The Milano Files

The Sanremo Italian Song Festival 2026

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0100

Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio steps outside her usual purview to discuss one of Italy's most cherished pop culture traditions: the Sanremo Italian Song Festival.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's Instagram

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

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The Milano Files Instagram

The Milano Files YouTube Channel

Italy Meets Jamaica With Jacqueline Greaves

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0100

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For today's episode, Jaclyn speaks with food writer Jacqueline Greaves about "Italy Meets Jamaica," her upcoming fundraising event in Milan.

Check out the Italy Meets Jamaica silent auction (and make some bids!) here.
Follow Jacqueline Greaves on Instagram here.
The DJ is CKTRL
Stush in the Bush -- the chefs behind the dinner
Ital is the name of the Rastafarian diet

Donations/Ticket Purchase can be made via bank transfer to
Cross Culture Collective ETS
IBAN: IT74 O030 6909 6061 0000 0400 045
(please note “o” for orange for “o030”)
Name of Bank: Intesa San Paolo
BIC: BCITITMM
Address: Largo Belotti, sn, 20121 Milano

Jacquie's story about the Calabash International Literary Festival in Town and Country

Jamaican writers mentioned:

Zadie Smith
Marlon James

Event sponsors:

Campari
Dots Milano
Imperfetto Lab
Nemo Lighting

Rerelease - All Souls Day Special: Milanese Bread of the Dead

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0100

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In honor of All Souls Day (November 2), Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, rereleases season 2 episode 3 of the Milano Files, which is dedicated to pan dei morti, or bread of the dead, a baked sweet treat prepared in honor of the holy day.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter

Relevant Links
Jaclyn's blog post about where to find pan dei morti in Milan
Pan dei Morti Recipe from Cucchio d'Argento (It's in Italian, but I know it's reliable because it's a solid brand.)
Cook Corriere pan dei morti story
Monza Today pan dei morti story
Switzerland Patrimoine Culinaire
Quotidiano Nazionale All Souls Day story
Punti d'Incontro Pan dei Morti story
Ossa dei Morti recipe
Giallo Zafferano Fave dei Morti recipe

xxx

Natural Wines Oltrepò Urban Harvest With Lucrezia Bosone

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, speaks with Lucrezia Bosone, the founder of Nema Creative, an agency in Milan that’s producing Natural Wines Oltrepò Urban Harvest, an event taking place in Milan on October 5th and 6th.

Jaclyn's blog post about the event.

Jaclyn's story about Oltrepò Pavese Rieslings for SevenFifty Daily.

Natural Wines Oltrepò Urban Harvest info:

Website
Tickets
Instagram
Official website of Milano Certosa District
Castello di Stefanago (where the original event is always held in Oltrepò )

The wine grapes typical of Oltrepo Pavese that Lucrezia mentioned are Barnarda (a red), Riesling, and Pinot noirIf you want to know more about this wine region in general, check out Oltrepò Pavese Wine Consortium

The food trucks will be from:

Spalla cotta is cooked pork shoulder charcuterie.

Bitter is the superb restaurant in Piacenza mentioned, and the food items Lucrezia mentions are:

RIP Pope Francis

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, steps outside her purview to remember Pope Francis, recounting what it was like to be at St. Peter's Square the night he was appointed Pope.

Pan Meino - A Milanese dolce typical (kinda) in honor of St. George

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, discusses Pan Meino (or Pan de Mej), a cornmeal typical of Milan with a centuries-old history.

Sources used for the episode:

Lombardia Food
Buona Lombardia - the regione of Lombardia
Linkiesta story about its history
The Food of Italy by Waverly Root
La Cucina Milanese by Fabiano Guatteri
Cook Corriere story

Milan Design Week 2025 Recap

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0200

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For this episode, Milan-based food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses Salone del Mobile, Milano Design Week, and how she found herself amid an existential crisis during the event. Links to all the sources cited and brands and whatnot mentioned below:

Milan Design Week 2025 with Caterina Monda and Debrina Aliyah Part 2

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:00:00 +0200

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Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week) 2025 takes place from April 8 to 13. Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio speaks with Caterina Monda and Debrina Aliyah, founders of Metis PR, a Milan-based PR firm with several clients taking part in the occasion. This episode is part two of two, and they touch on some of their client happenings, other design week events and activations, our beloved Milan, and some design week survival tips.

Relevant links:

Euroluce (Reggiani and ILTI Luce are their friends participating)
La Dolce Attesa by Paolo Sorrentino and Antonio Monda
La Trattoria by Bitossi Home at Sugo Milano
The Oasis of Happiness by Pangea
Fidenza Village
David Dulcini
Volumia Gallery in Piacenza
Alcova
Deoron
5 Vie at the Museum of Science and Technology

Milan Design Week 2025 with Caterina Monda and Debrina Aliyah Part 1

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:00:00 +0200

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Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week) 2025 takes place from April 8 to 13. Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio speaks with Caterina Monda and Debrina Aliyah, founders of Metis PR, a Milan-based PR firm with several clients taking part in the occasion. This episode is part one of two, and they touch on AI in design and some of their client happenings.

