italy

Podcast: Tuscany Wine Trips (and Beaches) with Toni Mazzaglia

Toni Mazzaglia from Taste Florence is an expert on Italian Food and Wine. She tells Brent about the wine regions…

2 days ago

Bologna, Italy Food & Travel Guide

Read the entire Bologna Food & Travel Guide Foodie Bologna The region of Emilia-Romagna is filled with some of the most…

4 days ago

Podcast: Florence Day Trips with Toni Mazzaglia

Toni Mazzaglia is the founder of Taste Florence food tours and she’s back on the podcast to talk about the…

1 week ago

The stolen bucket of Bologna, Italy

Torre della Ghirlandina The bell tower in Modena was built in 1179 and is attached to the Modena cathedral by…

2 weeks ago

Podcast: Milan Day Trips with Jackie DeGiorgio

Jackie DeGiorgio is an expert on Milan and the Lombardy region. She tells Brent about the best day trips from…

2 weeks ago

The Flatbreads of Modena, Italy

Flatbreads called Crescentina can be found all over Emilia-Romagna. The thing is, they differ widely throughout E-R in the shape…

3 weeks ago

Podcast: Lake Como and Italy’s Lake Region with Jackie DeGiorgio

Jackie DeGiorgio is a Milan writer, podcaster, tour guide, and foodie. She returns to the podcast to talk about the…

3 weeks ago

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

If Modena is known for one thing (besides being the hometown of local hero Luciano Pavarotti), it’s for the sweet…

4 weeks ago

Modena, Italy Food & Travel Guide

Known for the sweet/sour fruity elixir Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the city is rich in foodie delights. There’s also a…

1 month ago

Little Hat pasta of Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Cappelletti is one of the most popular pasta shapes in Emilia-Romagna. In the city of Ravenna, they put their own…

2 months ago

Dante’s final resting place

Dante Alighieri, known by the mononym Dante, was an Italian poet and philosopher who is most famous for his work…

2 months ago

Piadina, street food from Emilia-Romagna

You'll find the famous flatbread everywhere from distinctive striped kiosks to sit-down restaurants.

2 months ago

Is Genoa’s Pesto Overrated? I Had to Find Out

In Genoa, pesto isn’t just a sauce—it’s a legacy. Brent dives into the city’s food scene to uncover the best…

2 months ago

Ravenna Food & Travel Guide

Ravenna, in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region is often dwarfed by Venice, Florence, and Bologna, all within easy reach of the…

2 months ago

The fancy fisherman’s drink

Fishermen in Fano, Italy drank a high octane mix of espresso and alcohol to prepare themselves for their rough days…

2 months ago

The Pope who didn’t want to be pope

A monk who built a following from a remote hermitage in Abruzzo, Italy was tabbed as pope in 1294. It…

3 months ago

Kitchen of the poor in L’Aquila, Italy

Cucina povera, known as “peasant food” or “kitchen of the poor”, is the idea that while some parts of Italy…

3 months ago

Podcast: Rome, Venice, and Abruzzo, Italy

Planning a trip to Italy? We’ve got some of the best things to eat in Rome, drink in Venice, as…

3 months ago

L’Aquila, Italy Food & Travel Guide

L’Aquila suffered a devasting blow when a 2009 earthquake severely damaged the city and killed over 300 people. But, L’Aquila…

3 months ago

Eating My Way Through Genoa 🇮🇹 Focaccia, Farinata & Hidden Street Food Gems

Genoa might be gritty, but its street food is pure magic 🇮🇹 Brent dives into the rough-and-tumble streets of Genoa…

3 months ago

A cake named after local wildlife

Scanno, Italy is proud of their brown bear population. So, of course, they named a cake after them.

3 months ago

Must-Try Foods of the French & Italian Riviera | Ultimate Food Travel Guide

From creamy pesto with a surprising twist to rich and earthy ratatouille, and a street food perfect for a hike…

3 months ago

The world famous edible Confetti

Enjoyed all over the world, Confetti has been made in a little Italian town for over 500 years.

