By Rosie Lu
Tucked away in a cozy alleyway in the bustling city of Rome, a lengthy queue wraps around two blocks of dimly lit small storefronts. Romantic parties of two clink glasses of wine as they wait in line—an aperitivo on the go, as seems to be the norm for extremely patient customers. As the sky darkens, the winds grow stronger, and the air, chillier, but everyone seems content to simply stand and wait.
For nearly an hour and a half I stood in line in front of Trattoria Da Enzo, but dare I say, every minute of that grueling wait was worth it. The service was relatively quick and all of our food arrived steaming and fresh out of the kitchen.
Drawn by the countless appraisals of TikTokers, Google reviewers, and Yelpers alike, the burrata appetizer was a non-negotiable order. Spoiler alert: It was not a tourist fad.
To begin with, the plate was visually stunning, with ruby red tomatoes, hints of green basil, and a beautiful pouch of creamy cheese, all glistening with the glorious sheen of extra virgin olive oil. For some context, burrata is essentially a mozzarella pouch filled with stracciatella—a blend of fresh cream and shredded mozzarella. So when I cut into the cheese, an indulgent, luscious mixture of even more cheese flows out. The burrata is absolutely divine on its own, but the sweetness and acidity of the cherry tomatoes cut through the decadence while adding texture. The basil was the cherry on top, bringing a peppery yet delicate fragrance into the bite. Even the olive oil seemed special, with a vibrant, complex mouthfeel that my local supermarket will never replicate.
An honorable mention of burrata usage out of all the dishes I tried in Italy was the pistachio, mortadella and burrata combination, apparently a popular flavor in all sorts of formats. A pillowy yet thin-crusted Roman pizza most perfectly utilized the harmony of the three ingredients, while a schiacciata sandwich I tasted in Florence comes in as a close second. Earthy pistachio, creamy burrata and delicate mortadella ham seemed to always complement their accompaniments flawlessly.
Alas, a short winter break trip to Italy inevitably came to an end, and now I’m some 6,400 miles away from a land of endlessly delicious cheese. Sure, this family vacation left me with some unforgettable experiences and beautiful memories, but my hopelessly shallow mind still dreams of burrata.