Food & Travel

Does Eco-Tourism Actually Help a Destination?

From the Galápagos to Costa Rica, destinations are proving conservation and tourism can work together, but not every 'eco-friendly' claim holds up. Photo by Bill Hallier

Moto Delicatessen & Bodega: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

In a city where few people actually walk to dinner, this corner of the Fresno High neighborhood has become a place where people come to connect.

The energy extends beyond Moto's front door and spills onto the sidewalks and into the surrounding businesses.

Appetito Travels: Finding a Little Italy in Newport Beach, California

A sun filled coastal escape blends beach walks, a Mediterranean resort and Italian flavors in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

We Did 12 Days in Sicily Like Tourists. Here’s What Surprised Us Most.

Before our recent trip to Sicily, I did what most travelers do. I read articles, watched videos from a myriad of influencers, and studied itineraries created by locals and visitors who claim to be experts on what to eat and where to stay on the island. The advice was surprisingly consistent.

Chef Alex Espinoza Keeps Bottega's Legacy Alive in Napa Valley

In Napa Valley, food isn’t just about eating - it’s all about the experience. Driving into Yountville (one of Napa's small, surrounding towns), rows of grapevines and olive trees lined the roads, and a hint of the changing season was in the air. Couples strolled hand in hand, groups of friends lingered on street corners, all seeming to take it in and appreciate its beauty.

How One Chef’s Past Helped Shape Fresno’s Future

Chef Vatche’s history helped shape this central California town’s dining scene, one dish and one cup of coffee at a time.

Via Aurelia Opens at San Francisco’s Mission Rock

Via Aurelia, the latest restaurant from Chef David Nayfeld and partner Matt Brewer, recently opened at Mission Rock in San Francisco. The team behind Che Fico, the acclaimed Italian restaurant in the NoPa neighborhood, calls this their first fine dining project.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, inside Tana Restaurant in New Orleans

Tana Delivers Thoughtful Sicilian Cuisine in New Orleans Style

In a quiet corner of Metairie, just outside New Orleans, where strip malls brush against magnolia trees, Tana emerges not with fanfare, but with feeling—rooted in Sicilian spirit, unapologetically modern yet anchored in the old world.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, Austin'sAstiTrattoria_LasagnaRotolo_3

Austin’s Asti Trattoria Continues Its Story in Hyde Park

For more than twenty years, Asti Trattoria has been a Hyde Park fixture, where neighbors gather over handmade pasta and a glass of wine with friends. But in 2021, co-owners Chris Moore and Chef Bryan Beneke took over the restaurant, bringing fresh energy to a place already deeply rooted in the community. Chef de Cuisine Evan Van Nort now leads in the kitchen alongside Chef Bryan, helping shape the menu and daily rhythm of the restaurant.

Sarah Campise Hallier, travel writer for Appetito Magazine, article about Italian citizenship

Italy’s Jure Sanguinis Changes Threaten Italian Food Culture

For decades, Italian-American chefs, bakers, and culinary dreamers have used Italy’s Jure Sanguinis (citizenship by descent) law as a gateway not just to a passport, but to a deeper, more immersive connection with their ancestral roots. They’ve apprenticed with village nonnas, trained in small-town trattorias, and walked through vineyards their great-grandparents once worked—only to return to America and open restaurants that celebrate this living tradition.

Sarah Campise Hallier, travel writer, photo of raviolis in Switzerland

Fine Food & Fast Trains:
Discover Elite Dining Just Beyond Milan

As the sun sets over the glistening waters of Lake Como, the atmosphere at Villa Bianca transforms into something genuinely nostalgic. You'll find that each dish is not just a meal but a culinary masterpiece. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a peek at the chef delicately arranging plates with the precision of a fine artist.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito MagazinePasta Bowl at the Hilton

Poggioreale in America Reunion Celebrates Heritage in New Orleans

New Orleans, LA – March 22–23, 2025 — Hundreds of descendants of Poggioreale, Sicily, gathered in New Orleans for the Poggioreale in America, Inc. (PIA) reunion—an emotional, joyful celebration of ancestry, culture, community and food that drew participants from across the United States and beyond.

Sarah Campise Hallier, travel writer, having lunch in Palermo, Sicily

Tasting our Way Through Sicily

Move over Tucci! With the hope that Sicily will soon allow tourists to wander its enchanting and somewhat mysterious island by the end of the year, an American tourist shares her pre-pandemic journey through the captivating western side of Sicily.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food, travel, and health & wellness writer, old photo of Poggioreale, Sicily

Hidden in the Rubble:
Finding our Past in Poggioreale, Sicily

Our last names seeped out of the concrete homes of the new town, inching closer to the missing branches of our family trees. The Campisis and Todaros and Tondolas and Caronnas were all still there – relatives of our great grandparents who had stayed behind for reasons we may never know, and could only fully appreciate after spending time there. And each day we unpeeled their stories, 150 years of families who still call Poggioreale their home today.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, Tagliolini all'astice

Three Northern Italian Grand Hotels That Define Luxury & Fine Cuisine

Italy is synonymous with elegance, but some of its most exquisite treasures remain hidden in plain sight—its grand hotels. Each one tells a unique story, offering a glimpse into Italian sophistication, world-class cocktails, and the art of indulgence.

