Italian hospitality, home-cooked food and new friends

This is a guest post – thank you to Rinita of BonAppetour!

Rome is an absolutely stunning city to experience, even, dare I say it in the heat of August. There is so much to see and to do in Rome. While visiting the gorgeous Trevi fountain one evening, some newly made friends and I along with hundreds of other visitors witnessed a marriage proposal – exciting for us, as we clapped and cheered, and truly memorable for the newly engaged couple. Dining out in Roman restaurants is fun especially around the Pantheon, but after a while I was certainly missing some good home cooking. Lucky for me, my Italian friend Giovanni invited me to a dinner party that his friend Susanna was organising for her friends.

Home Cooked Italian Food

That evening, we met Susanna at her lovely roof top home in the quiet neighbourhood of Reggio Emilia, just a short bus ride away. Once there, we were greeted by a spectacular view of the setting sun over the rooftops of Rome. Even Giovanni, who had been living in Rome for five years, had not seen this sort of view. We were served with a tall glass of refreshing traditional lemonade spiced with ginger. Glasses in hand, we were introduced to a number of Susanna’s close friends and everyone made us feel very welcome, as if we were right at home, even though home was half a world away. With bean bags, carpets and cushions spread across the terrace, we settled down comfortably, admiring the skyline and enjoying the company.

Then Susanna brought out the food. My mouth still waters as I remember the bruschetta antipasti, the three-tiered pasta course, the delicious melanzane (eggplant) omelette dish and the best tiramisu I have ever tasted. Food is said to be the universal conversation starter and soon we were all sharing our life and travel experiences. I think at least three languages, if not more, were being spoken throughout the evening and it was simply wonderful. I do not remember when exactly we left but it was definitely very much later with many new connections and friendships freshly kindled. It was an evening to remember and not one everyone who visits the eternal city can boast about.

Food has the ability to evoke strong memories within us. When you eat an excellent pasta dish, it can remind you of the last time you had a good pasta. If you happened to be on an Italian vacation at that time, all those wonderful memories of your summer in Italy, the places you visited and the people you met, come flooding back to you. I was lucky that I had a local friend in the city who had invited me to this gathering, however travellers without a local connection don’t have access to this sort of experience. When I got back, I was inspired to create a community where every traveller can enjoy such a home-dining experience, and go back with cherished memories of new friends and a deeper understanding of local culture.

–Rinita, Co-founder at BonAppetour 

BonAppetour is a trusted community that lets travellers dine with passionate local hosts at their homes! As a guest, not only will you have a taste of authentic home-cooked food but also the chance learn more about the different cultures. Whether you’re a warm host or guest, with BonAppetour, you’ll always be making new friends as you travel, and who knows, they could very well be friends for life!