Cacio e pepe

Just a few days ago, we watched an Anthony Bourdain special in which he played clips from his past Rome show. In Rome, Bourdain eats a pasta dish so good, he refuses to disclose the location for fear of spoiling it by overexposure to hoards of food tourists.

Thanks to some sleuthing by Michael on the trusty interweb, we found the place. In Trastevere. And, last night we got a table.

The dish is simple--spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, pasta water, pepper--but tastes sublime. Creamy, cheesy, and comforting. But the healthy dusting of roughly ground pepper transports the dish to another level--of earthiness, spice, and intensity. And did I mention that it was served in a Parmesan bowl?