STEEM Food Tours #59 - Mad for Beer

Mad for Beer - Rome, Italy

Believe it or not, my first taste of Pasta in the country of Italy was at an English-style Pub. The place was called Mad for Beer and it was located just off campus from the university where my friend was studying. I arrived in Italy and decided to meet her there for a drink. As the name implies, it's a go-to spot for beer.

As you can see in the photo below, the pub was decorated like most English pubs. The ceiling was lined with soccer (football) scarves. It was also clear that the owner had an obsession with the band Oasis. It was a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a bar in the front and a few tables in the back.

Although I just arrived in Italy and I was really excited to try the wines, I decided to start with a stout because we were at an English Pub. I don't recall the name of it, but it was an Irish style stout, very similar to a Guinness. It was a good beer and the bartender kept it flowing.

For dinner I decided to try the Pasta alla Gricia. Before my trip to Italy, I was never too fond of pasta dishes. But upon leaving, I became obsessed. Gricia is definitely my new favorite style. It's a traditional roman dish prepared with Pecorino Romano cheese, Black Pepper, Guanciale, and a bit of salt. It dates all the way back to 400 AD.

As you can see in the photo below, the pasta was fresh, thick pieces of Rigatoni cooked perfectly al dente (nice and firm). The small, crispy pieces of guanciale provided immense flavor to the dish, a lot like bacon. It was absolutely delicious and served in a perfect portion. I ate the full bowl and was very satisfied with the meal.

Overall, Mad for Beer was a great spot to grab a drink and a bite to eat with my friend. The beer was good and the food was much better than I was expecting. I was very happy that I got introduced to the Gricia-style of pasta, because it's not something that is typically found on the menus back home. Despite being at an English Pub, it was a good first night of eating in Italy!