4 months ago

Alassio, Italy Food Tour 🇮🇹 | Pesto, Aperitivo & Riviera Eats

Join Brent in Alassio, Italy, a beautiful town on the Italian Riviera, as he eats his way through local specialties…

4 months ago

Podcast: Carnival in Venice, Rio, and Guadeloupe

We’re celebrating Carnival season by starting the party early in Rio (at 7am!), dancing in the streets in Guadeloupe, and…

4 months ago

When the Dutch artist visited Abruzzo, Italy

Known for his surreal, yet mathematical drawings and lithos, the Dutch artist is remembered in a remote Italian town. Maurits…

4 months ago

I Ate Incredible Street Food & Snacks on the French & Italian Riviera 🇫🇷🇮🇹

From sizzling street food in Nice to centuries-old snacks in Genoa, I traveled the French and Italian Riviera to taste…

4 months ago

Podcast: Markets in Palermo, Venice, Kuala Lumpur, and Mexico City

Visiting local markets is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture and food of a city. Brent…

4 months ago

Scanno & Sulmona, Italy

It may be a tiny, mountaintop village, but Scanno has more than its share interesting cuisine including a pastry named…

4 months ago

Ultimate Italian Street Food Tour | Eats from Bologna to Puglia

Italy is famous for its food—but the street food might be even better 🇮🇹 In this video. Brent travels across…

4 months ago

Podcast: Modena, Italy with Lori Sganzerla from Taste Bologna

Lori Sganzerla is a foodie tour guide from Modena, Italy. She knows the famous city of gastronomy as well as…

5 months ago

The fishing platforms of Abruzzo called Trabocci

The coast of Abruzzo, Italy is dotted with characteristic fishing platforms called Trabocci. In fact, they are so common that…

5 months ago

Italian Desserts Road Trip 🇮🇹 | Lecce to Bologna Sweets You Must Try

I drove across Italy’s east coast from Lecce to Bologna on a dessert-filled road trip, tasting some of the most…

5 months ago

Pescara, Italy Food & Travel Guide

Pescara is a thoroughly modern city with miles of beaches and typical Italian beach resorts. However, it is also home…

5 months ago

I Ate Some of Italy’s Most Unique Pasta Dishes on a Foodie Road Trip 🇮🇹

Experience Italy through its most authentic and unexpected pasta dishes (and more!) on this unforgettable foodie road trip. In this…

5 months ago

Tourist tax

Ever been shortchanged, overcharged, or received less than you paid for while on vacation? Congratulations, you just paid the Tourist…

5 months ago

New Year’s Eve & red underwear

If you're in Italy for New Year's Eve, be sure to wear this specifically colored undergarment.

5 months ago

Puglia Foodie Travel Guide

From Baroque Lecce to rugged Monte Sant’Angelo, Puglia is a foodie's hidden paradise. Each city and town has its own…

6 months ago

Monte Sant’Angelo Foodie Travel Guide

Perched on a mountaintop in the middle of a national park, Monte Sant’Angelo is a pilgrim destination with several unique…

6 months ago

Podcast: Overtourism in Florence, Dubrovnik, and Rome

So many places in Europe are suffering from overtourism; massive crowds, overpriced hotels, and grumpy locals. So, we're giving some…

6 months ago

☕ I Tried Italy’s Most Unique Coffees — From Espresso to Caffè Speciale!

Embark on an Italian coffee crawl with Brent as he explores Italy’s most delicious and unique espresso drinks! 🇮🇹 From…

6 months ago

Santa Claus is entombed in Bari, Italy

The 4th century saint lived and preached in present-day Turkey. Somehow, his bones ended up in Bari.

7 months ago

Podcast: Rome, A Culinary History with Katie Parla

New York Times bestselling author Katie Parla talks with Brent about her adopted hometown of Rome and her new book…

7 months ago

Bari, Italy Foodie Travel Guide

A rough and tumble port city, Bari’s charm lie in its culinary culture, especially several unique street food items. Foodie…

7 months ago

Moscato di Trani

Arriving in the Puglian town of Trani, I had one beverage-based mission. Find and sample the local sweet wine, Moscato…

7 months ago

Trani, Italy

A quaint town on the Adriatic, Trani held great importance in the Middle Ages. Today, it’s more sleepy with a…

7 months ago

Taralli, southern Italy’s delicious cracker

When you go to Puglia (the heel of the Italian peninsula), you're sure to see Taralli. They're everywhere! Taralli are…

8 months ago

Caffe Speciale, the coffee drink invented a seaside Italian town

A coffee drink in Puglia is as delicious as it is decadent. Coffee in Italy I'm always amazed at the…

8 months ago

Monopoli, Italy

If Lecce is the sophisticated historical center of Puglia and Bari is the rough and tumble port, Monopoli is the…

8 months ago

Lecce, Italy Foodie Travel Guide

My latest foodie travel guide is to the Italian city of Lecce in Puglia. We've been going to Lecce for…

9 months ago

Bologna Street Food Tour 🍝 Hidden Michelangelo & Rum-Soaked Cake | Italy Road Trip

Discover the ultimate Bologna street food tour in Italy’s culinary capital! 🇮🇹 From a rum-soaked cake to tortellini en brodo,…

9 months ago

Modena, Italy Food Adventure: €5000 Balsamic, Lambrusco & one of the Best Meals Ever!

