Curious Appetite

Events in Florence

Taste Food Festival in Florence 2016

(credit: Pitti Immagine http://www.pittiimmagine.com)

Hey there! Apologies for being a teensy bit late on this, but the night I wanted to make a post on this, I was actually at a Taste event on Thursday…! Which you did not miss anything but an overpriced aperitivo (25eu) and a poorly printed (with sloppy google translated) release of a “foodie” guide to Florence from Firenze Spettacolo. The book you then could buy at a “promo” cost of 5eu. The guide itself was nothing surprising and somewhat hit-and-miss in terms of recommendations and in my opinion, not worth the 12 euros (the non-promo listed price.)  The event itself was saved by cool snack stands present such as Gastronomia Galanti and Trattoria Da Burde (serving up Ribollita and Farinata soup) but other than those 2 and an outdated hotel space, the event was worth missing.

Despite my bittersweet kick-off experience to the events for Pitti Taste, there are more legit food-centric events worth checking out, I promise. What is Pitti Taste/Fuori di Taste? It’s an annual FOOD festival where basically there are special dinners, lunches, demos, events and tastings held at restaurants, bars and cooking schools around town to showcase excellency and new tricks in the Tuscan food scene deemed Fuori di Taste events. There is also a central showroom space (Stazione Leopolda) where loads of purveyors are present to sample and taste off their goods. The cool part of this event is say you’ve been curious about L’Ora di Aria, Florence’s 1 Michelin star “innovative” restaurant and Marco Stabile– during Taste you can sample a special menu at a promo price (just 45eu for Michelin-star dining) Of course, Michelin-star is not-the-end-all-be-all of fine dining. For those really interested in cuisine, experiencing (and understanding) the whole Michelin craze is beneficial for getting a well-rounded understanding of culinary culture.      Continue Reading

New Event: Art Walk + Renaissance Mixology Oct 9th 2015 4pm

One of Mayday’s tasty herbal provisions- come and try this Friday October 9th 2015

Hello readers! I’m quickly writing to let you know I will be teaming up with art and history expert Alexandra Lawrence for a special Walk + Talk event this Friday October 9th!

Here is the event details from Alexandra’s Facebook page:

Walks and Talks Renaissance Art + Aperitivo

“How did people really eat, drink, live and love during the Renaissance? We will attempt to answer this with a visit to Palazzo Davanzati and the exhibition “Il sole in casa”, which explores daily life through Italian ceramics. Different domestic objects in the palazzo—ranging from furniture to famous 14th c. frescoed stories on the bedroom walls—illustrate gender roles, home décor, food culture, the role of the minor arts and artisans in Renaissance homes, and much more.

Walks and Talks Renaissance Art + Aperitivo Mayday

After the visit, join us for a private guided tasting of Renaissance elixirs by Florence’s most seasoned and fascinating mixologist at Mayday. Go back in time to imbibe historical medicinal liqueurs, house-made essences, Renaissance potions and potent concoctions, all paired with artisan cheeses that were nibbled during the same time period. We will be accompanied by local food blogger Curious Appetite (that’s me!) who is on top of the contemporary food and drink scene in town and who will give us a deeper understanding of the cocktail and elixir culture of Florence’s most defining era. Not to be missed!”

For those of you in town and would like to combine a fascinating art walk lead by one of the most sought out art history experts in Florence (Alexandra) with a potion stop to imbibe in some Renaissance mixology at Florence’s truly speakeasy craft cocktail lounge, contact me thecuriousappetite@gmail.com or Alexandra exploreflorence@gmail.com to RSVP

details: Friday October 9th 2015. Time: 4-7pm location: meeting point will be released to all upon RSVP

cost: Contact for inclusive pricing for the art walk and the post-walk Renaissance-themed aperitivo. This event is private and we get exclusive access to Mayday and special drinks off the menu, as well as various tastings from their mixology lab. There will be light food pairings included.

inclusions: A guided fused art and food/drink walk with 2 local experts with a truly unique theme!

For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Space is limited- reserve your spot today.

In your quest for time travel (and good booze),

Curious Appetite

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Aperitivo + Dinner Event: Vogue’s Fashion Night Out September 17th 2015

(credits: dariawiki.org. “The Fashion Club.”)

Vogue’s Fashion Night Out is basically the night where I realize how much I am not “with it,” my outfits probably make no sense and that I should eat rice cakes and fat free yogurt for the rest of my life. It also painfully reminds me how much I cannot wear heals and how Florentines put the icing on the glitz and glamour cake. I may sound like an embittered Daria, but let’s face it- Italians and their well-dressed immaculate put-togetherness makes us question our outwardly presented existence. Unless you are one of those people who moved here and learned how to emulate the well-dressed gods who grace these Renaissance streets, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. To be diplomatic at best, it is a night filled with flashy events, openings and shows, albeit shoving along the jam packed boulevards getting from one palazzo to the next. Continue Reading

Events in Florence July 23rd & 24th: artisans, wine makers and snacks

Dear readers,

I was recently in the French part of Switzerland and my full intention was to write all about it first thing upon my return. As the wonderland of Florence has it, that post will have to be next on the roster because there are a couple really cool events happening this week that you can’t miss if you’re in town: Artisan Party on Thursday July 23rd and a Gourmet Vertical Wine Tasting on Friday July 24th. 

