Curious Appetite

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10 years in Florence and thoughts on San Francisco

/ Florence, Florence, Italy, San Francisco, Updates, Updates / 2 Comments

Well, hello! It’s been a while (shocker!) and thought I’d take a stab to write something coherent on this abandoned blog of mine. I write as my body is currently doing its earnest to process the sweltering sticky heat that is Florence’s sauna state. This year has been a wild ride- the beginning started with a lot of uncertainty as omicron casted a shadow of doubt on the travel industry’s rebound, experiencing some disappointments in San Francisco, taking a break in Florence while observing the world become an even crazier place- 2 years since the onset of a global pandemic.

I also write this week as I enter my exact 10 year anniversary since I packed up from Seattle to pursue my dream to move to Italy. This post will be a reflection on what it has been like to move to Italy, assimilated, questioned, move back to the US and where I stand now juggling a current hybrid Italy/US life. Continue Reading →

Reflections on Florence and updates from San Francisco

/ Florence, Italy, Updates / 16 Comments
the world might be a dumpster on fire, but make it your oyster when you can

Oh why hello! And how have I stalled a bit on this special space of mine. I’ve been reflecting a lot on the direction of my blog, what its meant to me in the past and where I shall take it in the future. If you’ve been following are are brand new here, after 7 years of loving yet tolerating Florence (plus 4 years of undergrad studies in Italian prior which brought me to Rome and Perugia to study/live abroad, so probably 10+ years of living/traveling between US/Italy all together), I decided to make a mega move. I recently reshaped my life to live between San Francisco and Florence. For now, of course! Who knows, life is unpredictable.

To answer the questions I posed subito: This blog has been a special place to me to document my reflections as an American navigating life in Florence with a food obsessed lens and I will always consider it my eternal beloved. I will continue to write about food in Florence here when I get a chance. In fact, this space will be getting a lot more Florence food TLC as I will be there next week- follow along via the grams! (@curiousappetite)

While I may no longer not live in Florence everyday, it will always be one of my long-distance limbs which I’ll never be able to live without. And luckily since Curious Appetite’s food tours in Florence are still running thanks to a team on the ground, I am able to stay updated, albeit vicariously, though the team. In order to not go completely crazy behind my computer while sharing what I’ve learned over the years in Italy, I personally lead Italian-themed gourmet experiences in San Francisco if you’d like to eat & drink Italian style with me:) Continue Reading →

Where to drink Italian wine in San Francisco and back to Italy

/ Press, San Francisco, Wine / 1 Comment
you’d be a monster to not want to be here

In a few posts back, I detailed navigating into a new chapter in San Francisco. It’s been a decision steadfast in the making. I spent last year a couple months at a time in this complicated California dreamy city on the Bay to see if I really wanted to make the leap.

The last 7 years in Florence have been extremely transformational, and in certain ways it is where I’ve become an adult and put down professional roots- you remember this is where my Florence food and drink tour baby was born then with Bologna tours to follow (and is still growing and still running- possible to an awesome team on the ground who leads and manages the tours so not to fret!) Hence, leaving Florence was not the easiest decision to make.

It’s now been since March I’ve happily landed in San Francisco and I’ve rarely missed Florence if I can be honest, for a litany of reasons. I genuinely love it here and am so glad I followed by gut instead of staying behind in Florence out of fear or resignation.

that me, showing off my tour company’s shout-out in the August edition of Lonely Planet Mag! In front of Seattle’s famous gum wall during a weekend trip now I’m so close to my hometown

Continue Reading →

Expanding my appetite in San Francisco, news of sorts

/ Florence, San Francisco, Updates / 3 Comments
Flying into my latest American dream

Hello you beautiful eyes! I have some news and updates I’d like to unpack for you, thank you for giving me your precious time and attention for a rather detailed (ahem, wordy) update.

I write you from San Francisco where I have been hiding out the last couple months. You may be wondering Aren’t you supposed to be in Florence telling us where to eat??? Giving tours? Quick backstory as to how my obsession with SF started then I’ll get back to my updates which include offering wine lessons in San Francisco’s Little Italy/North Beach. Continue Reading →

In search of the best focaccia in Liguria, inspired by San Francisco

/ Italy, San Francisco, Travel Adventures / 4 Comments
water view of the Ligurian coast from Moneglia

Hello my dears! I write you again from a (sometimes) sunny Spring in San Francisco- it’s been quite a whirlwind of 2 months since I was last here! It may seem like I left Florence hastily without much written, but I assure you- a mountain of work was demanding my efforts. I was left without much choice but to leave this space a little in the dark.

Nevertheless, I made sure during the bits of calm I was permitted during these 2 months, to dedicate my palate to food-filled goose chases, like around Liguria in search of the best focaccia. Also to Turin (for well, the best of everything), which I’ll muse on my next post. For now, read on for all things focaccia and a dash of pesto! Continue Reading →

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