Here are all the pertinent links to what's discussed in the episode:

Pizza al Trancio - Milan's Typical Slice

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0100

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Pizza is required eating in Italy, and for today’s episode, host Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, discusses a style of pizza typical of the city: pizza al trancio milanese. Finding a great slice is a must when you're in town!

Jaclyn's blog post rounding up some of the best pizzerias in Milan to try pizza al trancio milanese.

Sources used for the episode:

Pizzerias

A Milano Minute: Meatless in Milano for 40 Days

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0100

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Food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio reflects on some recent meat-free eating in Milan.

Places mentioned:

Torta Mimosa and International Women's Day

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses International Women's Day in Italy, its traditional sweet, and where to enjoy it in Milan.

Sources used:

Pastry shops mentioned:

A Milano Minute: Congrats Rita cocktail bar

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food writer and food tour guide based in Milan, shares some exciting news about Rita cocktail bar, whose owner Edoardo Nono, was interviewed for the Milano Files earlier this season.

Fat Saturday and Milan's Carnival Treats

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 19:00:00 +0100

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Today Jaclyn, a food writer and food tour guide based in Milan, discusses the city's Carnival treats and why Milan celebrates "Sabato Grasso" or Fat Saturday instead of "Martedi grosso" or Fat Tuesday. You can find 20 great bakeries and shops in Milan to sample these carnival treats at this post on Jaclyn's blog, A Signorina in Milan.

Sources used for the episode:

A Milano Minute: Idiom fun

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio shares a Milanese riff on an Italian idiomatic expression.

A Post-Festival Reflection on Sanremo's most undervalued and misunderstood song

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based Food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses a post-festival reflection on Sanremo's most undervalued and misunderstood song: Rkomi's Il Ritmo delle Cose (the Rhythm of Things).

Pertinent links:

A Milano Minute: Sanremo fever still rising

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +0100

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Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food writer and food tour guide, shares some of the latest news regarding the Sanremo 2025.

Sources used for the episode:

Sanremo 2025 festival recap

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses the 2025 edition of one of her favorite Italian traditions: the Sanremo Italian Song Festival.

Sources used for the article:

Festival songs she added to her running playlist:

Rose Villain – “Fuorilegge” (Outlaw)
The Kolors – “Tu con chi fai l’amore” (Who you make love to)
Willie Peyote – “Grazie, ma no grazie” (Thank you but no thank you)
Clara – “Febbre” (Fever)
Coma_Cose – “Cuoricini” (Little hearts)
Shablo ft. Guè, Joshua and Tormento – “La mia parola” (My word)
Rkomi – “Il ritmo delle cose” (The rhythm of things)
Sarah Toscano – “Amarcord” (I remember)

A Milano Minute: The 2025 Sanremo Festival so far

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:00:00 +0100

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For this week's Milano Minute, host Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses her thoughts on the Sanremo Italian Song Festival so far.

The Sanremo Italian Song Festival 2025

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio veers fuori strada from her usual purview to discuss one of Italy's most cherished pop culture traditions: the Sanremo Italian Song Festival. As the contentverse is saturated with "Italysplaining" and "how to be Italian" tips by self-styled authorities, she wanted to talk about an occasion that's super special to the Italians.

Links below to the sources used for and/or cited in the episode:

A Milano Minute: A tradition in honor of San Biagio

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food writer and food tour guide, discusses a very Milanese tradition in honor of the feast day of San Biagio (Saint Blaise), which takes place on February 3d.

Sources used for the episode:

Milan's Chinatown in honor of Chinese New Year

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

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Food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses Chinese New Year in Milan's Chinatown, the history of Italy's largest and oldest Chinese community, and why you should eat Chinese food in Milan.

Sources consulted for the episode:

A Milano Minute: For the love of Milan

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food writer and food tour guide, makes a case for why you should consider Milan a top food destination.

Alessandro Fanfani, bar supervisor at the Bvlgari Hotel Pt 2: aperitivo eats, his favorite drink, and imbibing in Milan

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 21:00:00 +0100

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Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio chats with Alessandro Fanfani, the bar supervisor of the Bvlgari Hotel in Milan.

Five of his favorite cocktail bars in Milan:

Relevant links:

The Bvlgari Bar's current cocktail list and current bar menu
The Bvlgari Garden
Niko Romito's Casadonna restaurant in Abruzzo
Campari Shakerato is his favorite cocktail
Alessandro’s Instagram
Jaclyn's Instagram
Jaclyn's YouTube

A Milano Minute: AC Milan's anticlimactic return to the league

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio continues to veer off course from food to discuss A.C. Milan's anticlimactic return to the league after its Supercoppa victory. For further reading, check out the following sites:

Sempre Milan
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Corriere dello Sport
The Athletic

Alessandro Fanfani, bar supervisor at the Bvlgari Hotel Pt 1: the road to Milan, cinema-inspired cocktails, and the competition circuit

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 02:00:00 +0100

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Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio chats with Alessandro Fanfani, the bar supervisor of the Bvlgari Hotel in Milan.

