Rome

On age alone, Rome may claim bragging rights for its ancient gastronomy. Beginning with the extravagances of the emperor's table and the grand gorges of the Renaissance courts, and leading to the 20th century when neighborhoods teeming with trattorias began serving both Roman specialties like tender abbacchio lamb and spaghetti all'amatriciana. All the while, regional specialties from Palermo, Naples, Bologna and Venice left their fingerprints on the cooking pans. If all roads lead to Rome, they are now bumper-to-bumper with trucks delivering every fish, fruit, meat and vegetable the Mediterranean has to offer.