Italy's New Alt Stazione Rest Stops Serve Michelin-Cred Food - AFAR

"Set in Rome’s EUR district about six miles south of the city center, this gourmet EV charging station is the result of a partnership between sustainable energy company Enilive and chef Niko Romito, and pairs cinematic, 1950s retro drive-in diner styling with high-tech chargers for Teslas, Taycans, Q8s, and Fiat500es. While cars charge, I can head inside for Romito’s iconic bombe — available sweet or savory — along with pasta, toasts, savory bomba sandwiches stuffed with succulent pork and house-made mustard, and his signature fried chicken, which he prepares with steam-first techniques and a very light, breading-free frying. Romito spent years researching flour, yeast, bread making, and frying to create a healthier bomba that uses extra-virgin olive oil and cocoa butter instead of lard; the sweet version is filled with sweet cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Sustainability is integral here: solar panels provide most of the energy, Enilive charging stations are on site, and the diner includes air and water filtration and recycling systems. Quality is standardized — bombe are crafted in Romito’s lab in Abruzzo, frozen, then heated and filled at Alt on demand — and staff are students trained at the Accademia Niko Romito. The Rome location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is the prototype for a plan to open 100 Alt Stazione del Gusto restaurants along Italy’s autostrade over the next four years." - Erica Firpo