One of Italy's best-kept wine secrets comes to New York City for two weeks of curated dinners. Get to know the wines of Lake Garda at these events.

The Wines of Lake Garda Come to NYC

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Part reporter, part pasta enthusiast, and always in search of a good story, the Appetito Editors bring readers the latest happenings in food, travel and Italian culture.

Appetito Editors

Golden lobster arancini topped with grated cheese and herbs, served on a white platter

News

This Week in Italian Food News: New Restaurant Openings & More (July 31)

Isabelle Kellogg’s luxury lifestyle marketing career, along with growing up in Manhattan, gives her a unique perspective on topics like wine, which she enjoys drinking and writing about. Meeting wine makers and attending wine tastings with the wine community helps keep her on top of trends and changes in the wine industry, which is ever-evolving. She was the founding Luxury Editor at Cottages &amp; Gardens magazines, and her articles appear in Upscale Living Magazine, Luxury Facts and The Luxxe Mag. Isabelle is also a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, having co-authored a case study with them on French heritage jeweler Mauboussin.

Isabelle Kellogg

Felice Flatiron's soaring dining room was designed to highlight the restaurant's expansive Italian wine collection. Photo courtesy of SA Hospitality Group

Features

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Kristin L. Wolfe has been writing her whole life but has spent the last decade hyper-focused on food. She writes about chefs, tackling the stories behind their inspirations and processes, and the many ways in which they stay passionate and curious. She also focuses on legacy and longevity in restaurants, and what they do to survive amidst the ever-changing landscape. Wolfe is a former contributor to Forbes Dining and has bylines in various national and regional publications like Saveur, Observer, Cherry Bombe, edible, Serviette, CTbites, Chronogram, Valley Table, etc.
In addition to freelance writing for various outlets, she runs Cleavers &amp; Curls Substack, which delves into stories about heritage, ancestry, and legacy surrounding food, while sprinkling in the occasional piece about food-writing adventures. She’s building a new project, called Sensoriyum, which is a culinary, digital gallery or “playground”  where culinary insiders get to showcase their creativity at the intersection of food, art, and the senses. Sensoriyum’s quarterly is called Gazette. 
Wolfe also serves as a writing and literature professor in the Humanities department at the School of Visual Arts and Marist College, and formerly served as an adjunct at the Culinary Institute of America. Her book Office Hours: Tête-à-tête with Student Writers was released in January 2023.
<div>@kristinlwolfe @sensoriyum on IG. </div>
<div>Subscribe to her Substack, <a title="https://cleaversncurls.substack.com/" href="https://cleaversncurls.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleavers &amp; Curls</a>.</div>

Writer Kristin Wolfe in a black hat with glasses.

Kristin L. Wolfe

Chef Stefano Secchi sitting outside the entrance to Massara restaurant in New York City.

Chef Stefano Secchi and His Team Return to Massara’s OG Broadway Location

<a href="https://www.sarahhallier.com/">Sarah Campise Hallier</a> is the associate editor of Appetito Magazine and co-founder of <a href="https://www.forkboundfoodies.com/">Forkbound Foodies</a>, where she shares exceptional culinary and travel experiences.
She is also a Board Member of Poggioreale in America Inc, a nonprofit committed to preserving the history and cultural heritage of Western Sicilians and their diaspora. Featured in Italy Magazine, The Local IT, la Repubblica, and We the Italians, Sarah enjoys covering everything from cultural identity to the evolving Italian-American food experience.
A California girl at heart, when she’s not crafting food, travel and wellness stories, she’s chasing down the best foodie finds on her travels and sharing them at <a title="https://www.instagram.com/foodiesfromca/" href="https://www.instagram.com/forkboundfoodies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@forkBOUNDfoodies</a>.  Subscribe to her <a href="https://www.sarahhallier.com/about-1">newsletter</a> to keep up to date on the best places to eat, stay and tour.

Sarah Campise Hallier

Candice Guardino performs on stage during her one-woman comedy show Italian Bred.

Comedian Candice Guardino Shares the Stories Behind Italian Bred

Two Sicilian Sodas topped with sweet cream at The Sicilian Butcher.

Italian Food News: New Restaurants, Menus and More (July 25)

Morgan Hines is a New York City-based contributor for Appetito. She loves learning about and experiencing Italian cuisine and culture. Morgan is a full time reporter at PhocusWire and also contributes to Hotels Above Par, Women&#8217;s Wear Daily, Footwear News, etc. She was previously a full time reporter at USA TODAY and holds degrees from Columbia University and Georgetown University. Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/morganemhines/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@morganemhines?lang=en">TikTok</a> at <a>@MorganEmHines. </a>

Morgan Hines

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News, stories, and recipes for anyone who loves Italian food, wine, spirits, and travel

