There have been rumors about Starbucks in Italy for years, but it finally happened. The very first Italian Starbucks has opened in Milan after extensive preparations. While I see no need for the chain to expand here, I have to admit that this first Italian Starbucks is beautiful. Rather than simply a neighborhood coffee shop, […]
Category Archives: Life in Italy
28
Aug
Aug
Marijuana is technically legal in Italy, and this means that it has become a lot more popular (and much easier) to buy weed in Rome. If you have walked through the center of Rome and been surprised at the number of shops selling cannabis and CBD products, you are not alone. There seems to be […]
22
Aug
Aug
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 […]
08
Aug
Aug
I have no loving words to bestow upon chinotto. To me, it is an Italian drink without redemption. Chinotto is baffling. Deeply bitter, darkly colored, and too lightly carbonated, I can’t stomach the liquid for long enough to find any complexity in its flavors. The drink is made with the fruit of a chinotto tree […]
26
Jul
Jul
One of my favorite things about Italy are the amazing fresh food markets that you find in every town (or in each neighborhood in larger cities). Wandering through a market is one of the best ways to mingle with locals going about their daily lives, as well as to experience the food culture that makes Italy […]
27
Jun
Jun
I am trying not to inundate the blog with information about what it was like to be pregnant in Italy, but at the same time, I know that when you ARE pregnant you are usually scrimping around for whatever information is available. SO, let’s talk about giving birth in Italy. Just as in many countries, […]
04
Jun
Jun
There are few things I hate more than a bad meal. It is such a tragic waste of time, money and food. So if you are traveling to Italy for the first time, or even if you LIVE here, you probably want to be sure to avoid tourist traps whenever possible. Tourist traps abound in […]
02
Jun
Jun
Italy has only been a country for about 150 years, and before that was a series of independent city-states. When it was first united in 1861, its head of government was king Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia. Less than 100 years later, the Italian monarchy came to an end and Italy’s June 2nd holiday celebrates […]