Curious Appetite
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Heirloom beans from Lucca (Tuscany) Read more…

ABOUT

ABOUT

Curious Appetite is a Gourmet Blog by Coral Sisk, Italian-American writer, certified Italian sommelier & culinary tourism specialist from Seattle living in Florence, Italy


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This sticky wine grape studded and jammed focaccia This sticky wine grape studded and jammed focaccia pie, aka schiacciata con l’uva starts to pop up in bakeries in Florence from late August as a gentle warning of Fall on the way and to me, a reminder how beautiful Italian food culture is. I adore how seasons are celebrated and symbolically phased with food window merchandising with specialties such as these. But the real question is- do we actually like this dessert? Is it a dessert? Is it truly enjoyable with all the crunchy seeds in an ultimately dry bread soggy from the syrupy grapes and a strange bitter aftertaste? Apart from the cultural nostalgia baked seasonal Tuscan icons like these induce, are they actually delicious and worth the sugar/calories? (Preparing to be exiled from Florence...) 🍞 🍇 #curiousappetite #schiacciataconluva
This has been an eat your feelings year and this w This has been an eat your feelings year and this weekend especially. You know why 💔 What better way than with a semel from Marco, aka the Michelangelo of panini, slathered with earthy truffle and wedged with salty sheep’s milk pecorino and contrasting sweet sliced pears? If you want to escape reality and catch a glimpse into the bustling Mercato Sant’Ambrogio/food market, we’ll be including a link in our newsletter about to be sent out with our recent live-streamed food tour from the beating heart of Florence’s food culture. The newsletter will also include a free PDF of my favorite Italian spots to munch around the West Coast if you can’t make it to Italy yet. If you’re not subscribed, you can via linktree in bio. Buon appetito and sending everyone lots of hugs and soothing carbs to help buffer the mess that is 2020. Buona domenica 🥪#curiousappetite #florenceitaly
Pardon the lighting, but the riverside snacks from Pardon the lighting, but the riverside snacks from @lungarnodining’s Caffè dell’Oro Nikkei-themed fusion menu and spritz are worth a holler and a fancy weekend evening Aperitivo. . Fried avocado sando, Peruvian pork mini panini, salsa’d scallops and amberjack sashimi 🐟 tiradito in aji amarillo yellow chili are delights and proof Florence is not a boring city to eat in. If you can’t be in Florence eating all the fun things and drinking all the drinks, please support your local restaurant by ordering take-out if outdoor/indoor dining isn’t possible especially if you’re on the US’s West Coast as 2020 has been beyond demoralizing for restaurants everywhere who fight tooth and nail to hang on. Thinking of my home coast (best coast, sorry not sorry) and hoping the air quality cleans up soon and everyone is staying well- big hug! Buon weekend a tutti 🍹🍴#curiousappetite
Did you know gelato is considered to have been bor Did you know gelato is considered to have been born in Florence, thanks to the Medici? . Legend says the Medici court held a competition for the most unusual food, and a chicken farmer (pollaiolo in Italian) Ruggieri presented something icy, sugared and with a tempting perfume. Caterina de’ Medici (who like us, quickly found gelato an essential food group) was instantly hooked. . So much so that after she was shipped off to France to marry, she brought this pollaiolo with her so this creation could be served at her wedding to Henry II. Other accounts cite Florentine architect Bernando Buontalenti and Sicilian Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. Curious to learn more about Caterina and chat all the historic gelato gossip? Join one of our tours! . Tickets to all our in-person and online events can be found via the linktree in bio or visiting our website! 📷 @tracyrusso of @dolcevidaphotography . . . . #gelato #gelatolovers #icecreamaroundtheworld #icecream #caterinademedici #florence #firenze #foodhistory #virtualexperiences #virtualtours #visititaly #armchairtravel #florenceitaly #iloveitaly #italymagazine #foodtours #nytfood #travelandleisure #foodandwine #gastroobscura #nytcooking #culturetrip #italiangelato #lovetheworld #tasteofitaly #theflorentine #cntraveler #theculturetrip
More favorite finds from the last weekend in Bolog More favorite finds from the last weekend in Bologna I wanted to share with you: raw almond, dark chocolate and lemon ginger gelato @la_sorbetteria_castiglione and vintage cookbooks from Bologna’s second weekend antique market in Piazza Santo Stefano, home to the seven churches complex. Ever been? 🍨 📚 #curiousappetite #bolognaitaly
