Curious Appetite

A food writer's tour company in Florence, Bologna and Milan

Curious Appetite runs its own food and drink experiences in Italy: walking food tours in Florence, Bologna and Milan, hands-on cooking lessons in Florence, and "boutique wine cellar tours around the Tuscan countryside." It was created by Coral Sisk, author of the Curious Appetite food blog, which the about page says started in 2010. The page says all tours "have been curated, tested & personally approved by Coral Sisk," describes her as a published food writer (USA Today, Vogue Magazine, The Guardian and Eater are named), and says she holds a B.A. in Italian Studies from the University of Washington and is "a certified Italian Sommelier via FISAR Firenze." The footer names the business as Curious Travel LLC, and prices on the tour pages are stated "in USD$."

The homepage claims "Over 500 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor" and a Traveler's Choice award, and quotes praise from Lonely Planet and Forbes Travel; the about page adds that Conde Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet recommend it.

The experiences

The tours-in-Italy page says the walking food tours and wine cellar tours "are small group (no more than 8ppl) or exclusively private," and the about page says the Florence walking tours are "very small groups (usually 6-8)" and "available daily." The homepage names the Historic Florence Food Lover's Tour, the Progressive Tuscan Dining Crawl of Florence and La Grassa Food Lover's Tour of Bologna as its top experiences. Cooking lessons in Florence teach "genuine family-passed down Tuscan recipes in the homes of local chefs or at hidden away culinary studios," with an option to shop the Florence markets first, and the about page says the lessons "enlist women cooks and chefs." There are also larger-group activities for weddings and company events, travel consulting, and gift certificates. The about page stresses independent suppliers ("we support the small guys") and seasonal, artisan produce, and the company's blog covers subjects from aperitivo etiquette in Milan and Florentine steak to where to find the best gelato in Bologna.

La Grassa, in Bologna, is a 3-hour private tour with at least 5 tasting stops: pastries and espresso at a coffee bar bakery, stuffed pasta with wine, cured meats such as culatello and mortadella with aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged balsamic vinegar at a family-run shop (not on Sundays), artisanal gelato, a 15th century pub, and on weekday mornings a fresh pasta laboratory. The page lists the inclusions as all tastings, 2 local wine pairings, the pasta demo when available and a "bilingual tour guide." Transport, travel insurance and extra tastings are not included, and a custom meeting point costs extra. The page is candid about seasonal changes: from November to January the usual pasta laboratory is busy with holiday tortellini production, so the demo moves to an osteria, and in August the demo runs only on weekday mornings.

The Insider's Milan Food Tour is also 3 hours, focused on the Castello and Duomo area or the Brera design district, with at least 5 stops: a pasticceria, an underground cellar, a classic deli for risotto al salto and mondeghili meatballs, Lombardy cheeses and bresaola, a confectioner, 2 wine tastings and artisanal gelato. There is an option to add a Milanese aperitivo with a Negroni sbagliato, and private groups can ask for upgrades such as an olive oil tasting flight, aged balsamic, a cooking class or sommelier-led fine wine flights, at an extra fee where applicable. The page frames the tour around the 1980s nickname "Milano da bere" and the city's shift "from an ancient Roman outpost to an economic powerhouse."

Prices, times and how it runs

The Bologna and Milan pages publish their private rates per person, falling as the group grows. Bologna costs $275 per person for 1-2 adults, $215 for 3, $179 for 4-5, $165 for 6 and $150 for 7-8, starting at 10am or 3pm daily and meeting "Near Piazza Maggiore." Milan costs $275 for 1-2 adults down to $145 each for 7-8, Monday to Saturday at 10am or 3:00pm. Both require at least 2 adult tickets, give youth discounts for under-16s, charge a premium on Sundays and holidays, and take online bookings for up to 8 guests; larger groups ask for a quote. Card processing and ticketing fees are added at checkout. A small-group Milan option at $135 per adult is marked "COMING SOON! ETA Spring 2027."

The about page says the team speaks English and Italian. Children are welcome on both city tours, and the Bologna FAQ calls that tour "very family-friendly." Both pages say they can adapt for vegetarians and gluten-free diets, with the Bologna page warning that the city is "heavily pork-based," that it cannot guarantee against cross contamination, and that celiacs are better suited to a mostly cultural version. It also advises day-trippers from Florence to book trains with a buffer, since the company is "not responsible for delays by train." For custom start times, both pages ask guests to note a preference when booking, and the company confirms by email.

Terms and what to check

The footer links to "FAQs/Cancellation Policy," Terms & Conditions and a Waiver, but the tour pages themselves do not state the cancellation window or refund rule, so those are worth reading before paying. Prices for the Florence tours, the cooking lessons and the Tuscan wine days are not shown on the homepage or the tours overview, and solo travelers cannot book the Bologna or Milan tours alone; the FAQ offers to try to fit them into another group or a Florence experience. Contact is by phone (206-637-5264) or email.

Who it suits

Curious Appetite suits food lovers who want a small, knowledgeable tasting walk rather than a big-group food crawl, especially couples, families and friends willing to book privately in Bologna or Milan. The published rates make the cost clear before booking, and it rewards people who care about where the cheese, balsamic and wine come from. Budget travelers, solo travelers and anyone needing a strictly gluten-free day in Bologna should look at the fine print first.