Bilena Settepani

I’m Bilena, a New York City baker with a love for Italy. Join me as we explore different regions of Italy through food, recipes, stories, and travel tips. With my Sicilian roots and a passion for Italian beauty, I’ll take you on a journey to new and lesser-known places. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for updates and let me know if there are any places you’d like to hear about!

Recipes

Pumpkin Olive Oil Cake is a Slice of Tuscan Tradition (and Memory)

Our contributor shares a recipe for pumpkin olive oil cake conjured from memories of her vast experiences in Tuscany.

Bilena Settepani

October 29, 2024

Recipes

To the Mountaintop in Sicily for Cannoli (and how to make them at home)

Appetito's resident baker and Italian travel enthusiast, Bilena Settepani, went with her father to the top of a mountain in Sicily for legendary cannoli. She tells the story and shares the recipe that her family uses back at home.

Bilena Settepani

July 13, 2023

Today's stories are presented by

Bona Furtuna

From estate-grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil and air-dried Ancient Grain Pasta, to organic Marinara Pasta Sauce, Salt Seasonings, Pesto & Spreads, or Aged Balsamic Vinegar, Bona Furtuna’s Italian food products are sustainably produced for flavor and body while preserving the biological heritage of Sicily.

Guides

What To See And Eat In Palermo, Sicily

A quick guide to the must-visit sites, markets, and restaurants in Sicily's capital, Palermo, from Appetito's esteemed travel correspondent, Bilena Settepani. Plus, a recipe for a favorite street food of Sicily, panelle.

Bilena Settepani

May 3, 2023