Cacio e Pepe

This is a great Roman dish that we had several times on our most recent trip there.  It was spectacular.  and it is simple but you must be detail oriented, and even then it might not be perfect.

• Salt
• 1 ½ cups finely grated pecorino Romano, plus more for dusting completed dish
• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, plus more for finishing the dish
• ¾ pound tonnarelli or other long pasta like linguine or spaghetti
• Good olive oil

1. Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
2. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to a bowl that has been heated in the microwave, or over the pot of pasta water , reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.