To taste Rome’s ‘life-changing’ pasta, I had to betray my friends and go it alone |
To taste Rome’s ‘life-changing’ pasta, I had to betray my friends and go it alone
October 15, 2026 — 5:00am
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What I am about to tell you is by no means a fair indication of my character. It is a tale of betrayal, but let me assure you the stakes were high.
I was in Rome for a week to interview the actors Helen Mirren and Vin Diesel. And I did what I always do when I travel, which is to seek the advice of people who have the best taste, then try to distil it into the time I have in whatever city I’m in.
My friend Harrison has exquisite taste. He always knows the best clubs and restaurants. He is the sort of person who wears a polka-dotted jumpsuit to go skiing and those bright red-jelly Birkenstocks. So, when he told me what to do in Rome, I listened. He specifically said the carbonara at Roscioli is life-changing. And who am I to deny myself and my colleagues the opportunity to change our lives?
The recommendation came with a warning though: it would be almost impossible to get a reservation. Sometimes they let you in if you line up, but even then, it........