Tiramisu // Da Enzo de 19, Rome IT

Coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone custard and dusted with cocoa.

I’ve finally arrived at the last of a long series of posts listing the best foods I had while in Rome. It seems fitting to finish it off with one of the best-loved traditional Italian desserts ever. Tiramisu is a luscious dessert made from crunchy ladyfinger cookies that have been softened in coffee, layered with a sinfully delicious mixture of mascarpone cheese, eggs, and sugar, and topped with cocoa powder.

I knew I had to have tiramisu at least once while in Rome, but I was always too full for dessert! I also wanted to make sure I picked the right place. I was only in Italy for a short time, and it would have been a pretty big let-down if the tiramisu wasn’t as good as those I’d had at home.

After trying the fabulous ricotta at Da Enzo, I knew this was the place. The ingredients they used were high quality, sublimely fresh, and as local as possible. More importantly, their cheese was so incredible I knew the mascarpone they used would have to be amazing. I decided I would order a tiramisu for dessert regardless of whether I was full or not.

I was not disappointed. This tiramisu was both rich and light, smooth and creamy, with lingering flavors of coffee, custard, and chocolate. Some tiramisu recipes call for whipped cream, and while I am a fan I was really glad that Da Enzo didn’t add any to theirs. I wouldn’t have wanted anything else to compete with the heavenly combination that was already in that glass!