Italy isn’t all about pasta, in fact, one of my Italy isn’t all about pasta, in fact, one of my favorite specialties is a good risotto. And in the Fall this carb-rich dish goes perfectly with porcini mushrooms. _ Rice is grown in Italy both in the northern region of Piedmont, Lombardia and also right here in Tuscany. The main risotto rices are Arborio and Canaroli, both named for the little towns in Piedmont they call their home. But Carnaroli is considered the creme of risotto rice varieties! _ Both of these rices have a special starch called “amylopectin starch” which gives the rice that creamy texture we all love in our risotto. _ You’ll find a bag of Carnaroli rice in our latest Gourmet Food Club boxes along with foraged dried porcini mushrooms, with a handy recipe to cook up a delicious risotto. _ Check out this seasons box via our website link in bio! . . . #italianfood #risotto #tuscany #italianfoodclub #italyeats #EatItalian #gourmetdelivery #giftboxes #giftideas #onlinefood #florenceitaly #iloveitaly #italymagazine #porcinimushrooms #foodbizwhiz #bbcgoodfood #chowhound #allrecipes #eatingwell #nytcooking #thekitchn #LPfood #foodandwine #lovetheworld #eattheworld #antipasti #yourflorence #theflorentine #f52grams #epicurious
Freshly ground and served, as espresso should be. Freshly ground and served, as espresso should be. These days not so many bars roast their own coffee or put care into provenance, but sometimes you are lucky to find gems like Caffe Piansa, Melaleuca, Coffee Mantra and middle ground Chiaroscuro. I didn’t used to put much thought into making a moka. Then I sat down with our barista @johnsy_jessica and learned there was way more to coffee than we think. She also broke my 1 euro espresso bubble when she taught me the real cost of coffee production. Plus taught me how to make a better coffee at home. If you consider yourself a coffee lover and are looking to learn more about this caffeinated gold we sip everyday, join Curious Appetite’s Virtual Barista and Coffee Workshop. Hosted by our coffee expert and Barista you are sure to learn a thing or two, and never think about your 1 euro espresso the same. Tickets and info to our online workshops via link in bio! . . . . #culturetrip #virtualexperiences #virtualtasting #baristaworkshop #coffeeinitaly #morningcoffee #coffeeculture #italiancoffee #coffeeshop #coffeebar #coffeelovers #visititaly #dreamingofitaly #florence #firenze #florencefood #foodtours #cntraveler #bbctravel #eater #vinepair #italymagazine #takemetoitaly #italytravel #iloveitaly #lifeinitaly #italygram #italianlifestyle
Did you know we do half-day culinary tours of Bolo Did you know we do half-day culinary tours of Bologna? I spent the last weekend in Bologna which included time visiting our partnering stops on this indulgent circuit. . When we were developing this tour, there had to be a fresh pasta aspect, not only tasting but going behind the curtains and meeting the sfogline (pasta makers) behind this earnest trade. . While many of you may not be able to travel, we do offer online cooking classes to perfect your at-home fresh pasta game and when you are able to visit Bologna- we hope you keep our #lagrassatour in mind! . Anyone been to Bologna or taken our tour? What did you love the most? 🍝🍾🥂 We sorely miss hosting food lovers on our tours but looking forward to twirling pasta either online or in-person! Buona domenica a tutti #curiousappetite #foodtours
Noticed a rooster around Tuscany a few times? Il G Noticed a rooster around Tuscany a few times? Il Gallo Nero (The Black Rooster) is the official symbol of Chianti Classico. . Legend has it that when Siena and Florence were fighting over territory, they agreed to a competition to determine the city-state limits. A knight of each city would choose a rooster, at dawn, upon the roosters crow, they would begin riding. Wherever they met determined the borders. . The Florentine knight won the race and the entire territory of Chianti (and all its wine) came under the control of Florence. . The symbol of Il Gallo Nero was adopted by the Consorzio del Gallo Nero in 1924, the first attempt to combat Chianti fraud. Now it is required to be present on all Chianti Classico wine bottles. . If you are interested to learn more about Italy’s long wine history, including legends over nefarious cheats by the Florentines for winning Chianti, join us for a little Sommelier-led wine and cheese tasting every Saturday at 8pm Italy time. . Reserve tickets at the link in bio or by searching "Curious Appetite Travel" on @eventbrite! . . . #TuscanyItaly #italiancheese #florenceitaly #iloveitaly #remoteteambuilding #onlinetasting #italymagazine #drinkitalian #bbcgoodfood #atlasobscura #LPfood #foodandwine #destinationflorence #lovetheworld #eattheworld #seetoshare #guardianfeast #TLpicks #onlinewine #theflorentine #forbestravel #epicurious #cheeseandwine #italianwinescholar #italianwine #chianticlassico #chiantiwine #tuscany #visittuscany #winestories
Curious what’s shaking and stirring around Tusca Curious what’s shaking and stirring around Tuscany? A couple cocktail weeks are on the horizon as are favored Fall flavors. . In our e-newsletter sent yesterday, I shared a bit about pasta travels, a gourmet food combo box deal, martini love and how to experience Florence and Tuscany Cocktail week whether you’re here or not! . Did you receive it? If not make sure you’re subscribed via link in bio! . I’ll also share the link to our e-letter in stories- as thanks to all y’all, this feed has reached 10K which means I can do that whole swipe up thing! Grazie mille- and cin cin to everyone 🍸#curiousappetite #10K