Find me one person who doesn’t like Italian food. Then find me someone who completely understands it. THEN bring me some Italian food- because it doesn’t really exist. Continue Reading →
General Eating Out
Observations (mostly food related) by an American in Florence
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
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
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 →
In defense of food in Florence
I realize that for foodies from countries like America, Tuscan food in Florence can seem confusing. Recently, I took a quick stroll through common criticisms on sites like yelp and tripadvisor and decided to respond. These misunderstandings can be avoided, and I question the information out there educating people about what real Tuscan food and Italian food culture is about. Yes, Italian food includes plates of creamy gnocchi, carb-rich lasagna, pillow-y charred pizza and silky tagliatelle pasta and rich ragu’. But it is also a culture of regional foods, simple eating with little condiment. People eat out somewhat frequently in Italy, whether for a panino on the go or a quick plate of sliced roast beef and vegetables on lunch break. These meals are consumed casually at simple local cafes, hole in the walls or neighborhood trattorias. The grey area is that everyday Italians rarely go out for nicer, gourmet meals at atmospheric restaurants raved about in culture and leisure publications/blogs which travelers tend to chase after, giving a false impression of what the local eating culture is truly like. Continue Reading →