If your are traveling the via Salaria between Roma and Ascoli Piceno be sure to take some time to make the short trip off to Amatrice, only about an hour west of Ascoli. This is the home of Pasta Amatricana and the town itself is a jumping off point to enjoy the nearby mountians. This time of year the town takes on a bit of a ski town feeling.
All of the local restaurants feature Pasta Amatricana but be sure to try the original, [I]la gricia[/I], which is simply fried pancetta, herbs, oil and pasta. This is what the shepherds ate while in the hills tending their sheep. It seems tomatoes where a luxury item only the nobility could afford.
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