The Tasty Tiramisu

I always wonder if there is a Tiramisu Day at all because tiramisu is such a tasty and well-known Italian dessert. But where did it come from and how did it become so popular?

The history of tiramisu

When we speak of Italian food, we speak of pizza, pasta, and tiramisu. Consisting of eggs, sugar, mascarpone cheese, ladyfingers, coffee, and cocoa powder, tiramisu is a melt-in-the-mouth Italian dessert. The word tiramisu means "cheer me up" or "pick me up", hence its cheerful connotation. I have always thought that tiramisu is linked to a happy love story because it is such a dreamy dessert.

But it is not the case. Some said that tiramisu had been invented in Treviso in the North of Italy in the 1960s by a restauranteur called Roberto Linguanotto. Then the dessert quickly became popular in the US in the 1980s thanks to the chef Lidia Bastianich. She had helped her grandmother make tiramisu since childhood, and as she opened her restaurant Felidia, she introduced tiramisu into her menu. Now, tiramisu has truly become an international dessert.

Where to find the best tiramisu in Rome

For convenience, you may want to visit Pompi Tiramisu, which serves one of the best take-away tiramisus in town. Other than the classic coffee-flavored tiramisu, Pompi Tiramisu also has pistachio and strawberry tiramisu. Another fun place to try the dessert is Tiramisú Trastevere. This store has a variety of toppings (almonds, shredded coconut, peanuts and so on), and it even offers a very creative tiramisu: the beer tiramisu!

To be honest, the homemade-style tiramisu in restaurants is always the most delicious one. The only downside is that you cannot go to a restaurant to just order tiramisu. For an authentic and budget Italian meal including a very good tiramisu, I recommend Trattoria Da Enzo in Trastevere. Remember to be there early to get a table as it is always very crowded.

Pompi Tiramisu, Rome

Via della Croce, 82, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Tiramisú Trastevere, Rome

Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 29, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Trattoria Da Enzo, Rome

Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

How to make tiramisu

As a big fan of tiramisu, I have tried to make the dessert countless times. I even had a tiramisu birthday cake. Actually, It is quite easy to make. The most important point to note is that the quality of the ingredients. Since tiramisu is made up of only a few ingredients, it is crucial that each ingredient is of the highest quality and well prepared. For example, the eggs should be super fresh and organic; and the main ingredients should be of Italian origin. Here is a video of how to make a melt-in-the-mouth tiramisu:

Variations

Do you know that there is more than one type of tiramisu? The classic flavor is coffee. But there are plenty of new flavors such as green tea, pistachio, hazelnut, strawberry, and even beer tiramisu (I tried the beer tiramisu once, and it was unexpectedly tasty). In most Italian restaurants, you can only try the classic tiramisu. Meanwhile, you can taste other variations in Pompi Tiramisu and Tiramisú Trastevere.