Curious Appetite

Oltrarno

Caffe Neri: New bakery near Ponte Vecchio, Florence

/ Bakeries, Desserts, Florence, Italy, Oltrarno / 2 Comments
A stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio! The best pastries you will probably find in the whole area. Most eating near Ponte Vecchio is sad. Alas, no more!

In my first post “Insider Tips for Eating in Florence” from the series “What Giulio Says”, I mentioned a rockin’ bakery/pastry shop Caffe Neri in the Castello area of Florence, well Sesto Fiorentino to be more precise. Admittedly, this bakery while fantastic, artisan and lead by one of the best bakers in the region (Simone Bellesi) is quite far for the average tourist. Even though I am a firm supporter of getting out of the historical center, that may not be a realistic goal for most people especially if they are only here for a few days. Continue Reading →

Where to eat in Florence during "la pausa"

/ Florence, Italy, Oltrarno, Quick Food Guides, Travel Tips, Where to Eat in Florence / 1 Comment
Italy, I love you. But we gotta talk about this pausa thing.

After years of coming to terms with culture clashes and accepting that things are simply done differently in Italy, I still from time to time cannot get over how inconvenient the Italian pausa is. La pausa is the break. The break that is a total pain in the back for travelers and locals alike. Italy, I love you for everything- the good and the bad. You are what I consider the closest thing to a husband- I take you for what you are. I can only hope you can forgive the following post as seemingly insensitive criticism to your cultural quirks. Continue Reading →

Gnam in Florence- burgers and bites in the Oltrarno

/ Aperitivo, Florence, Italy, Oltrarno / 0 comment
Gourmet mini-burger at Gnam’s aperitivo

Florence works really hard to maintain a stellar eating scene. There are new foodie places popping up constantly and small wine bars on virtually every corner. Where quality usually rings in well, the service is something to be discovered. I love being a critic, like a lot of people do. More and more legal action is being threatened against bloggers and journalists for publicly expressing their critical opinion. Yes, we have officially lost our rights to free expression. I admit that I have essentially allowed myself to be bullied. However, if you are looking for reviews on the best places to eat and drink in Florence and don’t find them on my site or around my instagram feed, that probably means that they suck. Continue Reading →

Culinaria Bistrot: Slow Food Eating in the Oltrarno

/ Florence, General Eating Out, Italy, Local/Organic, Oltrarno, Seasonal / 2 Comments

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. May I present to you: Culinaria Bistrot:

How can I say delicious any other way?

Want to know what the slow food movement was MEANT to taste like? HERE. Very very dear people own this eatery. People with grit, people with heart. No fuss, no pretension. Reasonable pricing and truly an explosive tasting experience. I went here THREE times in one week. I never do that. Continue Reading →

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