Updates Archives - Curious Appetite

10 years in Florence and thoughts on San Francisco

June 21, 2022 / Florence, Florence, Italy, San Francisco, Updates, Updates / 2 Comments

Well, hello! It’s been a while (shocker!) and thought I’d take a stab to write something coherent on this abandoned blog of mine. I write as my body is currently doing its earnest to process the sweltering sticky heat that is Florence’s sauna state. This year has been a wild ride- the beginning started with a lot of uncertainty as omicron casted a shadow of doubt on the travel industry’s rebound, experiencing some disappointments in San Francisco, taking a break in Florence while observing the world become an even crazier place- 2 years since the onset of a global pandemic.

I also write this week as I enter my exact 10 year anniversary since I packed up from Seattle to pursue my dream to move to Italy. This post will be a reflection on what it has been like to move to Italy, assimilated, questioned, move back to the US and where I stand now juggling a current hybrid Italy/US life. Continue Reading →

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 →

Reflections on Florence and updates from San Francisco

February 2, 2020 / Florence, Italy, Updates / 16 Comments

the world might be a dumpster on fire, but make it your oyster when you can

Oh why hello! And how have I stalled a bit on this special space of mine. I’ve been reflecting a lot on the direction of my blog, what its meant to me in the past and where I shall take it in the future. If you’ve been following are are brand new here, after 7 years of loving yet tolerating Florence (plus 4 years of undergrad studies in Italian prior which brought me to Rome and Perugia to study/live abroad, so probably 10+ years of living/traveling between US/Italy all together), I decided to make a mega move. I recently reshaped my life to live between San Francisco and Florence. For now, of course! Who knows, life is unpredictable.

To answer the questions I posed subito: This blog has been a special place to me to document my reflections as an American navigating life in Florence with a food obsessed lens and I will always consider it my eternal beloved. I will continue to write about food in Florence here when I get a chance. In fact, this space will be getting a lot more Florence food TLC as I will be there next week- follow along via the grams! (@curiousappetite)

While I may no longer not live in Florence everyday, it will always be one of my long-distance limbs which I’ll never be able to live without. And luckily since Curious Appetite’s food tours in Florence are still running thanks to a team on the ground, I am able to stay updated, albeit vicariously, though the team. In order to not go completely crazy behind my computer while sharing what I’ve learned over the years in Italy, I personally lead Italian-themed gourmet experiences in San Francisco if you’d like to eat & drink Italian style with me:) Continue Reading →

Cocktail Making in Florence, curses to wordpress and other updates

February 20, 2019 / Events in Florence, Florence, Italy, Updates / 3 Comments

I’m writing with a heart partially broken, I’d been working on a draft for DAYS and I was about to publish and guess what happened- it disappeared! So you’ll have to forgive me for the fast and furiousness of this post as I am having to write it all over again. Curses to you, wordpress!

Maybe this is symbolic? In the draft which is no more, I had delved into how I feel about starting over in a sense in regards towards my next step in life, which will involve more of San Francisco (stay tuned!) So perhaps this is a taste of what is to ensue over the next several months. Putting energy into something new only for it to dissipate into thin air. Picking yourself up despite the discouragement, and muster the energy back to the drawing board. Good ol’ trial and error, lesson learning and all that! Continue Reading →

Judging Europe’s Best Gelato and Postrivoro “Top Chef” Pop-Ups

September 30, 2018 / Emilia-Romagna, Food For Thought, Gelato, Italy, Updates / 0 comment

Remember last year when I was judging at the Gelato Festival for the World’s Best? Well, kinda like the world cup, rounds are now running leading up to the next world competition in 2021.

This mid-September, I was on the panel to judge for the European Finals “All Stars” for title of Best in Europe, and those present at the All Stars competition were winners from previous rounds held around the world. The winners here will go on to the next rounds on the road to World’s Best.

So how was it?

Continue Reading →