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Dispatches from the Italy (and big city) you didn't know you needed

A Signorina Lives
A Signorina Eats
A Signorina Travels
Podcast
Writing
Milan Food Tours
About Jaclyn DeGiorgio

A Signorina Loves

Another Reason to Love Testaccio: Contesta Rockhair is Now Open

March 24, 2013<July 6, 2016

Another Reason to Love Testaccio: Contesta Rockhair is Now Open

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I always tell people if the slogan of Milan in 198

I always tell people if the slogan of Milan in 1980s was “Milano da bere,” then its slogan today is undoubtedly “Milano da Mangiare.” And I swear every restaurant I’ve been going to lately is a testament to that. 🍴 Here are some snaps from a recent lunch at @stadera_milano , a veritable labor of love. The items from both from the display case and the kitchen are equally delicious, the staff is warm and friendly, and the place is adorable—it’s bar seating only (there are two countertops plus a smaller one by the window). Everything was simple and flavorful, packing that “made with love” kind of comfort. Here’s my spaghettone with marinated shrimp and bottarga as well as some awesome buffalo mozzarella seasoned with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. More pics in my story. 🍝 Oh, and I also drank two glasses of a wine I’ve never tasted before….it’s also in my story. Honestly, if I worked around Crocetta, I’d probably be lunching there three times a week. Plus, it was so much fun to catch up with @cristinapiotti — and thanks @lulufoodgetaboutit for the rec! 🥂

Spritz o’clock in Piazza San Fedele. 🍷💙🥳

Spritz o’clock in Piazza San Fedele. 🍷💙🥳

I’ve never met a carb I didn’t like, therefore Mat

I’ve never met a carb I didn’t like, therefore Matias Perdomo’s @exitpastificiourbano is my kinda place. 🍝 My only gripe would be that Arianna Consiglio’s pasta dishes are all so enticing that you don’t know which to choose and you don’t want to choose just one—thank goodness for the three- and five-course pasta tasting menus. The cooking is solid, the food is glorious, and I could honestly lunch like this once a week. 🥰 Anyhoo, here are some snaps from a recent lunch. (More in my story.) 📸 1. Spaghettoni aglio, olio, e peperoncini with calamaretti
2. The above in action
3. Gigli, almond pesto, and semi-dried cherry tomatoes
4. Agnolotti “al tovagliolo”, an old Piemontese preparation for which the women wrapped the meat-filled pasta in a hot wet towel to maintain the temperature and consistency for the farmers who would eat them for lunch. Btw, you eat them like “caramelle” (candy): with your hands. #milanodamangiare

Vini ad Arte is officially one of my favorite time

Vini ad Arte is officially one of my favorite times of the year. Hosted by the @consorziovinidiromagna , the occasion celebrates the wine, food, and culture of Romagna, a treasure that’s often overshadowed by Emilia, its regional counterpart. Don’t get me wrong, I love Emilia! But I also love Romagna and am so thankful I got to explore its relatively unsung wonders. 💝🧭😀 A highlight this year was visiting @villapapiano — a winery I adore. Francesco Bordini says the most important factors for his wines are the altitude (his highest vineyard is at 570 meters/1870 feet), the sandstone (which comprises 90% of the terroir) and the plush surrounding forest, all of which materialize in the glass. ⛰🌳⏳ We unearthed the wines directly at the source, wandering around the vineyards in Modigliana, perched in the foothills of the Apennines. Honestly, seeing the flora and inhaling the aromas while a mighty wind gusted through was unforgettable. 🌸🌼☀️ Anyhoo, I look forward to spending more time there soon. More from Vini ad Arte in my story and highlights. Grazie mille to the Consorzio — I’m beyond honored to have once again been part of the event.🍷🙏🧳

Mamma mia che buono! ❤️ @bites.milano is one of s

Mamma mia che buono! ❤️ @bites.milano is one of several newish (last few years) Milan restaurant openings whose menus deviate from the standard antipasti, primi, and secondi archetypes. Instead, they propose a single list of dishes (that are sometimes classified by category like meat, veggies, etc.) from which you can select as many as you wish in whatever order you like. 💪 In a nutshell, Bites rules! The food, heavily influenced by Japan, is beautifully executed—delicate but packing tons of flavor that just melds delightfully. As implied by the name, all the portions are bite-sized. You can do à la carte or choose a six- or ten-bite tasting. We opted for the former but added a savory à la carte dish. 🍽 The space seats about 16 people a turn (8 at the bar and 4 at each of the two tables), so the service is outstanding: warm, personal, and inviting—you get the story of each dish as it’s served and it’s just glorious. 🥰 Overall, an all-around super special experience, and, needless to say, I can’t wait to go back. More pics in my story/highlights. 💃🏻

What does this pasta dish from @ristorante_gnocche

What does this pasta dish from @ristorante_gnocchetto have in common with an ‘Nduja and Gorgonzola Dolce panino? They both pack a dazzling coupling of the north and south. 🍝 At first glance, it might seem like pappardelle al ragù, but the sauce actually comprises Salsiccia di Bra, a veal sausage from Piedmont, and peperoni cruschi, dried sweet red peppers from Basilicata. Trust me when I tell you that, like the aforementioned panino, it’s dope—it made my May Day lunch extra memorabile. (More pics in my story.) 💃🏻 Speaking of May Day, today is a national holiday in Italy: Primo Maggio/Labor Day. My native U.S. observes a national holiday on Friday or Monday when it falls on the weekend, but they don’t do that here. At first this baffled me—Italians value vacation (and I mean this as a compliment—they’re all the better for it!), how could they let a day off elude them? Then I thought about it some more—since America is not known for generous vacation time or federal laws regarding paid time off, maybe it’s a way to make sure workers don’t lose out on a national holiday/elusive day off? I dunno. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyhoo, 2023 is not “un anno bisestile” (leap year), so Primo Maggio will fall on a Monday, so we have a May Day “ponte”to look forward to next year. Yes, “ponte” is the Italian word for bridge, but it’s also used to indicate a long weekend. 🌉 Btw, as of today, masks and green passes are no longer required in restaurants. Time will tell if this is a good or a bad thing—honestly, I’m still not sure myself.⏳🤔 And in case you’re wondering, yes, I put on a mask to enter. 😷

