June 2025: News from Elizabeth

Bologna, a winery, and thoughts on community

Community, Connection, and the Surprise of Small Group Travel

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about community—how we find it, how we build it, and how it shows up in unexpected ways. My friend (and Via Rosa Host) Jenny wrote something beautiful in her own newsletter recently about the ways we connect across the table, and it struck a chord. It reminded me of what so many guests have told me after our tours: “I didn’t think I was a tour person... but I ended up loving the group most of all.”

It’s something I hear again and again. People come for the food, the beauty, the history—but they leave talking about the friendships. In these small group tours, something quiet and powerful happens. Over shared meals and long walks, bus rides and vineyard visits, people from very different backgrounds begin to talk, to listen, to laugh. And something shifts.

Especially now, when so much of the world feels divided, this kind of shared experience feels more essential than ever. These tours aren’t just about seeing a place. They’re about coming together, even just for a little while, and remembering that we have more in common than we think.

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✨ WHAT’S NEW

Our spring season is winding down—Sophie just returned from Puglia, and I’ve just come back from Parma. We have one last tour before we take a break for the summer: Umbria. It’s the only tour Sophie and I still host together, and the only one where we invite guests into our home. Due to a couple of last-minute cancellations, we have a few spots available for the November tour.

I’ll be announcing more Spring 2026 dates in the next few weeks, but just a heads-up: the schedule for 2026 is already rolling out, and so far, every tour has sold out via the Premium (paying) newsletter. We’ll be adding more trips to Sardinia, Puglia, Sicily, and Florence soon. If you’re hoping to travel with us next year (and we truly hope you are!), be sure to upgrade to the Premium newsletter so you get early access.

Behind the scenes, Sophie and I are always working on new itineraries. In fact, we’re expanding into two new regions in 2027, and we’re beyond excited. We can’t share where just yet, but if you follow either of us on Instagram, you might catch a few hints over the next year. (Sophie on Instagram)

Curious what our research trips look like? Here’s a little peek of some ‘research’ I was drinking doing in Sicily:

eminchilli

A post shared by @eminchilli

Almost all of our tours for 2025 are sold out. We are however accepting requests to be added to the wait lists. We do sometimes get cancellations, so it’s worth adding your name.

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📚 WHAT I’M READING

I love this type of article, which confirms my already strongly held opinions. Especially when referring to daily coffee intake.

I was so surprised to see the New York Times covering Bari. It’s been off the radar for so long, I pretty much thought we had the place to ourselves. We will be adding more of our week-long tours to Bari and Matera to our schedule in the next few weeks.

The Times also went to Rome: here’s a mini 36-hour guide which is always useful.

A love letter to one of my favorite dishes in the world. So simple, but so damn good

What’s the beef that Europe has with American beef? Mostly about food safety, and I’m ok with that.

I just finished Jodi Picoult’s By Any Other Name, and the fact that I can barely remember what it was about probably says more about the book than my memory (or at least I hope so). The premise—exploring the idea that a woman may have been behind Shakespeare’s works—sounds fascinating in theory, but in execution, the novel really stretched the concept to its limits. I found both of the female protagonists (past and present) tedious beyond belief, and honestly, I barely made it to the end.

On a brighter note, I picked up Ascension by Nicholas Binge after spotting it on a “best of” list, and I’m so glad I did. It’s science fiction (my favorite), with a genuinely compelling main character and sharp, immersive writing. I’ve already downloaded his other books for my next reads.

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📺 WHAT I’M WATCHING

Anyone else totally sucked in by Sirens? Those dresses. That house.

Will someone please explain to me the allure of Outlander? This is my second attempt. And even though I was on a train and it was the only thing I had downloaded, I just couldn’t watch it. What’s the deal?

Since so many people mentioned it to me, I decided to try to watch Nonnas, the Netflix movie. Cringe. So so so bad.

Loving Transplant, which is kind of a more Canadian and less slick version of Grey’s Anatomy, with the main character a Syrian doctor forced to flee his country.

Since we are talking about TV, I have a question: Does anyone else randomly go back to watch the pilot episode of a show they’ve watched multiple seasons of? I’m talking long-running shows like Grey’s, Chicago franchises, and of course, Law & Order. So awkward and so much fun! Also, everyone was so young! ;)

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🍝 WHERE TO EAT IN BOLOGNA: A MINI GUIDE

I’m just back from hosting a week-long food tour in Parma, and as so often happens, many of our guests head to Bologna for a few nights after the trip. Since they always ask for restaurant recommendations, here are a handful for your next visit. These are recommended by my friend and colleague Curious Appetite, who not only eats in Bologna often, she also leads food tours there. See her full list of places, including wine bars, gelaterie, and more.

Whether you're here for a long weekend or just passing through, these spots capture the best of Bologna’s dining scene—old-school charm, slow food values, and chefs who know exactly what they’re doing.

🟠 Trattoria di Via Serra
Slow Food, deeply local, books up fast

This beloved trattoria is a Slow Food standard-bearer, and for good reason: everything is carefully sourced, seasonal, and soul-satisfying. The only catch? It’s incredibly popular. Reservations are essential, and sometimes tough to get. But if you manage to snag a table, you're in for a real treat.

🟡 Trattoria da Me
Tradition meets edge, with a chef’s touch

Elisa Rusconi has taken her family’s trattoria and turned it into one of the most respected kitchens in town. The space is a little shabby chic, a little contemporary, and the menu walks that same line—classic Bolognese dishes, reimagined just enough to feel fresh without losing their soul. Locals love it.

🟢 Ristorante al Cambio
A surefire classic, pure time capsule energy

Think textbook lasagna, perfect passatelli in brodo, and a dining room that feels suspended in time. Al Cambio delivers the kind of no-nonsense, beautifully executed meal that makes you understand why Emilia-Romagna is considered Italy’s culinary heartland.

🔵 Trattoria Autotreno
Homey, generous, and worth the short trip

A bit outside the historic center, this is where you go when you want the equivalent of a warm hug from a Bolognese nonna. Simple, unfussy plates, warm service, and all the comfort classics.

🟣 Trattoria Bertozzi
Hidden gem with chef credentials

Tucked away just beyond the main center, this cozy spot is run by Chef Fabio Berti and hits the sweet spot between neighborhood trattoria and refined execution. The cooking is top-notch but still deeply rooted in tradition, perfect if you want something a little elevated without leaving Bologna’s heart.

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📣 AND FINALLY…

I was so happy to chat with Eater recently about Via Rosa, our tour business, and how it’s been growing—what a journey it’s been!

While Sophie was in NYC last month, she also stopped by the Growing Up Italian podcast for a fun conversation about il dolce far niente, what it was like growing up in Italy, and a few of her favorite hidden gems.

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Wishing you a fun-filled start to summer! Do you have any fun trips planned? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

x, Elizabeth

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IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS RECENT POST:

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