Relevant links:

Jaclyn’s Conde Nast Traveller article about the best cocktail bars in Milan
The Bvlgari Bar's current cocktail list
Alessandro’s Instagram
Bar Giornale named him one of the best bartenders under 30
Campari Competition finalists
His Negroni recipe
Montenegro competition
Jaclyn's Instagram
Jaclyn's YouTube

A Milano Minute: The Supercoppa

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses A.C. Milan's victory in the Italian Supercoppa tournament. For further reading, check out the following sites:

Rerelease: True crime panettone - fraud and narcotics concealment

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

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As the holiday season is still underway in Italy, host Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food writer, thought she'd keep with the seasonal theme and release an episode from season one that delves into some panettone-related legal shenanigans.

Pertinent episode notes below:

Panettone features prominently in the media every holiday season, but this year Milan's signature leavened delight garnered some aberrant attention, which food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses in the episode. Warning: she's rather upset by some of the shady practices!

Here are links to the sources cited and/or consulted for the episode.

US Department of Justice press release regarding seafood in North Carolina
Jaclyn's panettone in Milan post on A Signorina in Milan (her blog)
Panettoni industriali spacciati per artigianali: la truffa in quasi 300 pasticcerie, Luca Venturino, Dissapore
Taranto, nasconde dosi di cocaina nel panettone ma i carabinieri scoprono tutto: un arresto by Raffaella Capriglia, La Repubblica
Panettoni industriali rivenduti come artigianali a prezzi quintuplicati, denunce e sequestri del Nas in tutta Italia by Alessio Ribaudo, Corriere della Sera
Panettoni industriali venduti come artigianali, a Genova scattano i controlli dei carabinieri del Nas by Marco Fagandini, Il Secolo XiX
Panettoni artigianali... ma per finta. Una pratica diffusa in tutta Italia scoperta dai Nas by Riccardo Cristilli, La Gazzetta dello Sport

A Milano Minute: AC Milan shake-up

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 17:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio veers off course from food to discuss a shake-up at her beloved AC Milan.

Sources consulted for the mini-episode:

Rerelease - For the love of panettone with Nicola Olivieri

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

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In honor of the Christmas season, Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio has decided to rerelease her panettone-themed episode from two years ago (season 1, episode 2), which includes an interview with Nicola Olivieri of Olivieri 1882. Show notes below.

If you’ve sworn off panettone because you think it’s dry, bland, cottony, and uninspired, then you haven’t tasted good panettone, true panettone–you most likely have only had the preservative-packed industrial versions. Indeed, these sub-par iterations give Milan’s emblematic leavened treat a bad rap abroad, but good panettone has the power to convert even the most seemingly unwavering haters. In honor of Christmas, host Jaclyn DeGiorgio pays homage to the beloved and misunderstood sweet bread. Nicola Olivieri, one of Italy’s finest bakers, weighs in.

Sources for the episode/items mentioned:

Jaclyn’s blog post about artisan panettone in Milan.
Nicola Olivieri of Olivieri 1882
The Consorzio of Panettone's page about its origin legends and history
Il panettone. Storia, leggende, segreti e fortune di un protagonista del Natale by Stanislao Porzio, published in 2007 --This is the book to read if you want to know more about panettone. I’ve learned tons from it over the years, and he even dives further into the origin tales.
Cucina Milanese Contemporanea by Cesare Battisti and Gabriele Zanatta, published in 2020
La Cucina Milanese by Fabiano Guatteri, published in 2004

Panettone competitions and events

Panettone Day https://www.panettone-day.it/
Re panettone https://repanettone.it/
Panettone world championship https://www.panettoneworldchampionship.com/
Panettone World Cup https://www.corman.pro/int/en/chefs/blog/the-panettone-world-cup-2022/

Where to find Olivieri 1882 panettone in the US:

Zabar’s
Eataly
Giadzy (Giada De Laurentiis’s website)

Other:

Motta and Alemagna are the two historic producers
Giadia De Laurentiis recipe for panettone sformato
Chef Lorenzo Cogo bio
A look at cinepanettone

A (Christmasy) Milano Minute: Panettone Gastronomico

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food and travel writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses a Milanese Christmas party staple: panettone gastronomico, a savory take on the beloved Christmas sweet.

Pertinent links:

Jaclyn's blog post about panettone gastronomico
Jaclyn's Instagram feed
The Milano Files Instagram
The Milano Files YouTube Channel

Aspic, the unlikely Milanese Christmas table staple

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

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In honor of Christmas looming just around the corner, Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses an unlikely Milanese Christmas table staple: aspic and gelatins. Though Milana is a city at the forefront of fashion and design (and even food!), these old-school preparations have always been in vogue.

For this episode, Jaclyn's sources are an article she wrote for U.S.A. Today last year on the topic as well as a post from her blog.

A Milano Minute: Bad News for Smokers

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

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For today's Milano Minute, food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses a new law going into effect on January 1, 2025 that means bad news for smokers.

Episode source:

La Repubblica

Re-release - The Barbajada, the elusive Milanese hot chocolate drink

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0100

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In honor of the wintry weather, Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a food tour guide based in Milan, has decided to re-release the season one episode about the Barbajada, a coffee and hot chocolate drink created in Milan that has De.Co. status.

Here's a link to the original episode, where you can find all the sources cited and whatnot in the show notes.

