, and continuous flow of wine made the time fly. Among the highlights were the sea bream fillet and the grilled beef—truly a memorable dining experience perfect for ringing in the new year. Don't hesitate to make a reservation here for a romantic start to the year!
In Rome, amidst the tourist crowds, we relied on the wisdom of locals for dining recommendations. While paying a visit to Prada’s flagship store, Abbey ask the sales consultants where they go for lunch. Their suggestion, Ristorante Dillà, turned out to be a hidden gem. Despite being usually fully booked, we lucked out with a table for two. The carbonara was a revelation—authentically Italian with perfectly al dente pasta. It's a dish I could eat over and over again!
With no concrete plans for exploring Rome, we took the advice of Prada's staff and ventured to the charming neighborhood of Trastevere. Along the way, we stumbled upon Le Levain Roma, a cozy cafe highly praised by locals on Google. Our breakfast of pastry there was a delightful start to the day.
In need of a caffeine boost, we discovered Casa and Bottega, a quaint coffee shop where Abbey enjoyed a coffee, and I savored the best tiramisu of my life. It was so good that I personally thanked the owner for serving it to us—truly a gem hidden from the tourist traps.
Following more Prada’s staff advice, we decided to buy a porchetta sandwich at Er Buchetto, a favorite among Romans, on our final night in Rome. It was the perfect ending to our vacation, indulging in one last delicious meal.
Italy truly lives up to its reputation as a foodie's paradise. Whether you're planning a trip to Rome or any other part of Italy, be sure to seek out the best dining spots in advance. And if you're feeling adventurous, don't hesitate to ask your hotel receptionist or local sales consultants for their recommendations to steer clear of tourist traps. Bon appétit!
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Tenuta Torciano Winery - San Gimignano
(W) https://www.torciano.com/en/
DILLÀ Ristorante Roma
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