THE ROADS TO ROME

In THE ROADS TO ROME, readers will discover the origins of Rome's most iconic dishes by cooking along the roads that built the Eternal City.

When food-writer Jarrett Wrisley and his business partner and chef, Paolo Vitaletti, were preparing to open an Italian trattoria in Bangkok, authenticity was paramount. However, their travels throughout Vitaletti's home country taught them that Roman cuisine doesn't come from Rome, exactly, but from the roads to Rome - the trade routes that brought foods from all over Italy to the capital.

In the lush pages of this book, Jarrett and Paolo weave their way between Roman kitchens and through the countryside of Lazio, Umbria, and Emilia-Romagna, encountering farmers and artisans who show us the origins of the ingredients that gave rise to such iconic Roman dishes as Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe and Spaghetti all'Amatriciana. The exquisite journey also sheds light on the dishes of the countryside - from Vignarola (sautéed artichokes, fava beans, and spring peas with guanciale) to Cozze alla Marinara (mussels pulled straight from the Amalfi coast). Jason Lang's full-color photographs will bring the book's recipes to life in a way that captures not just the essence of Roman ingredients but also the unique atmosphere of regional landscapes, cultural food traditions, and the people encountered on the way.

THE ROADS TO TOME is an ode to the butchers, fishermen, and other artisans who feed the city, and how their history and culture come to the plate.

Jarrett Wrisley is a food writer-turned-restaurateur living in Bangkok. He has written for The Atlantic, Lucky Peach, The Art of Eating, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Magazine, and various magazines and newspapers across Asia. His two restaurants, Soul Food Mahanakorn and Appia, have been praised by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, and CNN Travel.
Italian-born chef Paolo Vitaletti is the co-founder of Appia with Jarrett Wrisley in Bangkok. As a team, they operate a farm outside of Rome where they will open an inn and restaurant. Paolo also owns Peppina, Bangkok's best Neapolitan pizzeria.