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Our 10 Favorite Airbnbs Along the Italian Coast

It’s summer. You’re holding a Campari Spritz in one hand, your favorite person’s palm in the other, and you’re buzzing. It might be from the cocktail or from the unique glow that only comes after a beach-day-shower. Either way, you’re in bliss. You’re on a balcony, with the ocean, muffled laughter, and arancini nearby. It’s late, but it’s nowhere near dark, and you’re thinking about the dinner of clams, octopus, and sea urchin in your near future. You’re in Italy, on the coast, at your own Airbnb.

With enough planning and research, that dreamy night on the coast can become reality. In hopes of inspiring your inner Stanley Tucci, we’ve done some of that research for you. Here are some of our favorite Airbnbs along the Italian coast.

We’re Launching a New Travel Column—& We Want Your Recommendations

Hello. Welcome. Greetings. Howdy?

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new travel column, 52Cities. Written by former Food52 editor Marian Bull, the column will celebrate the 52 best food, shopping, and culture destinations in a given city. Re…

Hello. Welcome. Greetings. Howdy?

Soju Swirls & Hangover Soup—Korean Drinking Traditions, Explained

My Korean parents never drink. On occasion, during his birthday party perhaps, my dad will drink one beer and his face will immediately turn beet red. My mother can barely stand the smell—one whiff and she’ll complain of an oncoming headache. So it’s a…

This is hubris, of course, but hubris is what drives the Korean drinking experience. It’s common to be asked, “How many bottles of soju can you drink?” as a measure of sizing up someone’s abilities. Drinking is not only a challenge in Korean society, but a way of life—you learn how to accept a drink from your elders, drink socially with your friends, commiserate over drinks with coworkers, meet for drinks with clients to land big deals, and pour a glass to honor your ancestors.

My Favorite Cooler Brand Made a Suitcase That’s Tough Enough for Any Adventure

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

If you’ve followed Yeti, you know that as a brand, their products are …

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

If you’ve followed Yeti, you know that as a brand, their products are like that kid in high school who made a diorama, poster board, and stitched together a video in iMovie, when all the assignment really called for was a 200-word essay. That’s all to say, the brand goes too far on purpose. Their coolers are designed to be bear-proof but are mostly used for barbecuing; their water bottles can keep coffee hot for over 24 hours, which is way more than anyone would ever need. Needless to say, I was thrilled to find out that the brand got into making luggage. How would they over-engineer a suitcase?

Korea’s Convenience Store Coffee Pouches Are My Favorite Way to Caffeinate

I first spotted a coffee pouch on my friend’s Instagram story when he was visiting Korea. I didn’t think much of it at first, but a few weeks later when I was visiting Korea with my parents, they resurfaced the video for me. “Oh we must go try that cof…

Replicating my friend’s video exactly, I first located the correct counter height freezer (not the one with the ice creams), slid open the glass door, and extracted a plastic cup full of ice. From the shelf above, I chose a blue and brown “Cantata” pouch with a photo of iced coffee on the front that dripped with condensation. After paying, I popped open the ice cup, peeled open the coffee pouch, and poured the liquid in, which filled up right to the edge of the cup like a perfectly measured science experiment. After snapping the lid back on and spearing with a straw, I swirled the coffee around the crackling ice and took a big refreshing sip.

fake-cation to florence!

…

Happy 2021!

I hope you all had restful enjoyable holiday breaks and were able to come into the new year feeling like your phone after a long overnight software update and super-charging session! (Hm… I’m going to keep workshopping that new year greeting…)

We had about the loveliest fake vacation to Florence possible and I want to tell you all about it before I scamper off to filming GMF (season 8!):

We basically just ate a bunch of mozzarella and prosciutto all week that we splurged on from the fancy section of the grocery store (by the bakery, not in the deli section) and it was delicious. We even acquired burrata which I’ve never seen in a grocery in Grand Forks. That was a TREAT! We had it all week long with loads of basil and the focaccia and Tuscan bread from Emiko’s book.
For dinners, we cooked through Emiko’s book and made a great brick chicken, lots and lots of beans, homemade pappardelle, and one of the best homemade pizzas I’ve ever had in my life. It was so simple, just San Marzano tomatoes from the can, fresh mozzarella, and basil… but the thing I loved extra about it was dusting the dough with semolina flour for some good crunchiness.
We celebrated Christmas outside with steamy bowls of ribollita and the weather was perfect. Not that I love talking about the weather but if we’re going to be forced to socially distance on a wintery holiday, we could at least get nice sitting-outside weather and we did!
Our Florentine art exploration included making a “fresco” with Bernie, AKA we taped a big sheet of paper to the wall and drew all over it with crayons and rubber stamps. We made a mountain scene with ducks, so many ducks.
We took a “day trip to ski* in the Italian Alps**” (*sled on a giant inflatable unicorn, **on a hill in town)
We went “wine tasting* all over the hills of Tuscany**” (*swing set testing, **playgrounds of Grand Forks)
Had not one but two blissful spa days, AKA I sat in a coconut tub with a face mask on and read Adam Rippon’s book for the entirety of Bernie’s nap time. Then used a lot of cuticle oil.
Watched some great TV on the “airplane” (couch), including The Flight Attendant, Bobby and Giada in Italy, Bridgerton, Wonder Woman, Big, and Soul. Wow, Soul.
Meditated! I got the Calm app and wow my brain is like “Thank U, self!!” 10/10 recommend.

Where should we fake go to next?? Should we time travel back to the 90s and only eat pizza rolls and dunkaroos all week? Ooh that sounds fun… Alright g2g, figure skating nationals is on!! Bye!!!

-yeh!