For the accompanying video, Jaclyn is especially thankful to Pavé, in particular Nadia, for letting her take a video of the preparation.

A Milano Minute : A cozy must-eat to combat the cold

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn dishes on a dish she had at Stadera Gastronomia Contemporanea, chef Aldo Ritrovato's part-gastronomia, part-restaurant in the Crocetta neighborhood. The pasta, patate e provola is ever so cozy and satiating during the cold weather months.

Stadera's Instagram

Cinepanettone - Italy's farcical Christmas comedies

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

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In honor of the holiday season (and Milan's beloved leavened treat!), Jaclyn discusses a quirky Italian holiday film form: Cinepanettone. These offbeat comedies date back to the 1980s.

Sources used for the episode:

A Milano Minute: Corso Lodi's winter wonderland

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based food tour guide and food and travel writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio shares a lovely shop for your holiday paper goods, but not only at Corso Lodi 74 owned by Silvia Mangano. Contact info below.

+39 3386216968
www.calambour.com
info@calambour.com

Edoardo Nono of Rita cocktail bar part 4: growth, new horizons, and good old Milano

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0100

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On today's episode of the Milano Files, Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio continues her conversation with Edoardo Nono, the owner of Rita, an epic cocktail bar in Milan's Navigli district, and its sister establishment Rita's Tiki Room. Follow Rita on Instagram here and Rita's Tiki Room here.

"Ofelè fa el to mesté" is Milanese dialect for "pastry chef (or cookie maker) do your job" - more about the phrase here
Offelle are a type of cookie typical of the Pavia region in south Lombardy
Daniele Dalla Pola was the owner of Nu Lounge in Bologna and Esotico Miami, which is now closed
The cocktail he describes at Rita's Tiki Bar is Jasper Jamaican
The hand gestures we're discussing are the finger purse and the wagging prayer clasp.
Panino Giusto is the name of the paninoteca group that Edoardo has created cocktails for.
Edoardo's Liquor is a ginger falernum called Mr. Three & Bros.

Edoardo's picks for what to do in Milan"

The Leonardo da Vinci at the Sforza Castle is called La Sala delle Asse, but at the moment, it's closed for restoration.
Palazzo Reale
Fondazione Prada

Restaurants:

Cover photo: Jasper Jamaican cocktail from Rita's Tiki Room, photo: Gaia Menchicchi

Edoardo Nono of Rita cocktail bar part 3: il pirla, the aperitivo, turning twenty, and artisanship

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0100

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Il Pirla cocktail realized for the 100th anniversary of Camparino in Galleria
"Pirlare su se stesso," which means "rotating/turning on himself," is the phrase that inspired the Il Pirla cocktail

A Milano Minute: (Italian) Tennis is so hot right now

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0100

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Host Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food writer and food tour guide, veers fuori strada (off course) from her usual food coverage to talk about what's arguably the most in-vogue sport in Italy right now: tennis!

Edoardo Nono of Rita cocktail bar part 2: brainstorming, the nineties, and a return to tradition

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:00:00 +0100

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On today's episode of the Milano Files, Milan-based food writer and food tour guide Jaclyn DeGiorgio speaks with Edoardo Nono, the owner of Rita, an epic cocktail bar in Milan's Navigli district. Follow Rita on Instagram here.

Chiara Berreta is the woman bartender he mentions
The Gin Zen is the cocktail in the recipe art, photo: Gaia Menchicchi
Dale DeGroff, who was bartending at the Waldorf Astoria, is nicknamed the Cocktail King.
Jerry Thomas book
David Embury's book
The London bartender he's referring to is Tony Conigliaro.

Edoardo Nono of Rita cocktail bar part 1: staying power, Italian and American bars, and the Navigli

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0100

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American Bar: The Artistry of Mixing Drinks by German bartender Charles Schumann is the book that inspired Edoardo:
Schumann's American Bar is his bar in Munich.
Riva website
Wikipedia page for Gilda nightclub in Rome, which closed in 2017.

Navigli restaurants mentioned:

Al Pont de Ferr (now closed)
Taglio (now closed)
Rebelot (now closed)
Osteria di Porta Cicca (now closed, Michelin-starred chef Claudio Sadler's former restaurant)
Trattoria Ponte Rosso (still open)
Vinoir (the newer place)

Weekly Milano Minute: La Siciliana dal 1956

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio is a food tour guide and food and travel writer based in Milan. For this week's Milano Minute mini-episode, Jaclyn discusses La Siciliana dal 1956, a beloved historic pastry shop in Milan's Lambrate neighborhood.

The Italian Aperitivo with Carlo Carnevale part 2: sipping and reminiscing

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0100

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Amaro Ramazzoti is the brand with the Milano da Bere slogan
The Taac video that Jaclyn mentions
The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury
The actor Carlo refers to is Emma D'Arcy from Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, and here's a clip of the interview.

