Arrosticini Abruzzesi
Abruzzo (especially Pescara and L'Aquila provinces)
Abruzzo's iconic shepherd's street food: thin slivers of mutton (not lamb — adult castrated sheep) threaded in alternating lean-fat pieces onto thin wooden skewers, charred on a narrow 'furnacella' (a purpose-built charcoal grill exactly the width of the skewers). A single serving is 15-20 skewers; serious consumption starts at 30. The fat — which must come from an older animal with well-developed intramuscular fat — renders over the coals and bastes the lean pieces continuously. Eaten plain, with bread, and always with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.