Milan

feedfeed visits Milan

As a cultural epicenter on food, history and fashion, Milan is the perfect city to experience an incredible cross section of what makes Italy a must-visit destination for food lovers around the world. From the markets, to the cheese shops, to the impeccably executed aperitivo (read Happy Hour) - the city of Milan blends old world charm with modern amenities. The metro is very easy to navigate (the machines to buy tickets, not so much!) so although the city is quite expansive, it’s easy to explore the different parts of the city.

The perception of Italian cuisine from our side of the pond is extra virgin olive oil, fish, tomatoes & pasta. Milan, however, became, over the years, a playground for the wealthy and bourgeois class - reflecting heavily in the cuisine that is popular today - heavy with butter, cream and spices such as saffron - their staple dishes are Saffron Risotto (Risotto Milanese) & Vitello Milanese - (a thinly pounded and pan fried cutlet of veal). Italian cuisine, in large part, reflects the ‘eat local’ mantra - the closer you get to the mountains, you will find cuisine that uses more butter than olive oil and celebrates high quality meat from the cattle grazing the Northern Italian countryside.

We kicked off our stay in Milan with a #feedfeed Meet-Up
Interested in hosting a Meet-Up in your city? Get in touch with us.

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The area located just around the canals, populated by both locals and tourists alike, is a great area to take in the sights and do a little shopping. A few of our favorite shops, located just a few blocks from the Canal are Acqua Distillata (offering an array of contemporary ceramics and sculptural pieces) & the flower shop directly next door Clori Home and Flowers which stocks gorgeous table linen and table wares.

An historical farmhouse located within the city of Milan, this space has been converted to a community center that has the perfect outdoor patio for enjoying an early summer spritz - the bar can be a bit confusing - but head inside to the counter to order your drinks and some light bites - and then take them with you to find a communal spot outside.

Dining in someone's home is a great way to learn more about the local culture of a city & make new friends. Withlocals is a great resource for connecting travelers with locals in a city and provide a truly genuine experience. Marco, who is a brand strategist by day & home cooking enthusiast by night, is a terrific host and a wealth of knowledge about local food. He expertly prepared a 4 course meal for us, infusing it with the local flavors of Milanese cuisine - Dinner was €30/pp and included wine and after dinner drinks.

COURSE 1 Chilled Parmesan Pudding

COURSE 2 Sous Vide Egg with crispy ham

COURSE 3 Polenta 3-ways - Spinach - Taleggio - Bolognese

DESSERT Gluten Free Cake (upon request) and fresh fruit

Day 2

Taking more than 600 years to complete (started in 1345 and completed in 1963) the Duomo is a breathtaking example of Italian architecture and design. The area around the Duomo is pretty heavily saturated with tourists - we’d recommend going early for the best photo opportunities & tour options. Note - proper attire is required to enter the Duomo, be sure to check their website to learn more.

A 3.5 hour tour-de-force of food, taking a tour with Sara is having the opportunity to visit some of the best food offerings of Milan while learning about the history behind each of the establishments - recommend that you book well in advance of your trip.

Founded in the mid 1824’s, this small cafe is well known in Milan for producing top quality pastries, cookies and is a hot spot for a quick lunch or after work cocktails - the interior of the space is fairly unchanged from when it opened and is a great way to see ‘old Milan’ style - grab a few cookies/petit fours from the bakery counter and then grab an espresso at the bar. Marchesi was recently acquired by the fashion label Prada.

Founded in 1883 as a shop selling German style sausages, Peck quickly evolved into a place that was ‘see and be seen’ for those who were part of the elite class of Milan. As business expanded, Peck became the official supplier of the Royal Household in the early 1900’s and was acquired by a new owner in 1912 - it was this new owner, Eliseo Magnaghi, that they introduced ready made food. Peck gained a cult following of Milan’s elite & intellectual class - propelling them to expand their operations to what they are today.

Campari, which was produced in Milan for many years, is pretty much celebrated as a national treasure - a bitter orange liqueur, it makes the perfect spritz which is Campari, sparkling wine, and club soda (2 oz. Campari & 2 oz. Prosecco +1 oz. Club Soda - garnish with an orange slice) & the space is a prime example of old Milan - soaring ceilings, glistening hardwood bar & open air feeling - it is the perfect space to stand at the bar and enjoy a quick drink before lunch.

Located a little bit outside of the city limits of Milan, dell’Erba Brusca is worth the taxi ride. Chef Alice, the founder of dell’Erba Brusca was born in France, but raised in Chicago and North Carolina (and is now a mom of twins!) - her food (some of which is sourced directly from the garden behind the restaurant) is a tour de force of modern Italian cuisine that is inspired by Alice’s upbringing - in a casual environment. We recommend the tasting menu, which she will gladly work to accommodate dietary restrictions. Reservations recommended (can be made online) - in the summer months, request to sit out on the patio. On Wednesday nights they have a Blue Grass band. Reservations Here

A special thanks to these wonderful #feedfeed community members who were instrumental in helping plan our stay in Milan!

A few more photos from Michael's inspiring space....

Thank you Starwood Hotels for welcoming us to stay at Excelsior Hotel Gallia during our stay.