Rome was delicious.

Between pasta, pizza, gelato and pannini what's a girl to do?

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Chocolate Orange and Raspbery Gelato: Oh &amp; I&#39;m in the mirror"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Chocolate Orange and Raspbery Galeto : I am in the mirror" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6306182875/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6306182875_597bf895a9_b.jpg" alt="Chocolate Orange and Raspbery Galeto : I am in the mirror" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I had some fantastic wine and coffee and I ate and ate.

I ate some really great food in Rome this past weekend. So great I feel inspired to try out some new dishes at home (and that's saying something).

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Coffee, coffee, coffee"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Coffee, coffee, coffee" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6306699198/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6306699198_c66432dfb0_b.jpg" alt="Coffee, coffee, coffee" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Oh and it turns out I love all things pistachio including but not limited to pistachio gelato and green pistachio cookies. Too bad I ate the cookies so quickly that I forgot to document them.

These things happen sometimes. Without warning I turned into the cookie monster and devoured the two cookies I bought without even thinking: hey, I should take a photo.  But as <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/" target="_blank">my flickr feed demonstrates</a>, I did manage to take a lot of photos in three days.<!--more-->

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Pizza shop in Campo de Fiori"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Pizza shop in Campo de Fiori" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303254691/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/6303254691_f83241f986_b.jpg" alt="Pizza shop in Campo de Fiori" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Pizza production"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Pizza production" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303267235/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6303267235_35478f94b9_b.jpg" alt="Pizza production" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Here's the thing, I managed not to get pictures of all of it. Even if my friend A. thinks that all I did was take pictures of my food rather than eat it. Really, what's the point of having a digital camera and a blog if not to write about the food you've made/eaten/or otherwise enjoyed?

Well there are probably a few other things but that's beside the point. My point is this: Rome is a good city to eat in.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Zucchini Flower Pizza"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Zucchini  Flower Pizza" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303784696/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6303784696_06991c42a3_b.jpg" alt="Zucchini  Flower Pizza" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Baby tomato pizza"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Baby tomato pizza" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303254179/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6303254179_4290c105a7_b.jpg" alt="Baby tomato pizza" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

We had some of the best street pizza ever in Campo de Fiori. I ate a slice with zucchini, zucchini flowers and probably anchovy paste. This pizza was incredibly flavorful not to mention colorful. The pizza shop is on the main square and sprawling in front of the shop is a flower and vegetable market. The market had a huge selection of fruits and veggies including artichokes, pumpkin, tomatoes and ranger of other fall veggies.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Artichokes"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Artichokes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303812574/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/6303812574_89213e33e7_b.jpg" alt="Artichokes" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Trattoria here"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Trattoria here" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6309771156/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6309771156_c0f57a1b2a_b.jpg" alt="Trattoria here" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Among other places we ate a hole in the wall restaurant recommended to us by friends. The food was good and cheep. Well, for Rome in the city center.

The restaurant was about four minutes from the Pantheon and called Osteria del Sostegno. I think it was one of the best meals that I had. The food was excellent, the location unbelievable while still feeling tucked away and a little bit like a secret. The best kind of secret. The one you know and others don't.

I had an artichoke, avocado and parmesan salad, a simple pasta dish and some house wine.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Bruschetta"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Bruschetta" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6309764146/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6309764146_009004f14c_b.jpg" alt="Bruschetta" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="House wine"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="House wine" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6309759206/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6309759206_259c9ec4e4_b.jpg" alt="House wine" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

At every meal I was reminded of one thing: great food can be simple.

Simple food well made and with fresh ingredients trumps many fancy fusion-style dishes that are currently popular. There's something to be said for a dish with pasta, cheese and pepper or for a salad with greens, parmesan and walnuts. The flavors standout.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Little pasta sample of A.&#39;s pasta (she got one of mine, too)"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Little pasta sample" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6309769044/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6309769044_30dc233105_b.jpg" alt="Little pasta sample" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

It made me think a lot about the kind of cooking I do at home. Often I want something quick, easy and simple. So I throw a a bunch of vegetables together in a pan and hope for the best. Sometimes this works for me. Sometimes it doesn't. I don't know why I've felt that this is the best way to go because in reality it often means that the "dish" takes on the flavor of the strongest ingredient.

The food experience made me think I'd be better served focusing on one or two great flavors and textures rather than my jumble of whatever I happen to have on hand. I mean really why not cook a few really great things together than everything in your fridge?

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Orange pumpkin"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Orange pumpkin" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303280155/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6303280155_4db62ff69d_b.jpg" alt="Orange pumpkin" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

A careful selection of fresh, flavorful ingredients shifts the focus and seems to let the food speak for itself. It seems to take less work and less worry. It's also mighty tasty.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Fall flowers"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Fall flowers" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6303278541/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6303278541_4234c00469_b.jpg" alt="Fall flowers" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

My new rule of thumb? 5 ingredients or fewer. So far so good.

Turns out traveling is not only fun but you can learn something too. <em>Who knew?</em>