Intro To 7:47 Conversations Podcast

Episode OverviewIn this rich, sensory journey through the Eternal City, I sit down with food historian, author, and Rome expert Katie Parla, a woman whose love affair with Rome began at sixteen thanks to her mother’s quiet act of generosity. What started as a high school Latin club trip became a lifelong devotion to understanding the flavors, history, and soul of a city that was never meant to exist. Rome began as a malarial, snake-infested swamp, yet somehow became the beating heart of Western civilization.Katie has written, edited, or contributed to more than twenty books and countless articles in publications like The New York Times, Vogue, and The Guardian. Her newest work, Rome: A Culinary History Cookbook and Field Guide to the Flavors That Built a City, is not just another recipe collection. It’s a layered love letter, part history book, part field guide, and part emotional map to the spirit of a city that has endured famine, fire, empire, and rebirth. Together, we explore what Rome can teach us about