Puntarelle are a typical Roman side dish that are only available in the winter into early spring. These are the roots of a local chicory plant that are peeled, sliced and eaten raw. When served with a pungent anchovy vinaigrette, they are just delicious. Crunchy, salty with a pleasantly bitter aftertaste. You can buy them like this- cleaned and ready to go- at most farmer's markets in Rome. But often they are cleaned in a hurry, and so many bites remain woody and tough. If you take the time to peel them and clean them properly at home, it's worth the effort.