Aperitivo cocktails mentioned:

Milano Torino
The Americano
Negroni (created by Fosco Scarselli)
The Boulevardier
Negroni Sbagliato

Carlo's Milan drink picks:

Negroni at Camparino
Bloody Mary at Lacerba
Americano at Rita's Tiki Room
Negroni Sbagliato at Bar Basso
Absinthe martini and oyster martini at Norah Was Drunk

xxx

Weekly Milano Minute: Zàini Milano's Tarot-Inspired Chocolate Bars

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0100

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In this mini-episode, Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food and travel writer, discusses one of her Milan obsessions: the tarot-themed chocolate bars at Zàini Milano inspired by the Visconti-Sforza tarot.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter

The Italian aperitivo with Carlo Carnevale part 1: evolution and retrograde

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0100

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The aperitivo is one of Italy's most romanticized traditions, and Milan-based drinks writer and journalist Carlo Carnevale joins Jaclyn DeGiorgio to delve below the surface and discuss its history and significance, with a focus on its role in Milanese social culture. This is part one of two episodes. Follow his adventures fueled with cleverly crafted cocktails and then some on Instagram.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter.

Show notes:

Merenda sinoira is the Piedmontese term mentioned meaning "snack before dinner"
Carpano Classico, the original vermouth
Vermouth di Torino PGI regulations
Vinicio Valdo is the man who pioneered the Happy Hour-style aperitivo in Milan. His bar was called Roialto, and you can read a recent interview with him here. It's in Italian, but we live in the age of AI. :)
The Botanical Club in Isola opened in 2015 but is no longer open.
Rita in the Navigli is the 20-year-old cocktail bar in Milan that Carlo mentions -- it's excellent!
The Milano Files season 1 episode 7 discusses natural wine in Milan, and you might want to give that a listen as well as there is some overlap with certain facets of Milan's contemporary beverage culture.

Weekly Milano Minute: The 2024 Italian Michelin Guide

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0100

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In this mini-episode, Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a Milan-based food tour guide and food and travel writer, discusses the 2024 Italian Michelin guide and recaps the new starred restaurants in Milan and Lombardia.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter

Episode art: The spring onion spaghetti at Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan. Photo by Brambilla Serani

All Souls Day Special: Milanese Bread of the Dead

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0100

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Milan-based Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a food tour guide and food writer, discusses a telltale sign of autumn in Milan: pan dei morti (bread of the dead), a baked sweet prepared in honor of All Souls Day (November 2nd).

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter

Relevant Links
Jaclyn's blog post about where to find pan dei morti in Milan
Pan dei Morti Recipe from Cucchio d'Argento (It's in Italian, but I know it's reliable because it's a solid brand.)
Cook Corriere pan dei morti story
Monza Today pan dei morti story
Switzerland Patrimoine Culinaire
Quotidiano Nazionale All Souls Day story
Punti d'Incontro Pan dei Morti story
Ossa dei Morti recipe
Giallo Zafferano Fave dei Morti recipe

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New(ish) in Milan

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio is a food writer and food tour guide based in Milan. Here she shares an overview of Milan's dining scene, focusing on what's new since she wrapped the first season of The Milano Files.

If you're heading to town and you'd like to book a food tour with her, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter.

New trattorias/bistrots:
Trattoria Sincera
Via Stampa
Trattoria della Gloria

New "new Italian":
Ai Fiori Blu
Cucina Franca

Fine dining:
Verso
Autem

Countertop dining/trattoria dining:
Silvano Vino e Cibo al Banco
Rosticceria Palazzi
CreDa
Razdora

Revamped restaurants:
Contraste
Iyo
Manna
Shiro

A first for Milan:
Latteria Soresina

New pizzeria:
Confine

Via Melzo/Viviana Varese
Polpo
Faak
Passalacqua

Certosa district:
Lafa
June Collective

Sidewalk Kitchens:
Totost

New openings from chefs who worked with three-star chefs:
RAW
Procaccini
Fourghetti

New wine bars of note:
Fat Sam at the Winery
Bicchierino Bar
Bar Paradiso

Milan Design Week 2024 Recap

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio kicks off season two of The Milano Files by coming full circle from where she ended season one: with her thoughts on Milan Design Week, which took place last spring.

If you're visiting Milan and would like to book a food tour with Jaclyn when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Click here to sign up for Jaclyn's newsletter.

Relevant episode links:
Salone del Mobile
Salone del Mobile recap
Porta Venezia Design District
Marimmeko/Bar Stoppani
Porsche Art of Dreams
B&B Italia Narinari Chair
Fabscarte Enigmatic Garden
Nemo Lighting
Nemo LBB01 Light
Nemo Lorosae
Nemo Portofino Light
Palazzo Litta
Trattoria alla Vista
Pietrachiara folding screen

Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia - Michelin-starred restaurant whose chefs cooked for Trattoria alla Vista

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Design Week recap and reflecting on The Milano Files Season One

Fri, 05 May 2023 19:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio, a food and wine writer and food tour guide in Milan, shares some highlights from Salone del Mobile (aka Design Week) and then reflects on the first season of The Milanophiles. Stay tuned for season two, coming this summer!

Design Week highlights

Jaclyn's Instagram: @jaclyndegiorgio

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

Bonus Episode: Pondering Calabria with Roberta Abate

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio shares a clip from her interview with food journalist Roberta Abate that didn't make the cut for the final interview.

