General Eating Out Archives - Curious Appetite

Better ask a sommelier: Andrea Galanti of Gastronomia Galanti

February 27, 2016 / Florence, Food For Thought, Where to Drink in Florence / 0 comment

Dear prosecco, didn’t thing I’d pass your schooling, did you? wait, maybe I need more..

Better ask a who??? A sommelier! What’s a sommelier and why you better ask him?!

Let me first explain a bit this category. Since I maintain a food blog in Florence, I’d like to interject expert voices from time to time on this complex yet highly sought out matter. Experts to me are those who work blood, sweat and tears in what they do like chefs, sommeliers, bakers, farmers, artisans, culinary instructors (not the touristy type) and OG food critics like Ruth Reichl (an expert in expressing both soul and poignancy). Because I muse about these topics and lead wine tours in Tuscany, I wanted to provide a platform to ask experts their opinions. Also to have an excuse to drink more…you know for “research.” Continue Reading →

Common misconceptions about Italian Food

February 17, 2016 / Food For Thought, Italy / 5 Comments

Did she just go there?

Find me one person who doesn’t like Italian food. Then find me someone who completely understands it. THEN bring me some- because it doesn’t really exist. Continue Reading →

Observations (mostly food related) by an American in Florence

January 30, 2016 / Food For Thought / 0 comment

My little hiatus from Florence is coming to an end, and without surprise, I have new observations from being in the states to share. Someone recently asked me “do you feel a little Italian or just like an American in Italy?” Continue Reading →

Eating Istanbul in 4 days

November 8, 2015 / Food For Thought, General Eating Out, Istanbul, Travel Adventures / 0 comment

When traveling, I have a couple rules. One is that I don’t want to plan anything. I need to wonder. To get lost. Another criteria is that I need to eat really great food. I mean, what good is traveling if you don’t get to know the local food?

Earlier this year I went to Istanbul and I went again because a. it’s a tremendous city that I barely scratched the surface of. b. I have a friend there. Not only that, this is someone who has a similar lens that I do for analyzing society. Thanks to this incredible friend, I was able to observe a little bit better how the social fabric of Istanbul was woven and to see nuances of juxtapositions evident in daily life. Continue Reading →

Florence’s new wave of good cocktail bars

September 25, 2015 / Florence, Food For Thought, Italy, Updates, Where to Drink in Florence / 0 comment

Check out my piece on craft cocktails in Florence for Eater.com!

Why hello! Long time no peeps, tweets or posts. Well, not so true. I blurt out things here and there whether it’s a recipe or an event, but I’ve been quiet on the food and drink “digest” front for many reasons and one of them was working really hard on some freelance articles, such as a recent piece I wrote for Eater.com

Read on: Florence’s Revival of Craft Cocktails

In addition to starting to write for awesome publications like Eater, I’ve been busy with hunting down the latest and best in food and drink, leading tours, “researching” and following my curiosity down the rabbit hole. A most fulfilling development is that I’ve been taking private wine lessons with one the most revered sommeliers/wine professionals in the industry. I have so many ideas for new posts such as digesting these wine lessons with food pairing ideas, creating new food and drink lists and experimenting more in the kitchen. Alas, my brain is on the edge of being toasted. Continue Reading →