As a warm-up for our Southern Secrets: Campania and Sicily’s Hidden Corners tour that starts tomorrow with Danielle Oteri and Feast on History and Experience Sicily, today I delighted in a wine tasting and lunch pairing at Rimessa Roscioli in Rome. When my host Mattia understood my knowledge of Sicily’s terroir, he changed up the plan, and I was introduced to a whole portfolio of off-the-beaten-path wines and wineries from the island of the sun.

Meanwhile, the cacio e pepe demonstration (and then bowl of it) that Tommaso gave me was unforgettable. Paired with the Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso … wow. And then the Fenech Malvasia from Lipari paired with tiramisù. That was a treat. Thank you to Alessandro for your hospitality! I was going to take it easy on food today, but Rome wouldn’t have it!