Category Archives: Emilia-Romagna

A Guide to Parma, Italy

Updated: October 2023 Located in northern Italy in the foodie-rich region of Emilia-Romagna, Parma is a wonderful destination for those who appreciate art, architecture and Italian food. The city is probably most famous for Parma ham (prosciutto) and sits at the gateway to the area which produces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar. In addition to […]

Cheese Vending Machines in Parma, Italy

Italian cheese in a vending machine

Italy has some interesting vending machines. You can buy cigarettes, beer, or even pocket coffee with the touch of a few buttons. However, my favorite vending machine of all time might be the cheese vending machine I stumbled across in Parma, Italy. Where else in the world can you buy a pound (500g) of Parmigiano […]

Trattoria Serghei in Bologna, Italy

You know you have eaten well when you can pull up the memory of a meal as vividly as when you first sat down to enjoy it months earlier. I think back to my lunch at Trattoria Serghei in Bologna whenever a craving for handmade pasta strikes. The traditional wood-paneled dining room is truly tiny […]

L8 Boutique: Apartment-Style Hotel in Bologna, Italy

I hadn’t left Rome since October. And there is nothing wrong with Rome, but six months might be the longest I have ever gone without so much as a day trip. After a winter of snow (!) and never-ending rain, we were itching to get out of the city. Bologna is my favorite eating city […]

Gelato University: A Masterclass in Gelato Making

“Oh. My. God.” I said, dumbfounded. “Gelato University is a REAL university?” But the proof was directly in front of me. The orderly rows of desks, piled with notes and calculators. Gelato University is very real, and just as spectacular as it sounds. Yes, there is a lecture hall but there is also (gloriously) a […]