This Is Food: easy, street, good

“Outsiders” often complain that the world of gastronomy takes itself too seriously, and sometimes they are right. For them, and for all those who at least sometimes enjoy eating in a more easy way – be it traditional street food, imported or junk food – This Is Food, the event dedicated to the new Roman food culture, which has reached its second edition, is already a must.

There were no starred chefs – or at least not in their official role – there was no philosophical pondering, only lots of substance with music in the background. On May 24th and 25th Officine Farneto – which has become the top location for food, wine and beer events – hosted 14 among the most interesting novelties in the Capital’s culinary scene, plus various spots dedicated to alcoholic drinks, a corner with gluten free food, a kids area with cooking classes for children, cooking shows with emerging chefs and a dj set that played throughout the two days.

A varied crowd of visitors (who paid an entrance fee of 5 euros, plus a fee for each tasting) occupied the spaces inside and outside the Officine in a lively and relaxed atmosphere that is more typical of a festival rather than a gastronomic event. Families with children, all-sorts-of-food enthusiasts, journalists, young representatives of the different musical and metropolitan subcultures, professionals off from work all gathered (facing even some rather long queues when the crowds grew larger) to taste the most craveable new offers in town.

From Supplizio’s supplì, with Arcangelo Dandini and Lorenzo D'Ettorre celebrating the meeting of cultured cuisine and popular tradition, to Haus Garten’s bagels, an interesting mix between a Parisian style bistro and an underground club, through the delicious stuffed bread rolls at Santeria – a trendy yet intriguing place at Pigneto – and the multi-coloured, healthy and delicious salads at Aromaticus, “part greenhouse, part bistro” on Monti’s food street Via Urbana.

And again there were Quarto’s powerful burgers, Fish Market’s raw fish, the do it your own ice creams from Fantastick (no hydrogenated fats, colorants or sweeteners) and the fun “take away” cakes of Portineria, born out of the meeting between a food designer, a junior champion of pastry-making and a food management expert. And then there was the slow street foodof Ciao Checca, Zoc’s fusion dishes and the “tradition-innovation” ones offered by Mavi, the gourmet fried food from Ape Romeo Fish'n'Chicks, Bancovino’s meatballs, the wines and beers of Porto Fluviale and the cocktails of Cantina Ripagrande.

Those who managed to taste everything or at least a bit of everything have all our respect. Organising events linked with food is certainly not the most original idea of the century, but the guys at Snob Production – the agency that was capable enough to unite their extensive music and street culture experience with their food experience – have various merits: that of having monitored and found the most interesting novelties among the many new openings in the capital (the essential condition was not to have participated last year and possibly to have opened recently) and the one of making the “people of the night” meet with food enthusiasts, making everyone agree, for once.