Hence every so often, I get to go to Milan for work. Where my awesome colleagues make sure I am very well fed and watered. How much do I love the fact that when we moved into our new office in Milan, my Italian colleagues made it a specific mission to eat in every restaurant nearby and REPORT BACK to management on the results of their search so they could collectively decide on their favorite places? Also, our Italian CEO won’t let anyone eat at their desks in the office. The team has to eat in the lunchroom OR go out to lunch together. Savoring the moment.

I don’t like to play favorites, but I will anyhow: my Italian colleagues are my favorite colleagues worldwide.

Unfortunately, our new office in Milan is in a bit of a wasteland. The Central Station wasteland. I wouldn’t really recommend this part of town. And truth be told, I wouldn’t really recommend that you make it a specific point to seek out any of these restaurants. They’re good. But I think there is far better to be had across Milan.

Frijenno Maganno, Via Benedetto Marcello, 93. Specializing in the food of Napoli. Busy little restaurant and cafe with a huge pizza oven. I had the fresh and light spaghetti vongole, and afterwards, my colleagues ordered up multiple orders of Fritto Misto. Heaven.

Pizzeria Gaffurio, Via Gaffurio. Very congenial family run place. At the front of the restaurant, next to do the counter, they have all the daily specials arranged. Pick what you’d like, and a few minutes later, they’ll bring it to you. I had the seafood spaghetti. (Predictable, aren’t I?) I liked it here because it was just so neighborhood-y and friendly. Some Google-ing after the fact turned up rave reviews for the pizza, necessitating a second visit.

Art Factory, Via Andrea Doria: One of my favorite things to do in Milan is head out for apertivos in the evening. Who doesn’t love free food with their drinks? Art Factory had a pretty extensive buffet (photos on their Web site here), although sadly not all of it was good. They also played very loud music. This annoyed me. But again, with free food, it was all okay. If I lived in Milan, I would do nothing but blog about apertivos.

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Peck
Via Spadari 9 
Milano 20123

Date of Last Visit: Saturday, February  7, 2009

The Victims: Milan food bloggers extraordinaire, Sara, of Kitchen Pantry and Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy

The Damage: Just a few euros for some gelato.

The Background: Our last stop on our little whirlwind foodie tour of Milan is Peck, the upmarket grocery store located right around the corner from The Duomo. I think the photos will speak for themselves.

The Verdict: Definitely stop in.

The post Milan: Peck first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Obika
Via Santa Radegonda, 3
20121 Milano

Date of Last Visit: Saturday, February February 7, 2009

The Victims: The fantastic Milan food bloggers: Sara and Sara

The Damage: Unknown, because again, the ladies paid for me! And they were sneaky about it too.

The Background: God I love Italy. And I love how the girls are taking me out for cheese and meat for lunch. They've taken me to Obika, which I imagine would be lovely in summer, overlooking the Duomo as it does. Sara and Sara have rushed us here, trying valiantly to beat the crowds. They succeed. By the time we leave, the queue is out the door and through the Rinascente shop.

We've got a nice bottle of proseco and Sara R. patiently explains my options. I copy her selection of Stracciatella di Burrata (gusto dolce e cremoso)–a really creamy mozzerella–so creamy, it's served in a glass. And well, when given the choice between one type of meat or three, I of course choose three: Prosciutto Crudo San Daniele,Mortadella di Prato, Salame di Cinta Senese.

The Verdict: I've been to the Obika in Selfridge's. But I've got to tell you…it doesn't compare. At all. If you're in Milan, you should go here.

The post Milan: Obika first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Dolce Sicilia
Via Carmagnola Francesco, 8,
20159 Milano, Italy‎

Date of Last Visit: Saturday, Feb 6, 2009

The Victims: The lovely Saras! Sara, of Kitchen Pantry and Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy

The Damage: Unknown. The ladies paid for me, which they should not have done!

The Background: Some people do not like Milan.

I am not one of them.

I can think of nothing better than shopping. And eating. (With some food and restaurant blogging thrown in for good measure.) There's a lot of shopping and eating to be done in Milan, and I've got two of the cities best foodies as my guide for all the blogging parts.

I first met fellow food blogger Sara from The Kitchen Pantry in London a few years back, when the folks at Trusted Places–the online London restaurant, bar, and everything guide–took us on a guided tour of Borough Market. Ms. Adventures in Italy–you might know her from Menu for Hope–I met at BlogHer in San Francisco last year during a travel blogging session. I'm really looking forward to having two of Milan's best food bloggers show me their city.

The Entrance: Our first stop of many is a newish Sicilian pastry shop, and I fall in love with Milan all over again. While the three of them choose cannoli (Sara R's Italian husband has also joined us), I opt for an Italian croissant, stuffed with pistachio cream. It is lovely. Really. If you know where to find pistachio cream croissants in London, you just let me know.

The Exit: We drool over the selection. Really, I haven't seen anything like this in a while. But then again, maybe I just don't get out enough. If you know where all the pastries in London are hiding, please. Tell me.

The Verdict: A Dolce Sicilia London would be a good thing.

The post Milan: Dolce Sicilia first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.