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Rome with Withlocals

"One of the most common posts I see on travel threads on social media is people asking for advice on where can they find authentic Italian food. In fact, this was one of the things our American friends wanted when they came to Rome for a few days at the end of a cruise. We live in Italy, and have been to Rome many times, so we met them there to take them to some interesting, but lesser known activities. We have done tours with the WithLocals group many times, and have never been disappointed with the experience. We saw the listing for dinner at Maria Gloria's home and immediately felt this would be a very nice experience. It was success on every level. During the dinner we chatted about what it means to experience authentic Italian food. In retrospect, I feel the answer I gave at that time as not really complete. What is an authentic Italian meal? Yes, of course it is traditional dishes, prepared with fresh ingredients by a chef who knows what they are doing. But, even more, as I think about it. An authentic Italian meal is not as much the what, as the who and where. In Italy, food and dining is a very social activity. It seems everything in Italy is done around a dining table. You can find authentic food pretty much everywhere in Rome. But the authentic experience is a room full of noisy people, laughing, joking, arguing. The servers are bouncing around from table to table, chatting with regulars, explaining and making recommendations for new customers. If there is anything an Italian has time to stop and chat about, it is food. The best dish, the best ingredients for that dish, how to prepare it. When you do a dinner with someone like Maria Gloria, you are having this experience. Proper food, prepared with fresh and season ingredients. Food that has been prepared exactly this way for hundreds of years. You learn how it came to be this way, and why these ingredients are used. You chat and feel like you are making new friends. Did I forget to mention the cheese? Oh dio! Francesco and Donatella are the owners of one of Romes finest cheese shops. The cheese plate was, oh, sorry, I think I was drooling a little bit. The wines, perfectly paired. Francesco and Donetella prepare the food, and Maria Gloria, does the english commentary. We speak Italian at an intermediate level, so the conversation around the table flowed back and forth from Italian to English and back again. When you finally leave, you don't say. Oh what a lovely meal. No, you say, Oh, what a lovely evening. That, in its essence, is what an authentic Italian meal is. "

"We loved our experience with Massimo. He invited us into his family home, stepped us through family recipes and the history behind them, and shared his insights into life in Rome and recommendations of other must-see sites. His dishes were delicious – among the best meals we've had – and he provided tips on how to recreate them when back home. An experience we will remember. Highly recommended!"

"Dinner with Maria Gloria and team in Rome turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences from our trip. From the moment we arrived, we felt less like a guest and more like part of the family. The atmosphere was warm, relaxed, and full of laughter. Exactly what you hope for when you imagine an authentic Italian evening. The meal itself was incredible. What stood out most was how much care went into explaining the cooking process (we asked lots of questions). We didn't just eat great food, we actually learned how to make it. If you are visiting Rome and want something more meaningful than a typical restaurant meal, we'd highly recommend a dinner like this. Come hungry, be curious, and enjoy every moment. You'll leave with not just a full stomach, but new skills and great memories. We cannot wait to visit again!"

"An amazing night of kindness, laughter, and delicious pasta and cheese and meat. Maria Gloria welcomed us all, especially my young daughter, with graciousness that we will always remember and cherish. Francesco and Donatella prepared incredible food! Too many great stories to share here. Wonderful. "

"We had a wonderful and still cosy evening with Roberto! Atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. Good teaching, honouring also our wishes. Food was delicious. Make us want to make pasta on our own! We already bought a rolling pin! "

"Massimo was excellent with the kids getting them right in there making pasta and they loved it! He also shared lots of great tips along the way. Highly recommended "

"The chef has a cute apartment in a great part of a city. He was amazing with our teenage children, guiding them through the preparation and keeping them entertained with eloquent stories of history of Roman culinary art. We also got some amazing tips for day-to-day cooking. And, of course, the food was excellent! Highly recommend the experience! "

"My husband and I had the best time learning to make pasta, Roman cookies, and pasta sauce with Roberto. His home is so welcoming and the dinner was delicious! We had never done anything like this class and were so so glad we booked it (especially with Roberto!). "

"Dinner with Maria Gloria was like having dinner with a friend you haven’t seen in awhile! We were greeted with a hug and she seemed just as excited to see us as we were to see her! The whole evening was absolutely wonderful! Donatella and Francesco made a most wonderful meal and we all shared the meal around the table. I fell head over heels in love with Rome and can’t wait to come back! We will definitely have dinner with Maria Gloria again! Thank you, Maria Gloria, Donatella, and Francesco for an evening I will never forget 🇮🇹🥰"