A Taste of Home: Chef Francesco Di Marzio on His Favourite Italian Dishes

The chef de cuisine of La Dame de Pic shares the dining places he always visits whenever he is back in Tivoli, Rome

Italian-born chef Francesco Di Marzio has always loved food, thanks to his grandmother who expressed her love through cooking. This inspired him to start his culinary journey at 14.

He started his professional career in Italy’s now-shuttered one-Michelin-starred restaurant, Open Colonna, before advancing his career across renowned restaurants over the years, including three-Michelin-starred restaurant Benu in San Francisco; two-Michelin-starred restaurant The Greenhouse in London; and two-Michelin-starred restaurant Amber in Hong Kong.

Currently, he is the chef de cuisine of La Dame de Pic, where he dishes out French cuisine laced with Asian accents. While he is busy whipping up French fare, he always looks forward to spending time back home in Tivoli, Rome.

Here, the Italian chef recalls the familiar flavours of local Italian delicacies, sharing the dishes that remind him of home.

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When was your last trip back home? How did you spend your holiday there?

Francesco Di Marzio (FM): My last trip back home was in November. I had a great time catching up with my family and friends.

What do you miss most on the food/drink front when you are away from home or haven’t been back for a while?

FM: I miss the familiar flavours of home the most.

If you have visitors/guests with you in Rome, where do you ensure you always go to give them a real taste of home?

FM: I will bring them to Osteria da Fortunata, a charming trattoria (Italian-style eatery) in Campo de Fiori.

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What are your favourite heritage dishes and where are some of the places in Rome that you go to enjoy them?

FM: For me, it has to be cannelloni, a pasta tube filled with meat and topped with a rich tomato sauce and mozzarella before being baked in the oven as a gratin. In my opinion, no one does this flavoursome dish better than my mother.

What is the first dish you eat when you return home and where do you go for it?

FM: I would go for pizza at Pizzeria Sancho in Fiumicino once I leave the airport.

Where in Rome do you like to meet up with your old friends for food/drinks?

FM: My favourite meeting place to catch up with old friends is L’orologio, which translates to “the watch”. It is a cosy bar near my house.

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Do you have a favourite restaurant in Rome? Please share one restaurant for fine dining and one for more casual dining experience.

FM: Yes, while there are certainly many good eateries in Rome, I would pick Bistrot 64, run by my Japanese friend Kotaro Noda, for fine dining. Its concept presents a combination of Italian and Japanese cuisines and culinary techniques. For something casual, I would recommend il Ciocco in Tivoli which offers a beautiful view of my home city complemented with simple and delicious food.

Is there anywhere else in Rome that you never miss visiting when you are back home?

FM: Yes, I never miss visiting the Anselmo pub for beers with friends and delicious comfort food.

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A Taste of Home: Chef Francesco Di Marzio on His Favourite Italian Dishes