An Important (And Unexpected) Reason To Travel
Female Foodie Friday Vol. 23
When people ask me what I do for work, and I tell them I develop recipes and take women on food tours to Italy, they usually say the same thing:
“Wow—sounds like a dream job.”
And they are right—it is a dream job.
I’ve not only loved visiting Italy on a regular basis, but perfecting the art of helping women have the best vacation of their lives is something I truly enjoy.
17-year-old Brookie on her first ever Europe trip with her mom and grandma wouldn’t have believed you.
20-year-old Brooke, who had just started her new and very bare-bones blog “My Eats. My Thoughts.” (thankfully later named Female Foodie) wouldn’t have believed you either.
25-year-old newlywed Brooke, who was working full time as an SLP and doing Female Foodie as a side hustle certainly wouldn’t have believed you either.
And even 29-year-old Brooke, who spent an entire summer in Italy sharing all of the things she adored about her experience (which was the true catalyst for all of this), probably wouldn’t have believed you either.
Paring something I love with a lot of hard work has opened many incredible doors for me.
But being in Italy isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Some things are hard about Italy, just like any other country—even as a tourist.
Don’t worry—I won’t be sharing a laundry list of things I don’t love about Italy (although Poste Italiane and the incessant cigarette smoking would definitely be on that list).
But I do think it’s important to observe how travel makes you better. And more specifically, the way in which it allows you fall in love all over again with the place that you call home.
It’s totally possible to have the trip of a lifetime and also be super happy to be back in your own bed and enjoy the small things that make home feel like home.
Things I appreciate when I come home from Italy:
wide open roads with big parking spaces
dryers! nothing like fluffy hot towels (electric clothes driers are a rarity in Italian homes/apartments)
convenience: grocery delivery, amazon prime, and doordash FTW
big backyards (anyone else with young kids?)
the variety of cuisines that we so love and enjoy
a steady stream of air conditioning when the weather gets hot (IFYKYK)
diet coke with ice (I’m sorry, coke zero, but you are just not the same)
things that make being a mom so much easier: drive-thrus, big cars, and target runs
If you’re new to Female Foodie or this newsletter, welcome! We’re getting ready to open up spots for our 2026 Tours. If you want the most up-to-date info, including dates, cost, and the ability to sign up, you’ll want to become a paying subscriber (our tours sell out immediately!).
10 Things That Made This Week Great
Getting a nice, long workout in yesterday was just what I needed. I’ve been using the Wilma App for over 3 years now and love that there’s both a home and gym option.
On a separate note, while I was still at the gym I saw a Mel Robbins Instagram reel singing praises on the benefits of using a sauna. For the first time ever I was seriously considering using it. After my workout was finished, I located the sauna, saw how many hot and sweaty people were crammed in there together making small talk, and walked straight out the door. What am I missing? Worth it? Sauna people LMK what your honest thoughts are.
SPRING. It’s officially spring, and I’m so beyond ready for it. Went on an (almost) 80-degree walk just a couple of days ago. Birds were singing, my skin felt amazing, and the blossoms on trees were seemingly endless.
Hydrangeas at Costco!! Could they be more beautiful?
Made some reallllly good homemade tomato soup for grilled cheese this week. My tips? 1) use good quality tomatoes (San Marzano are my fav!), 2) blend the soup for at least 2-3 minutes for an elevated smoothness that feels like something you’d get at a fancy restaurant, 3) drizzle the soup with your favorite EVOO, and 4) make your grilled cheese with a high quality cheddar AND parmigiano reggiano. #gamechanger
5. Eating Cadburry mini eggs like it’s my job, and I’m hoping I’ll still have enough for the best blondie recipe ever.
This Kelly Carkson cover is just insane (MUST listen).
My son keeps asking me to play “Just The Two Of Us” by Bill Withers when it’s actually just the two of us in the car, and I suddenly feel like I’ve done something right as a parent. 🥹
I may have several days of recipe testing ahead of me, but SHAKE SHACK is on tap for this weekend, and I couldn’t be more excited. Note to self: don’t make a grocery list on glossy paper. Especially if it’s raining.
Working with my amazing team to ensure that everything is PERFECT for our upcoming Tuscany Tours! Tuscany Tour #1 starts next week, and I can hardly wait.
Interviewed Tyler Malek, AKA co-founder and chief ice cream maker at Salt & Straw, today and so looking forward to having his episode air in a few weeks!
One last thing. I found this vintage crewneck sweatshirt on my Facebook Marketplace. Do I buy it or no?
I might buy that sweatshirt but I wouldn't wear it until trump is no longer president. Soo embarrassing to be an American right now and I especially wouldn't wear it traveling to another country.