Dongiò

Wineries mentioned:

Jaclyn's Porta Romana dining guide

Pizza Culture with Simone Lombardi and Giovanni Mineo of Crosta Part 2

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:00:00 +0200

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If you haven't listened to Pizza Culture with Simone and Lombardi and Giovanni Mineo of Crosta part 1, please go back and do so before tuning into this one. (It's episode number 14, and it was released on March 31. Here's the link. )

We continue chatting about Milan's pizza culture and in doing so, we dispel a couple of Italy food myths that circulate like wildfire on the social networks.

Here are some pertinent links for the episode:

Italian Design and Salone del Mobile with Caterina Monda

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn speaks with Caterina Monda, co-founder of Metis PR, a Milan-based PR firm representing clients in the design industry. They chat about the meaning of "Made in Italy", what to expect during Design Week, and the allure of their adopted city, among other topics.

Caterina's Instagram
Metis PR Instagram
Jaclyn's Blog
Jaclyn's Instagram
The Milanophiles Instagram

People, places, and things mentioned:

Triennale Milano (the design museum where Caterina worked
Fonderia Battaglia works with designers like Osanna Visconti and Giuseppe Penone
Bitossi Home (the blue and white plate mentioned is the Arcano )
Venini - Murano glassmakers that just published the Artisan book

Design Week-related stuff

Rossana Orlandi Gallery
Niloufar Gallery
David and Nicolas
Gio Ponti (EPIC Italian architect and designer)
Bitossi Home and Pangea
Bitossi Ceramic and Robert Stadler
Ron Gilad's collaboration with Nemo Lighting at Via Borgunovo 19
Martyn Thompson (Australian Designer)
Fabscarte
David Dolcino

Caterina's design reading recs:

Caterina's Milano 5 (plus 2) :

Villa Necchi Campiglio
Ambrosiana (Codex Atlanticus is the Leonardo da Vinci on display)
Atempo bistrot
Momo Milano
Osteria del Verme
Art Noble Gallery

Bonus Episode: Italian Easter sweets with Marcello Rapisardi

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0200

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Marcello Rapisardi of Pasticceria e Dessert in Milan joins Jaclyn for a bonus episode to discuss Italian Easter sweets.

Relevant links:

Colomba History and Origins (it's in Italian so you might have to run it through a translator)
Pastiera Wikipedia page
Uovo di Pasqua
Pasticceria e Dessert Instagram - I encourage you to check this out to see Marcello's beautiful versions of the Easter sweets
Marcello Rapisardi Instagram
Jaclyn's blog post about where to drink the Barbajada in Milan

Episode artwork photo: Colomba from Pasticceria e Dessert

Carbonara pralines and more with pastry chef Marcello Rapisardi

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0200

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Today Jaclyn speaks with pastry chef Marcello Rapisardi of Pasticerria e Dessert, a whimsical pastry shop in Milan where the offerings include a mind-blowing carbonara praline and other unexpected sweets nestled alongside the classics. We speak about his time working for chefs like Heston Blumenthal and Moreno Cedroni, his philosophy, his approach to pastry, and more.

Links to anything referenced in the show:

Pasticceria e Dessert
Marcello's Instagram
Pasticceria e Dessert's Instagram
The Fat Duck
Madonnina del Pescatore
Angel León is the Spanish chef who studies plankton and makes it in a lab
Marcello's "Milano Five" pics on Jaclyn's blog, A Signorina in Milan
Jaclyn's Instagram

Pizza Culture with Simone Lombardi and Giovanni Mineo of Crosta Part 1

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:00:00 +0200

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio speaks with pizza and bread extraordinaires Simone Lombardi and Giovanni Mineo of Crosta, one of Milan's best pizzerias and bakeries. Here's part 1 of their conversation. They discuss whether or not there's a Milanese pizza, the history of pizza, Crosta itself, and more. Spoiler alert: In part two (coming next week), we dispel two myths about Italy.

Crosta opened in 2018 and in 2020, they opened Crosta Lab where they sell Pizza al Portafoglio (wallet pizza), a street food, from a window that opens onto the street.

Jaclyn's article for USA Today about Milan's pizza scene.

Crosta's Instagram

Episode artwork photo credit: Crosta

For the love of cardoons

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0100

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As cardoon season is winding down, Jaclyn discusses the elusive artichoke thistle and also shares some versions she had in Milan recently.

Il Giornale del Cibo article about why the cardo Gobbo is named as such
Slow Food Foundation's page dedicated to the Cardo Gobbo di Nizza Monferrato
Nizza Monferrato Wikipedia page
Jaclyn's blog post about Via Melzo in Milan
Masterclass guide to cooking cardoons
Further reading: Smithsonian Magazine "What the Heck do I do with a Cardoon?"

Milan restaurants mentioned:

The verdict on Starbucks' olive-oil infused coffee drinks

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 20:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio has tried all five of the Starbucks drinks from the Oleato line--those infused with extra-virgin olive oil and she shares her thoughts.

Sources:

Starbucks - The story behind Starbucks' new coffee ritual
Starbucks - Introducing the Oleato

Jaclyn's blog: A Signorina in Milan

For the love of mondeghili (Milanese meatballs)

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn discusses a must-eat when visiting Milan: mondeghili (Milanese meatballs).

