Italy Archives - Curious Appetite

Essential Restaurants in Florence for Eater (UPDATED!)

November 6, 2021 / Florence, Italy, restaurants in Florence, Updates, Where to Eat in Florence / 0 comment

channeling spaghetti and steak girl here

In 2017, Eater approached me and ask if I wanted to give Florence a space in their Essential Restaurant list round-ups and every year or so after I am tasked with updating this guide. It was due for an update in 2020 but for obvious reasons that task had to go on the back burner.

Now that some parts of the world are privileged enough to resume leisure activities and dining in, it was time to dust off this doc.

If you’d like to cut to the chase, go ahead and hit up the guide on Eater. To understand more of the process, food for thought and some additional “off-menu” dining tips, continue reading. Continue Reading →

Tour’ing Schiacciata vs Focaccia and Better Panini in Florence

October 25, 2021 / Bakeries, Florence, panini / 0 comment

I am finally compelled to write you all after a whirlwind stay in Florence. This time, things started to feel normal again. I never want to hear the words “zona gialla/arancione/rossa” ever again. I experienced Florence in a period in which I felt like I could finally resume what life was remotely like before the modern day plague struck. That is, doing tours, dining out and living between two places I consider home: San Francisco and Florence, Italy.

I write you from my couch in San Francisco, sipping on a negroni (made myself *unwashed/unbrushed hair flip*), in tattered pajamas no less. Just as I would have imagined my first real blog entry to be in the last nearly 2 years to look like. I hope you appreciate the visual picture I’m painting…

I was brought back to Florence to check on our culinary tours/events (so stoked they have been able to “ripartire” after this mess!). I’ll be in SF for the remainder of the year if anyone wants to book a food tour, wine tasting or company/holiday event! Continue Reading →

Zucchini Blossom Salad, Ricotta and Roman memories

July 7, 2021 / antipasti, Italy, Recipes, Seasonal, What's in Season / 0 comment

Since Florence (and much of the world in Summer season) is steaming hot, I thought to share a fresh salad recipe and some ideas for using squash blossoms (that aren’t only battering/frying). Not really a creative feat since so simple, but I had a hard time finding inspiration online for non-fried recipes for zucchini flowers so thought I’d share some of mine! Along with a few memories on how these fiori di zucca are treated (and devoured) in Italy. Continue Reading →

Aperitivo in Florence in the time of corona (summer 2020/21)

June 13, 2021 / Aperitivo, Florence, Italy, Where to Drink in Florence / 0 comment

For those of you following my blog for some time, it’s no secret one of my favorite Italian past times is the Aperitivo. This post is a round-up of my personal picks in Florence doing unique (and affordable) food and drink programs/formulas (mostly outdoors all’aperto) for Aperitivo hour during this abnormal pandemic summer (first written in summer 2020)

For those consulting this article in 2021, please add Molo 5 to their “estivo” summer list

And if you can’t make it to Florence- I have a couple ideas to bring Florence to your home. With our Negroni Club or a Food Lover’s boxes mailed to you from Florence

Continue Reading →

Where to Eat on the Cheap & Budget Dining in Florence, Italy

May 25, 2021 / Florence, Italy, Where to Eat in Florence / 0 comment

(Updated in May 2021, due to a literal global pandemic bear in mind to check/call in advance, don’t rely totally on google listings as spots here listed are usually managed independently/don’t update google as frequently/plus restrictions change on a dime. Bookmark as more updates are coming. Opinionated spirals were written pre-pandemic. Please support pretty much anything. Except bad aperitivo buffets)

One of my least favorite questions to get from people, whether friends or strangers, are “can you recommend a restaurant in Florence dove si mangia bene ma per poco. (where you eat well but paying little)” Even worse, is when someone asks “where is a good place for aperitivo in Florence that has loads of food and doesn’t cost a lot.” Or even better “where can I eat well, with a view, in the center, eat well and pay little.” I decided to respond to my least favorite question with a curated, quality round-up of frill-free eats & budget restaurants in Florence. Continue Reading →