Modena, Italy is a food lover’s paradise — and in this episode, Brent dives deep into its culinary treasures. 🇮🇹✨…

9 months ago

Exploring Ravenna 🇮🇹 1,500-Year-Old Mosaics, Unique Pasta & Italian Street Food

Discover Ravenna, Italy — a city of dazzling 1,500-year-old Byzantine mosaics, medieval history, and incredible food you won’t find anywhere…

9 months ago

L’Aquila Food Tour | Hidden Gem in Abruzzo with Torrone, Meatless Meatballs & Evening Passeggiata

Discover the hidden flavors of L’Aquila, Italy — a city that rose from the 2009 earthquake to become one of…

9 months ago

Scanno, Italy Food Crawl 🇮🇹 | Hidden Mountain Town, Confetti Sweets & Arrosticini BBQ

Join Brent on a mouthwatering road trip through Scanno, a hidden gem in the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy. 🍝🍷 We’ll…

10 months ago

Italy Roadtrip: Pescara | Homemade pasta, local pastry, Montepulciano wine & empty beaches (for now)

Brent is in Pescara to sample the food of Abruzzo. That means homemade pasta named after a musical instrument, a…

10 months ago

Podcast: Florence, Venice, and the Bay of Naples in Italy

Everyone wants to visit Italy! Brent shares some of the best things to eat and drink in Florence, Venice, and…

10 months ago

Italy Roadtrip: Trani by the sea in Puglia | Searching for a unique liqueur

Brent's roadtrip takes him to Trani on the Adriatic Sea. He searches for a unique local liqueur and pastry (only…

10 months ago

Italy Road Trip: Seaside Monopoli with amazing rustica and pumped up coffee!

Brent is in the seaside town of Monopoli for homemade pasta and a giant slab of delicious rustica! Plus, a…

11 months ago

Italy Road Trip: Delicious Lecce in Puglia

Brent kicks off his Italy roadtrip in the far southern tip of country with an amazing food crawl in Lecce.…

11 months ago

Podcast: Venice, Italy cocktails with Monica Cesarato

Monica Cesarato is a native Venician who knows more about one of Europe's most popular cities than anyone. She tells…

1 year ago

Podcast: Ravenna, Italy with Silvia from Taste Bologna Tours

We're in Ravenna, Italy with Silvia from Taste Bologna Tours for a unique pasta that resembles a chicken's throat, local…

1 year ago

Podcast: Pasta Grammar with Harper and Eva

Harper and Eva are the charming couple behind the incredibly popular YouTube channel Pasta Grammar. They tell Brent about buying…

1 year ago

Foraging in Abruzzo, Italy with Marta Udalowa

Marta Udalowa and her husband gave up corporate jobs in Ireland for life in rural Abruzzo, Italy. She tells Brent…

1 year ago

Podcast: Christmas in France, Italy, Germany and the Philippines

For Christmas we're celebrating with Bûche de Noël in France, walking off the meal in Rome, a Glühwein crawl in…

1 year ago

Podcast: Cheese in Sardinia, Nova Scotia & Australia

We're sampling some of the best cheese from around the world. Amazing blue cheese from Nova Scotia, pecorino from Sardinia,…

1 year ago

Podcast: Naples pizza contest with Scott Weiner from Scott’s Pizza Tours [Ep 312]

Scott Weiner is the founder of Scott's Pizza Tours and owner of the Guiness World Record largest pizza box collection.…

2 years ago

Frozen treats from Italy, Australia, St. Louis & Canada

We're cooling off during the dog days of summer with frozen treats from all over the world. We'll sample the…

2 years ago

Podcast: Bologna with Andrea Chierici from Taste Bologna

Andrea Chierici lives and works in Bologna, Italy and loves his city! He tells Brent about the amazing food including…

2 years ago

Podcast: Pasta in Sicily, Turin, Abruzzo & Croatia

Brent searches for the best pasta shape for pesto with NYT bestselling author Katie Parla, tries the stuffed pasta native…

2 years ago

The best gelato in Milan, Italy

Milan is one of the best cities in all of Italy for Gelato. It rivals even Florence for the number…

3 years ago

Negroni Sbagliato (Incorrect Negroni)

The social media sensation cocktail was invented in Milan 50 years ago. Negroni Sbagliato origin story Negroni Sbagliato at Bar…