Fiesta Italiano, Bryan, Texas, Sarah Campise Hallier, food and travel writer for Appetito Magazine

First Annual Festa Italiana in Historic Downtown Bryan, Texas!

As Mayor Bobby Gutierrez likes to say, “Leave Bryan better than you found it,” and the local Italian community in Bryan, Texas, is doing just that! Owner of Zeitman’s Grocery, Blake Zeitman, is helping plan the first annual Festa Italiana, a food and heritage festival celebrating Bryan’s rich Italian culture.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, Juliet Restaurant in Austin for Appetito MAgazine

Juliet Italian Kitchen Brings a Spring Wine Series to Austin

Tucked into some of Austin’s most beloved neighborhoods, Juliet Italian Kitchen has quietly become a local favorite—bringing with it the romance of rustic Italian cooking and the hospitality of a dinner at nonna’s.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, photo of AJ Tusa, owner of New Orleans restaurant

How AJ & Anna Tusa Celebrate Creole Italian Cuisine in New Orleans

In a city known for its vibrant food culture, few restaurateurs embody the heart of New Orleans cuisine quite like AJ and Anna Tusa. The husband-and-wife duo, owners of Briquette Restaurant and New Orleans Creole Cookery, have built a career around their passion for hospitality, blending Creole and Italian flavors into a unique dining experience.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, Italian restaurant week in San Francisco for Appetito Magazine

There’s Still Time for the Best Italian in San Francisco Restaurant Week

With half-a-week remaining, we are sharing some Italian highlights featured in San Francisco Restaurant Week 2025.

Food and Wine Classic24 Aspen, Sarah Campise Hallier food writer for Appetito Magazine

Italian Cuisine Shines at the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

Italian chefs and winemakers bring bold flavors and energy to the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen this June, offering a true taste of Italy in the Rockies.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food and travel writer for Appetito Magazine, Lindsey Marie MOrris author

“The Last Letter from Sicily” Serves Up Family, Fiction, and Flavor

In The Last Letter from Sicily, author Lindsay Marie Morris brings her ancestral roots to life through a sweeping, emotional narrative inspired by her great-grandparents’ journey from Sicily to America.

Sarah Campise Hallier, travel writer for Appetito Magazine, Donatella Hotel Exterior

Donatella Boutique Hotel & Restaurant Arrives in Miami Beach This May

This May, Miami Beach welcomes a new boutique destination from the team behind some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Donatella Boutique Hotel and its on-site Donatella Restaurant mark the latest venture from the Nakash Group, known for The Setai Miami Beach and the former Versace Mansion, in partnership with Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group. Together, these hospitality leaders have created a space that blends Mediterranean-inspired design and Southern Coastal Italian cuisine, all in one intimate and curated setting.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food and travel writer for Appetito Magazine, Tucci in Italy

Stanley Tucci Explores Italy’s Regional Flavors in New Nat Geo Series

Stanley Tucci returns to Italy in a new Nat Geo series, diving deeper into regional food traditions, local artisans, and the cultural heart of the country he calls his second home.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food and travel writer for Appetito Magazine, Dara Shahraki in Sicily

From California to Cannoli: Dara’s Sicilian Life with Santi

Sometimes life takes you exactly where you’re supposed to be, even if you never planned it. In 2015, Dara Shahraki was visiting Sicily with her family - twelve of them in total - on a trip meant to reconnect with their roots. Dara’s mother had emigrated from Sicily to America in the 1960s, but she wanted her children to experience the island firsthand.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, Stanley Tucci in Italy

Tucci in Italy: Episode One Recap

Stanley Tucci’s first episode of Tucci in Italy explores the heart of Tuscany, from Florence’s humble street food to the wild Maremma and the marble villages. Along the way, he savors everything from lampredotto panini to many different cooking styles, meeting passionate food artisans from each area. The journey is marked by Tuscan campanilismo – a loyalty to one’s home village – and ends with the citywide celebration of Siena’s Palio.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito MagazinePizzaOfTheYear25_LatteriaSorrentinaAward

Una Pizza Napoletana Wins Top Pizza in USA Again

Una Pizza Napoletana has once again been crowned top pizzeria in America by 50 Top Pizza USA. Discover this year’s winners and pizza trends.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, Bottega in Napa

