Supplì al Telefono: Rome’s Street Food

About this episode

This episode explores the history and significance of supplì, a popular street food in Rome.

What exactly is a supplì , and why do Romans call it al telefono ? In this episode, we break down one of Rome’s most iconic street foods—from its 19th-century origins and French-influenced name to the famous stretch of melted mozzarella that gave it its nickname. We also clarify one of the most common misconceptions: why supplì and Sicilian arancini are not the same thing. A short episode about history, street food, and how even a simple fried rice ball reflects the depth of Italian regional cuisine.

People in this episode

Host: Robert Campana

Topics covered

• street food
• Italian cuisine
• history
• cooking
• regional differences

Keywords

• supplì
• Rome
• street food
• Italian cuisine
• arancini
• mozzarella
• 19th-century

Mentioned in this episode

Products: supplì, arancini

Places: Rome, Sicilian

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