Sources used for the episode:

Contemporary Milanese Cooking by Cesare Battisti and Gabriele Zannata
Divinia.com
Cucina Regionale Italiana
Wikipedia

Restaurants to try them

The recipe for chef Cesare Battisti's mondeghili at Ratana from Sfiosizo.it

Mini episode: Starbucks update

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0100

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This week Jaclyn DeGiorgio follows-up on last week's episode with a brief update Starbucks' new Oleato line.

Starbucks in Italy: to drink or not to drink?

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses Starbucks in Italy, her fondness for the coffee titan, and her thoughts on the new Oleato olive-oil range of beverages that debuted in Italy this week.

Sources for the episode:

Sanremo Festival 2023 recap

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0100

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The Sanremo Festival came and went, so Jaclyn has decided to dedicate this brief episode of The Milanophiles to her thoughts on the occasion, which plays an integral part in Italy’s contemporary lifestyle culture.

Sanremo Official website
Sanremo 2023 Wikipedia
Chiara Ferragni instagram

Episode photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash

All about the Sanremo Italian Song Festival

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0100

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For this episode of The Milanophiles, Jaclyn DeGiorgio veers fuori strada, or off course, to discuss one of her favorite annual occasions: the Sanremo Italian Song Festival, whose 73rd edition takes place from February 7 - 11, 2023.

Jaclyn's blog, A Signorina in Milan, and Instagram handle @jaclyndegiorgio

Official Sanremo website
Why is the Sanremo Festival so important to Italians? from The Local
The Sanremo Festival's Wikipedia page
Sanremo Giovanni winners
Song entries
For all of the artists, I elaborated on, I got the details from their individual Wikipedia pages.
Official Domenica In webiste
Domenica in Wikipedia page
Since I raved about Madame's song, Voce from Sanremo 2021, I thought I'd link to its Wikipedia page.

Episode photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash

All about Pastamadre restaurant with Francesco Costanzo

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:00:00 +0100

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Pastamadre restaurant is a must-visit when you're in Milan. Today, Jaclyn speaks to chef Francesco Costanzo about his beloved restaurant in the Porta Romana district.

The natural wines Francesco mentions:

Tanca Nica, Pantelleria island
Arianna Occhipinti, Vittoria (Sicily)
La Stoppa, Emilia-Romagna
Nino Barraco, Marsala
Manfredi Franco, Marsala

What to see in Milan

Architecture from the late 19th to early 20th century
Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper

Francesco's restaurant recs:

Women chefs from his "Burrocracy" series co-founded with Aurora Zancanaro of Le Polveri bakery and Gianni Tratzi of Mezzatazza Coffee Consulting.

Chiara Pavan, Venissa, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Venice
Chiara Barla, Apotek57, Copenhagen
Lucia Gaspari, former chef of Røst in Milan
Sarah Cicolini, SantoPalato, Rome

Natural wine in Milan with Alessandro Ambrosi

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0100

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Many people don't know that Milan has a prolific natural wine scene, one that's on par with its counterparts in big European cities like Paris, London, and Barcelona. She speaks with Alessandro Ambrosi, the owner of an enoteca called Vinello a Milano, which specializes in natural, biodynamic, and organic wines.

Here are links to the places, wines, etc., discussed:

Jaclyn's blog post about natural wine in Milan
Vinoir, owner is Gianluca Ladu
Pastamadre, owner is Francesco Costanzo
Enoteca Naturale

Six natural wine producers from Lombardia to keep an eye out for according to Alessandro:

Barbacarlo in Oltrepò Pavese
Fausto Andi in Oltrepò Pavese
Gemma by Mirco Pauletti in Collina del Milanese San Colombano al Lambro
Josef by Luca Francesconi in Garda Colli Mantovani (Hills of Lake Garda north of Mantua, close to the Veneto border)
Barbacan in Valetellina (The link is to the winery's epic Instagram account!)
Orto Tellinum in Valtelllina

Photo: Instagram, @vinelloamilano

Contemporary Milanese Cuisine with Cesare Battisti and Gabriele Zanatta

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:00:00 +0100

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Warning: as I mention in the beginning of the episode, there was a problem with my mic, so my voice sounds a bit faint at parts, but you can hear my guests perfectly: chef Cesare Battisti of the restaurant Ratanà and Gabriele Zanatta of Identità Golose. They co-wrote a beautiful book Cucina Milanese Contemporanea (Contemporary Milanese cooking) available in both Italian and English.

My blog post with the recipe for risotto with pumpkin and ‘nduja

Gina Tringali of Casa Mia Tours provided me with the details about trippa alla romana.

Cesare’s picks for a great risotto alla milanese (besides Ratanà of course!)

Gabriele’s picks for Chinese food

Gabriele's picks for Japanese restaurants

Gabriele's picks for pizza

Gabriele's picks for cocktail bars

Museums suggested by Gabriele

The Barbajada: the elusive Milanese hot chocolate

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:00:00 +0100

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Since it's winter, Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses the Barbajada, the historic Milanese hot chocolate that's few and far between these days.