3 years ago

The Bone Chapel where a Duke was murdered

The Santuario di San Bernardino is not only where a creepy ossuary is located, it's also where a very unpopular…

3 years ago

Wine bars, Negroni Sbagliato, Truffles & Springsteen in Milan, Italy

Brent is in Milan visiting the coolest wine bar, sipping a "broken" Negroni, and enjoying decadent truffles. And, he caps…

3 years ago

Champagne sorbetto, wine & mini pastry in Milan, Italy

Brent is in Milan, Italy to visit the Milan Cathedral and tries a sorbetto made with Champagne, yummy mini pastries,…

3 years ago

Why We Eat Zeppole on Saint Joseph’s Day

Italian bakeries crank out millions of zeppole every Saint Joseph's Day. Enjoying this delicious pastry is a tradition not only…

3 years ago

Ape, the three-wheeled trucks from Italy

The modest Italian lightweight trucks are popular all over Europe. Ape Origin Story After WWII, Italy was in ruins and…

4 years ago

Why you shouldn’t book the cheapest ticket

The cheapest ticket isn't always the best choice. In fact, sometimes it will make your trip miserable. Remote Airports Maybe…

4 years ago

The (probably untrue) legend of Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Puttanesca translates literally to "prostitute." So, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is "pasta in the style of a prostitute." That couldn't be…

4 years ago

Chocolate Hazelnut-the famous flavor of Turin

Chocolate and hazelnuts seems like a match made in heaven. But it took a war to bring them together Chocolate…

5 years ago

Halloween in Italy

Our notion of Halloween in the U.S., children in costumes going door to door for candy, originates in Scotland and…

5 years ago

The Best Pizza in Naples

Naples is known as the birthplace of pizza. But, there's more than just classic Neapolitan pizza in the Città del…

5 years ago

Orecchiette & Broccoli Rabe (Vegan)

This is a very traditional dish from the Puglia region (the heel of the boot) in Italy. But, I put…

5 years ago

Rome’s Drinking Fountains

Rome has thousands of quirky drinking fountains called Nasoni to keep you hydrated during the hot summer. Nasoni origin story…

5 years ago

A cheese from Sicily cooked three times

Tricotta takes Ricotta Cheese and cooks it a third time for a special Sicilian treat. Tricotta origin story Tricotta for…

5 years ago

Affogato

This rich and creamy drink combines two things that Italy excels at: espresso and gelato. What is an Affogato? Notice…

5 years ago

Music school in Lucca, Italy

Lucca, Italy (photo: Brent Petersen) Yet another entry in my long list of examples of why you should keep yourself…

5 years ago

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…in Italy

Chestnut vendor in Rome (photo: Brent Petersen) One of my favorite things about being in Italy in the fall and…

5 years ago

The Italian town that does the evening stroll on two wheels

Each evening, all over Italy, people come out for the "passeggiata," or stroll. Everyone takes part; young, old, rich, poor,…

6 years ago

When looking for a snack in Naples, head to the Friggitoria

In Italian, Friggitoria means fryer. And the name is apt. The local Friggitoria shop in Naples has a huge selection…

6 years ago

An Italian bread made from scraps of dough

One of my favorite things about Italy is the culture's ingenious frugality. Have grape skins and stems left over from…

6 years ago

How to make Limoncello at home

Homemade Limoncello is easy to make. You just need the correct ingredients and a little patience. Limoncello origin story Enjoying…

6 years ago

In Defense of Cheap Plastic Souvenirs

Recently, I was talking with my friend Mickela Mallozzi for my podcast. Mickela is the creator and host of the…

6 years ago

Movies featuring each region of Italy

Italy is home to a vibrant film making industry that has been widely recognized over the years for its quality…

6 years ago

10 movies that will make you love Sicily

Sicily is an extraordinary place filled with gorgeous scenery, a fascinating history, and interesting people. While many famous films are…

6 years ago

Naples’ custom of sharing espresso with strangers

Customers visit caffès in Naples each morning and order two espressos. But, they don't drink both. The second one is…

6 years ago

The Three Street Food Dishes You Must Try in Palermo

Your favorite culinary experience in Palermo might just be from the back of a 3-wheeled truck or a sidewalk street…

6 years ago

How to Enjoy Two Different Bellinis in Italy

You've probably enjoyed a luscious Bellini or two during brunch but there's a second Bellini-inspired dish that you have to…

6 years ago

Italy’s Greatest Coffee Drink

I know. “Italy’s Greatest Coffee Drink” is a bold statement. But, the first time I sipped a Bicerin, I knew…

6 years ago