Testing out my nifty new phone’s night mode—not to

Testing out my nifty new phone’s night mode—not too shabby, huh? I love how it captures the way the facades reflect the street lights. And I can’t wait to give it a whirl at the lake! 🌃 💫 Speaking of phones, I used to always say it’s easier to buy a gun in the US than it is for me to buy a phone here in Italy—until yesterday. 📲 Firstly, I didn’t mean going to the Apple Store or Unieuro and buying an unlocked phone—I was referring to getting one with a contract from a service provider. My stance was rooted in my experience, which comprised equal parts chance (I always seemed to get assisted by rompipalle!) and supply, or lack thereof—I always seemed to get the iPhones-are-back-in-stock memo a day late. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Then along came yesterday…I had the LOVELIEST experience at the @vodafoneit store on Via Piero della Francesca. The service was swift, pleasant, and efficient, and the associate was kind, warm, and patient. Not gonna lie, a tiny part of me likes to think the fact that I’ve grown more comfortable speaking Italian contributed as I’m drastically less fearful of defending myself when confronted by a rompipalle. That being said, the guy who assisted me yesterday was so NOT a rompipalle—he would have been just as gracious even if we couldn’t understand each other. 😀 Have to say, I was SUPER drawn to the @samsungitalia Galaxy S22 Ultra, which they had on display (it has a food mode camera setting for goodness’ sake!). I briefly contemplated eloping with Samsung, but I had my heart set on the iPhone 13 Pro. Since my relationship with Apple is long, strong, and healthy, I didn’t want to initiate such a consequential breakup in haste. Anyhoo, let’s see what the next two years brings, shall we? 🤷🏻‍♀️ BTW, in case anyone is wondering, rompipalle translates to ball-breaker or ball-buster—you can also use the term to describe someone who is a pain in the *ss. ⚾️👊

Once upon a time, Cadbury Mini Eggs were my Easter

Once upon a time, Cadbury Mini Eggs were my Easter must-eat. Nowadays, it’s pastiera, a Neapolitan shortcrust pastry cake with a fluffy, aromatic filling generally made from ricotta, “grano cotto” (ore-cooked wheat berries), candied citrus, and orange blossom water—recipes of course vary, but that’s the gist. And this delightful one by @marcello2883 from @pasticceriarapisardi makes my heart sing! 🧡🎶 And as for the Cadbury Mini Eggs, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t stash some in my suitcase when I came back from the US in February. 😜💃🏻 Anyhoo, Buona Pasaua/Happy Easter all! 🐣🐰💐

So, I have an announcement to make: I’m launching

So, I have an announcement to make: I’m launching a podcast! 🎧💃🏻 Can ya guess what it’s going to be about?! That’s right—MILAN! More particularly, the city’s food, wine, drink, and gastronomic culture. 🍷🌾🍹🍽❤️ Milan is Italy’s best unkept secret—the Lombard capital plays host to the country’s most enthralling food scene, yet it’s all too often (wrongfully) overshadowed by its “grander” sister cities. Since Milan isn’t as in your face as the canals of Venice, the majesty of Rome, and the Renaissance gems of Florence, it’s consequently overlooked and, most of the time, misrepresented. And I’m sick of it. So, I’ve decided to do something about it and a podcast feels like the right way to go. 💪🧐 It’s in development, and I’ll have more to share soon, but I will divulge that some AWESOME humans have agreed to be guests on future episodes! I’m beyond honored that they said yes, and I can’t wait to see this come to fruition. Stay tuned... 📻📡

Is slide 1 not depicting the most charming table r

Is slide 1 not depicting the most charming table reservation marker you’ve ever seen? That’s how @cru_milano rolls. (The flowers jutting out of the bottle unfortunately cut off here due to the sizing limits of Instagram slideshow option.) Anyhoo, this natural wine bar happens to be one of my favorite spots in Milan. 🌹💖
Speaking of natural wine, the number one request I get from strangers and acquaintances alike is where drink it in Milan. So I compiled my WhatsApp messages, emails, and Insta DMs and added an intro to turn them into a blog post. You can find the link in my bio. 🍷🍾 If you don’t want to read the whole natural-wine-in-Milan backgrounder, simply scroll down—though maybe just read the last paragraph before the map to understand how I classified the list that follows. 📍🗺 Fun fact: Slide 2 depicts @cizcantinaecucinamilano which has an INSANE carta dei vini: 1700 bottles of which 700 are biodynamic and/or natural. #mammamia🤩🥰 My list has 65 places and is by no means exhaustive! I’ll be adding it to ongoingly, so please feel free to hit me up about any spots I missed and I’ll add them with pleasure. 💪🥂

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A Signorina Lives
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Podcast
Writing
Milan Food Tours
About Jaclyn DeGiorgio

A Signorina Lives
A Signorina Eats
A Signorina Travels
Podcast
Writing
Milan Food Tours
About Jaclyn DeGiorgio

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