Bottega Begins a New Chapter in Napa Valley

Rich Frank and John Hansen step into full ownership of Bottega in Yountville, keeping the restaurant’s identity intact while Executive Chef Alex Espinoza leads it forward.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, Vincenzo's Plate

Inside the World of Vincenzo’s Plate

From Sunday lunch in Pescara to pasta lessons for millions, Vincenzo Prosperi shares how family, flavor, and authenticity shaped Vincenzo’s Plate.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer Appetito Magazine, Nonna with Vince Vaughn movie

How a Staten Island Restaurant Inspired Netflix’s “Nonnas”

When Nonnas premieres on Netflix this May, starring Vince Vaughn, audiences will be introduced to a story of second chances. Vince Vaughn plays a struggling restaurateur who finds unlikely salvation in a group of grandmothers from around the world—each bringing with her a lifetime of recipes, and a kind of wisdom you can’t fake.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, DC restaurantCafe fiorello

New York’s Café Fiorello Sets the Table in Washington, D.C.

Café Fiorello, a beloved Upper West Side mainstay, opened its doors last week just steps from the White House. Known for its abundant antipasto bar, rustic Italian classics, and over 50 years of hospitality, the restaurant’s second location lands on Pennsylvania Avenue with something to say: come hungry, and maybe stay for another Negroni.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito MAgazine,Anthony Falco sitting in apron on a break

Pizza Czar Anthony Falco on Heritage and Global Dough

Pizza Czar author Anthony Falco shares his journey from Brooklyn to the world stage, exploring his Sicilian heritage, flour myths, and pizza’s global future.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, Bacarosa New Jersey

Bacarosa Opens in New Jersey with Chef Andrew Riccatelli

After closing the doors of The Hudson Rose with a final toast, GAC Hospitality has introduced a new chapter. Bacarosa in Nutley, New Jersey brings Italian spirit with a contemporary edge. The restaurant blends wood-fired cooking, handmade pastas, and innovative dishes, all with a laid-back vibe and a lot of creativity.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine, three chefs for Flour + Water in San Francisco

Flour + Water Pizza Shop Opens at Mission Rock in San Francisco

Flour + Water Pizza Shop has landed at Mission Rock in San Francisco, and it’s bringing more than just pizza to the table—it’s delivering a thoughtfully executed, fast-casual experience rooted in quality, craft, and a little bit of fun.

Chef Maurizio de Rosa by Sarah Campise Hallier for Appetito Magazine

Chef Maurizio de Rosa on Vette Ristorante at Calabria

Naples-born chef and sommelier Maurizio de Rosa shares how his lifelong passion for hospitality and honest Italian cooking shapes Livingston’s newest restaurant.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito, TASTE catskills Scott Conant

TASTE: Sullivan Catskills Food & Wine is Back

The 2025 festival will welcome Scott Conant, Robbie Felice, and Giorgio Rapicavoli, alongside a roster of chefs who are helping to define the Catskills’ growing dining scene.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito, Marc Forgione of Peasant

Chef Marc Forgione Brings Purposeful Meat to Peasant

In NoLita, acclaimed chef Marc Forgione has already been ahead of the curve. At Peasant, the rustic, wood-fired restaurant he revived and now steers, Forgione launched a whole animal program earlier this year that treats meat with sustainability, creativity, and respect.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer, VinItaly event in Venice

Vinitaly and the City Brings a Toast to Verona this April

Verona, located in the Veneto region in northern Italy, is about to become the wine capital of the world—again. From April 4th to 6th, 2025, Vinitaly and the City returns, transforming the city's historic center into a vibrant celebration of Italian wine, culture, and culinary tradition.

Sarah Campise Hallier, food writer for Appetito Magazine,

CasaSalvo Opens in SoHo

When Sicilian chef Salvo Lo Castro opened his first restaurant in New York this summer, it marked more than another fine dining address for SoHo. CasaSalvo at 195 Spring Street is the culmination of a career that began in Catania, carried him through the kitchens of luxury hotels and the Vatican, and now places him squarely in the center of Manhattan’s culinary scene.

Parma Ristorante: Elena Corsini Mastro’s Central California Legacy

Nearly three decades in, one woman’s steady hands and Northern Italian roots have shaped a dining room where generations gather, return and feel at home.

2026 Clementina_photo by Albert Law_11.jpg

Clementina Brings Gluten Free Italian Dining to San Francisco

The new San Francisco trattoria is rethinking what authentic Italian dining can look like for families navigating celiac disease. Photo: Albert Law

Will This Fresno Powerhouse Couple Finally Bring a Michelin Star to Fresno?

The citrus sits on Los Angeles tablescapes and the almonds are shipped across the globe. Harris Ranch beef is proudly listed on menus in Orlando, and Ficklin port is poured in New York. Also known as the San Joaquin Valley, this unique area of California may be the breadbasket of the nation, yet rarely treated like a dining destination.

Sarah Campise Hallier