1st up is a Summer Pop-Up Festa by my lovely friend Nardia of Lost in Florence.

(credit: Nardia of Lost in Florence)

Lost in Florence is joining forces with a few very talented, local contemporary artisans in Florence to host a Summer Pop-Up Party at the stylish, chic La Serra studio space in Florence. The artisans present will be MK Textiles, Tinka Loncar and Officina Lab.

The details: Thursday 23 July 2015: From 7pm, we will be celebrating summer over a crisp cocktail, mingle with the artisans and check out their handmade goodies all on the gorgeous historic Palazzo Pandolfini secret garden. RSVP via the facebook event page.

The 2nd event you can’t miss in Florence this week is another Gourmet Vertical Wine Tasting Event in Florence presented by the Winemaker this Friday July 24th at 9pm

Me and guests from last gourmet vertical wine tasting event in Florence

I have exclusive invites for a small handful of my readers (and pals) to join my table for a Vertical Wine Tasting presented by an Umbrian Winemaker at my favorite wine bar in Florence. Included in the tasting event are 6 wines and each wine will be paired with a generous array of finger foods such as gourmet crostini, truffle panini bites, organic artisan cheeses and local meats such as wild boar fennel salumi. This is not an event to miss if you are a serious food and wine lover visiting Florence. You will be at a private wine tasting at one of Florence’s most revered wine bars, served by the city’s best sommeliers and surrounded by locals (no tourists, except us:) Since I speak 3 languages (English, Italian and Wine), I’ll be able to translate and guide you through the whole tasting event in leisure.

Info on the wines:

Winemaker: Leonardo Bussoletti. Considered by local wine journal publications as one of the most important, emerging winemakers in Italy whose craft wines have “Oscar-award winning” caliber.

Wines presented: Grechetto (white wine), 3 different “vertical” vintages (i.e. wines of different years to demonstrate contrast) of the Brecciaro line (Ciliegiolo di Narni) and ending with a vertical of 2 vintages from his “old vine” Vigne Vecchie Riserva line (also Ciliegiolo di Narni). All wines from Umbria, the nearly undiscovered “green heart” central region of Italy.

Time and place: Friday July 24th at 9pm. Skip dinner. You won’t need it. Cost: 25eu. Since this is an exclusive, private event, you will need to contact me to RSVP for location details.

As with previous events, I have the privilege from my favorite wine bar in Florence to invite a few of my readers to join my table for this private vertical wine tasting event. This is a private event with only local attendees from the wine industry and personal contacts of the wine bar owner. This is great way to experience something different on a Friday night in Florence…with me as your date!

I look forward to seeing you in style (and taste!) this week in Florence.

Staying cool in the Florentine summer,

The Curious Appetite

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Gourmet Wine Event in Florence July 9th 2015

Artisan Food Pairings and Brunello Wine Tasting? Yes, please!

Hello, all! Whether you’ve google’d me or follow me already (hopefully no trolls)- I got some news to share! I’ve been a bit quiet on the blog front but I wanted to let you know that this Thursday July 9th, I’m inviting a few of my readers to come drink wines and nibble on food pairings with me at a private vertical food and wine tasting in Florence. The tasting is hosted and organized by a very well-respected wine bar by winos and industry pros world over, and I am lucky that one of the owners extends me an invite for a private table- which spots I offer to my readers. The event is in Italian and I will be translating for the guests at my table if need be.

The details!

We will be doing a vertical tasting of wines from the precious area of Montalcino at a very secluded wine bar in the heart of Florence, both Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino. There will be food pairings with each wine pouring (5 total) and will include local artisan cheeses, cured meats (like fennel wild boar salumi), gourmet crostini and truffle panini. Wine and snacks will be plenty- bring an appetite and thirst!

Apart from the Langhe, Montalcino holds a special favored place in my wino heart. The night will showcase a very unique producer Agostina Pieri, who do very traditional nearly perfect reds from Montalcino- hand-picking every bunch from the region’s nearly perfect satellite in Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Reds are still divine in summer- especially if you know how to store/serveAgostina Pieri them well!

Their wines are considered sensational across the wine journalism world- and has received considerable accolade from Wine Advocate and awards from Italy’s own Gambero Rosso food and wine guide publication.

Why come? This is a private wine tasting event that is by invite only, hence a very exclusive opportunity to experience Italian wine tasting culture in Florence with locals. The bar that hosts this event specializes in small batch wineries and producers off the mass produced map. All of the snacks they serve come from local farms and artisan cheese makers, for example.

More details!

July 9th 2015 at 9:30pm. The cost is 25eu and includes 5 wines and snacks. Contact me to RSVP and to receive info on the venue. Since notice is so short- please only e-mail if you are sincerely interested in joining. Spaces are limited! RSVP now!

Photo credit: http://www.pieriagostina.it/en/gallery.php%5B/caption%5D

p.s. No trolls allowed!

In your summertime wine,

The Curious Appetite

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