No Reservations Season 7 Episode 7: Rome
Tony visits Rome for the first time in this episode. He’s been to Italy many times but he’s always wanted to go to Rome. This episode is filmed entirely in black and white to honor what Tony says is the classic feel from old films and history that is a part of Rome.
The Rome adventure begins with Tony driving a sports car against a green screen featuring scenes from Rome. Of course Tony is driving erratically and pretty much making the driving look as fake as possible, similar to old black and white movies.
Tony meets up with his guide and friend Cesare Casella at Ristorante Paris, to indulge in traditional Roman food. Ristorante Paris uses fresh, seasonal food when creating their menu. Tony and Cesare start with fried artichoke, which they enjoy. Next an artichoke, fava bean, pea and pancetta dish, Tony takes a bite of the dish and says “Wow!” Lamb chops arrive at the table, accompanied by chicory with anchovies. Tony and Cesare love the combination of chicory and lamb together. Tony tells the audience about Roman seasonal eating: “They don’t talk annoyingly about seasonal here, they just f**king do it.”
Tony walks down the neighborhood streets of Rome “back in time”, decked out in a black suit and black tie with white shirt. As Tony travels down the old cobblestone streets the camera captures the beautiful architecture of the city. Tony meets locals Sara and Marco at A Casa di Rita, where the owner, her cousin the chef, and her daughter run the restaurant. The daughter greets Tony, Sara and Marco. Tony tells the audience he does not speak Italian, while Marco speaks only Italian. Tony invites Sara to order the meal for them. When Sara orders the carbonara Americana, Marco is concerned because the American version in this restaurant features zucchini blossoms when in season and he wants traditional carbonara. The daughter takes their order and seems upset that Marco wants the dish half traditional, half Americana carbonara. The daughter delivers the traditional carbonara to the table. Sara has to coax the daughter to convince the chef to make the Americana version so Tony can try it, which she finally delivers to the table. They try the next pasta dish, made from cooked bacon from pig’s cheeks, white wine, fresh tomatoes, and pecorino cheese mixed into rigatoni pasta. The chef adds a little onion to the dish, to the dismay of Marco.
Tony respects Marco’s dislike of the non-traditional dishes, while quite liking the additions of zucchini flower and onion the chef makes to the meal. Having tried both versions of carbonara, Tony votes for the Americana carbonara. As the cameras roll, a verbal fight breaks out between a customer and the chef. The daughter tries to calm the customer, who yells and gestures wildly, and the chef and daughter returning his gestures. Tony tells the audience he was a little freaked out by the fight, but things finally calm down and more food starts coming to the table. Next on the plate is braised Ox tails, one of Tony’s favorites. Tony comments on the fight to Sara who translates Tony’s comment to the daughter: “You tell her I had her back. Cause Baldy? I had my eye on Baldy. I didn’t like his look. If he got any more up in her face, bam, he was out.” The camera pans to the daughter, who is grinning widely after Tony’s comments. Tony tells the audience the food was excellent, all in all, a great meal.
Tony meets with Cesare at his hotel to experience fine dining. Cesare tells Tony they are to enjoy a luxurious multi-course Sicilian dinner by esteemed Chef Mantia at Hotel Majestic’s Filipo La Mantia. The restaurant has overstuffed benches with tables and candlelight everywhere. Tony and Cesare are alone in the restaurant as their feast begins with a dish of caponeta. Tony remarks how delicious this simple dish of eggplant, capers, pine nuts and celery is, a dish most often found on a grandma’s table in Rome. The pasta dish is homemade pasta with sardines and crushed nuts on top. Tony exclaims about the food “That’s unbelieveable, its fantastic, its wonderful!” As Tony devours the pasta, he jokes about what he would sacrifice for this bowl of pasta: “Definitely Jefferson Airplane at Forrest Hills, that would be first. Catcher in the Rye, yeah. Overrated. My third, fifth, seventh and ninth acid trips. My first sexual experience, definitely out the window. I could do without that. The second one? No, that was a good one.” Next they enjoy local fish with potatoes, basil, fava beans and tomatoes. Tony is enthralled with the food from this talented chef, who tops off his spectacular meal with an elaborate dessert of chocolate oozing delicious sauce.
Tony is once again behind the wheel fake driving as the streets of Rome flash behind him on the green screen. Tony’s wife Ottavia is in the passenger’s seat and is giving him a hard time, telling Tony he drives like a grandma. Tony takes his hands off the wheels and all hell breaks lose with the car weaving wildly while Ottavia laughs and Tony grins. All this leading up to their next scene, which is sharing a meal together at a casual Rome restaurant.
Tony has a meal “off the grid”, sitting in a cafe at a table with casual tablecloth as his wife Ottavia and one of the cameramen Todd sit with him. Tony convinces Todd to sit and eat instead of film the scene and Todd gladly obliges. Tony ignores that the scene is being filmed and banters with his wife and Todd, cracking jokes and enjoying a meal of antipasti, homemade gnocchi, chicory, pasta and tripe.
Tony meets up with Cesare for a a fish barbecue at Lido, located on the Lazio Coast. Tony is dressed in a white suit with black shirt and shoes off for the beach. Cesare begins to prepare a large local fish which he puts on the barbecue and covers with herbs, onions and wine. Cesare makes the side dishes and finally agrees to have Tony step in as sous chef to help. Cesare and Tony make a risotto and calamari salad to accompany the fish, along with other side dishes. Tony and Cesare finish their meal and lean on a railing with the sand and ocean behind them. Tony tells Cesare with true passion “Who is better, I’m so angry I’m not Italian.” As Tony bathes in the sun and fresh air at the beach, Tony and Cesare finish their meal and wonderous day with a glass of bitter wine.