Sources

Jaclyn's local coffee spot: Torrefazione Hodeidah

Jaclyn's blog post about where to the Barbajada in Milan

True crime panettone: fraud and narcotics concealment

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 18:00:00 +0100

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Panettone features prominently in the media every holiday season, but this year Milan's signature leavened delight garnered some aberrant attention, which food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses in the episode. Warning: she's rather upset by some of the shady practices!

Here are links to the sources cited and/or consulted for the episode.

US Department of Justice press release regarding seafood in North Carolina
Jaclyn's panettone in Milan post on A Signorina in Milan (her blog)
Panettoni industriali spacciati per artigianali: la truffa in quasi 300 pasticcerie, Luca Venturino, Dissapore
Taranto, nasconde dosi di cocaina nel panettone ma i carabinieri scoprono tutto: un arresto by Raffaella Capriglia, La Repubblica
Panettoni industriali rivenduti come artigianali a prezzi quintuplicati, denunce e sequestri del Nas in tutta Italia by Alessio Ribaudo, Corriere della Sera
Panettoni industriali venduti come artigianali, a Genova scattano i controlli dei carabinieri del Nas by Marco Fagandini, Il Secolo XiX
Panettoni artigianali... ma per finta. Una pratica diffusa in tutta Italia scoperta dai Nas by Riccardo Cristilli, La Gazzetta dello Sport

2022 Milan dining highlights

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 21:00:00 +0100

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Food writer Jaclyn DeGiorgio discusses some of her top dining experiences in Milan from the past year. Just to clarify, the list is by no means exhaustive as she set specific criteria for this episode: restaurants she either visited for the first time or those that she returned to after a significant amount of time elapsed between visits. Below are links to the restaurants she mentions in the article, and here's her blog post about Via Melzo, Milan's de facto "restaurant row."

Restaurants in Milan

Outside Milan, but still in Lombardy

Materia in Cernobbio (Lake Como)
Trattoria San Biagio in Erba (Lake Como inland)
Marco Polo 1960 in Ventimiglia, Liguria

Happy 2023 a tutti, and thank you all for listening....alla prossima!

For the love of panettone with Nicola Olivieri of Olivieri 1882

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +0100

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If you’ve sworn off panettone because you think it’s dry, bland, cottony, and uninspired, then you haven’t tasted good panettone, true panettone–you most likely have only had the preservative-packed industrial versions. Indeed, these sub-par iterations give Milan’s emblematic leavened treat a bad rap abroad, but good panettone has the power to convert even the most seemingly unwavering haters. In honor of Christmas, host Jaclyn DeGiorgio pays homage to the beloved and misunderstood sweet bread. Nicola Olivieri, one of Italy’s finest bakers, weighs in.

Sources for the episode/items mentioned:

Jaclyn’s blog post about artisan panettone in Milan.
Nicola Olivieri of Olivieri 1882
The Consorzio of Panettone's page about its origin legends and history
Il panettone. Storia, leggende, segreti e fortune di un protagonista del Natale by Stanislao Porzio, published in 2007 --This is the book to read if you want to know more about panettone. I’ve learned tons from it over the years, and he even dives further into the origin tales.
Cucina Milanese Contemporanea by Cesare Battisti and Gabriele Zanatta, published in 2020
La Cucina Milanese by Fabiano Guatteri, published in 2004

Panettone competitions and events

Panettone Day https://www.panettone-day.it/
Re panettone https://repanettone.it/
Panettone world championship https://www.panettoneworldchampionship.com/
Panettone World Cup https://www.corman.pro/int/en/chefs/blog/the-panettone-world-cup-2022/

Where to find Olivieri 1882 panettone in the US:

Zabar’s
Eataly
Giadzy (Giada De Laurentiis’s website)

Other:

Motta and Alemagna are the two historic producers
Giadia De Laurentiis recipe for panettone sformato
Chef Lorenzo Cogo bio
A look at cinepanettone

Pondering Milan with Roberta Abate

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0100

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Jaclyn DeGiorgio chats with Roberta Abate, a food journalist who has presided over the city’s food scene for the last decade from a couple of prominent editorial positions: editor of FineDiningLovers.it and editor-in-chief of Munchies Italia. This interview was recorded during Roberta's time at the latter, a role she held for five years before stepping down in November.

They discuss what makes Milan and its food scene shine, local dining habits, the charm of the city’s ubiquitous courtyards, contemporary aperitivo culture, and how the food scene has evolved over the last decade, among other topics.

Establishments mentioned in the episode

Spazio Niko Romito (restaurant with best Duomo view)

Ratanà

Da Martino

Ciciarà

The Unseen Bar (The first Vaporwave bar in Milan)

Tipografia Alimentare

Additional links:

Robert’s Instagram: @rob_and_the_apocolypse

Roberta's Munchies story about the Unseen Bar

Jaclyn’s blog post about Via Melzo, Milan's de facto Restaurant Row

About The Milano Files

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0100

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Milan's cheerleader-in-chief, Jaclyn DeGiorgio champions the food, beverage, and lifestyle culture of Italy's most electric (and wrongfully overlooked!) city.

If you'd like to join her for a food tour when you're in town, send her an email: jaclyndegiorgiofoodtours@gmail.com