Appetito

Michele Sessa is an Italian American home chef raised in upstate NY with a flair for creating new recipes. When she was young, her great grandmother would watch her while her parents worked. She only spoke Italian, and they communicated through the magic of cooking. The duo would bake, garden and even take care of the chickens, which developed Michele’s passion for making people happy through her food. All the women in her family fostered the importance of family, faith and healthy food.
Working in the apparel business for over 25 years in NYC and traveling the world for developing fashion lines, her love of different cuisines grew. Of course, Italian food is near and dear to her heart, but she now develops Greek, Asian, Latin and Mexican recipes for her family and for parties.
Now living in Florida with her husband and extended family, she even teaches her friends her innovative takes on Italian classic dishes. Everyone wants and invitation to her Italian Sunday feasts she makes for 8-14 family members, and everyone gets to pick their favorite dinner for their birthday celebration. Her Mother Louise has finally left NY and is living nearby, and they love cooking and baking together, especially for the traditional holiday meals. She learned everything about being a gracious hostess from her mom, and they even catered a large wedding for 65 guests in their backyard when her cousins came to America from Italy to get married!
Michele’s love for her heritage and family continues to drive her knack for entertaining, decorating and cooking. Instagram is another place where she shares her recipes, and she has a great following for her handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michele7533/">@michele7533</a>. Make sure to stop by her page for inspiration and her authentic stories through her eyes and her food! Casa Michele’s kitchen is a special place that you can visit through her page!

Michele Sessa

Close-up of Sicilian salsa featuring tomatoes, olives, capers, herbs, and pickled cherry peppers.

Recipes

Sicilian Summer Salsa Topper for Ferragosto and Grilling

Anita Jozsef is a Norwegian-Hungarian gastro journalist, luxury-hospitality communications strategist, certified Food Industry Communications Advisor, a certified Napa Valley Wine Expert, and a former private chef in luxury hospitality. Founder of TheTableofAnita Luxury Brand Marketing and Communications. 
She developed her career in gastronomy, gastrophotography, and luxury hospitality, with professional experience spanning Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Andalucía and Hungary. Her favourite topics to cover: blue food, seafood, Sardinian cuisine, wine from Veneto region in Italy, sustainable cuisine and honorouring women in gastronomy. Follow Anita <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anita.jozsef/">@</a>anita.jozsef.
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Anita Jozsef sipping wine with a pink backgroun

Anita Jozsef

A Negroni overlooking Sardinia’s turquoise coastline,

From Florence to Sardinia: The Negroni With a Mirto Twist

I am the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Appetito magazine. I like Italian food &amp; drink, a lot. I am also an award-winning novelist and a regular contributor to the New York Times. More about my work can be found at <a href="https://andrewcotto.com/">Home &#8211; Andrew Cotto</a>.

Andrew Cotto

The pool at the Rockaway Hotel. Photo by Kyle Knodell.

Summer in the City: The Rockaway Hotel + Spa

Lowcountry Bella (Mandi Casey) is Italian by birth and Southern by choice. Moving to eastern North Carolina as a young girl, she was exposed to a whole new type of cuisine like BBQ and hush puppies. As an adult, she embraces both cultures so you never know what she may be cooking up in her kitchen! Currently she lives in both Pawleys Island, South Carolina and Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Her family continues to grow, and that makes her happy because there are more people to feed and love. What&#8217;s better than that?
In addition to creating, cooking and sharing great recipes, she loves to research the history of food origins. Understanding the flavors and ingredients helps her creativity, but more-so, appreciate the meal with even more passion.
Mandi loves to be a guest of events, signing books and donating a portion of her net proceeds to local charities. Her second cookbook, Mangia Y&#8217;all &#8211; Make Everyday Delicious, was released in July 2025.
Please follow her on her website <a href="http://www.lowcountrybella.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.lowcountrybella.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1705416623316000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qLX1Ag56lHqdrjNXYhkQG">www.lowcountrybella.com </a>or on social media: @lowcountrybella on both Instagram and Facebook.
Mangia Y’all!

Mandi Casey of Low Country Bella on a foam green Vespa in a floral skirt.

Lowcountry Bella

How to Make a Sicilian Fig Torta

Author and filmmaker Carlo Treviso poses for a portrait.

How Sicily’s Past Inspired Author Carlo Treviso’s Siciliana

Rosa is a New Jersey–based travel content creator and writer whose passion for travel shines through every story she shares. With a focus on discovering destinations through their culinary traditions, she believes food is one of the most authentic ways to experience a place and connect with its culture. Through her writing and content, she inspires others to travel with curiosity, embrace local flavors, and create meaningful experiences around the world. Follow her adventures on social media at <a title="https://www.instagram.com/RosaAlexC" href="https://www.instagram.com/RosaAlexC">@RosaAlexC</a>.

Rosa Castillo

Entrance sign to Luca's restaurant inside Hotel La Gemma in Florence.

Luca’s at Hotel La Gemma: Michelin-Starred Dining in Florence

Appetito News

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The wine country around Italy's Lake Garda, home to the Lugana D.O.C.

Appetito's Andrew Cotto appeared on the Little Italy Podcast with Deborah Zara Kobylt.