Ancient Romans had a seemingly predictable diet for pre-refrigeration days made up of mostly cereals, legumes and meats with sauces from fermented fish and vinegar. But perhaps it wasn’t just these staples that fueled Roman gladiators, but also a sweet cream-filled bun called a maritozzo.
In all its simplicity, the maritozzo is a soft bun filled with a hefty dollop of whipped cream, or panna, as it is referred to in Italian. If you regularly frequent Rome or keep a keen eye on viral foods on TikTok, you will no doubt have seen the luscious treat. It is a picture of indulgence—a bread with cream filled so high that when bitten it hits the tip of your nose, creating a viral moment that both social media influencers and celebrity chefs love filming with the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum or Pantheon as their backdrop.
