Here’s where we’d send Pope Francis out to eat around Washington

Just looking at Pope Francis's packed American schedule is enough to make anyone hungry. We assume nearly every part of his 48-hour itinerary in Washington will be highly orchestrated, down to his meals.

[What Pope Francis will do during his trip to Washington, New York and Philadelphia]

Still, we can't resist making a few dining recommendations based on details that have emerged about his food preferences -- you know, just in case he's tempted to engage in his own "Roman Holiday"-style caper on the town.

[Brookland bars are expecting crowds and opening early for the Pope's visit]

According to an interview with an Argentinian newspaper as related by the Catholic News Agency, the pope misses going out for a good pizza.

[Pizza in Washington: An upper-crust tour of every D.C. style]

Upper Northwest staple 2 Amys is one of a handful of pizzerias in the area to be certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association, which strictly governs which pies can be granted D.O.C (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status for hewing to traditional Neapolitan ingredients and methods. Etto, another pizza spot from 2 Amys co-founder Peter Pastan, is also worth a visit.

Pope Francis could also get a taste of his native Argentina at steakhouses Del Campo and Rural Society, which both serve fugazza, a thick focaccia-like pizza generously topped with cheese but not sauce.

Or, if he's in a real hurry, the pope could pop in at Ruth Gresser's Veloce, the fast-casual sibling of her Pizzeria Paradiso.

[Which of the D.C. area’s fast-casual pizza places is doing it best?]

We've also heard that the pope was advised to cut back his consumption of pasta ... to a few times a week. Well, okay! Surely some of that quota could be allotted to a Washington restaurant. We might suggest the venerable Tosca downtown, where Post food critic Tom Sietsema said he'd be tempted to order pasta as his starter and main course. Osteria Morini near Navy Yard offers a lengthy menu of house-made pastas, and you'll find other possibilities at Fabio Trabocchi's trio of restaurants: Casa Luca, Fiola and Fiola Mare.

It's been reported that the pope's Argentinian culinary tendencies also lean toward steak -- see the two above, plus, perhaps, Mastro's -- and empanadas. For the latter, we're partial to DC Empanadas, found in both Union Market and on the road in a bright blue food truck (after all, the pope is on Twitter). You'll also find respectable versions at the aforementioned Del Campo and Rural Society.

To satisfy his love of dulce de leche, the pontiff can't do better than indulging in the salted caramel gelato from Dolcezza. Made with caramelized sweetened milk and sea salt, it's a signature flavor at the local chain owned by husband and wife Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman, who shares a homeland with Pope Francis.

Need any other recommendations, Your Holiness? You know where to find us.

Related items:

Complete Pope Francis coverage

Brookland bars are expecting crowds and opening early for the Pope's visit

What Pope Francis will do during his trip to Washington, New York and Philadelphia

In a monastery garden, Pope Francis's environmental message is taken to heart

If you're here to see Pope Francis, read this