And just like that… Roaming Italy is completed. 20 out of 20 regions done! I honestly can’t believe how quickly the time has flown. Today, I wanted to reflect and celebrate the lessons I’ve learned from this little cooking experiment, as well as give you all a heads up on how this project has me completely reassessing my blog calendar! Here we go…

What began as an attempt to satiate my wanderlust grew into so much more this year.

During a time when travel seemed entirely unlikely, I set out with a goal - to learn about a destination that I love deeply. Italy. Beautiful, aged, beloved… Italy. I would spend my months in isolation learning the culturally important dishes in each one of its regions. I would try my best to recreate my favorite dishes, and learn some new ones too.

These little cooking projects strengthened my knowledge of Italy’s regions and history, and also gave me some damn good recipes too!

I spent hours upon hours spent making homemade noodles, laboring over perfecting the perfect sauces, developing my skills in the kitchen… and, most importantly, savoring the joy of gathering around a table with loved ones. Who knew that a cooking project would get me to bolt out of bed on a Saturday morning?! Roaming Italy reconnected me with my heritage, made me a better cook, a more confident foodie and (will eventually make me) an all around better traveler.

But the number one lesson I’m taking away from these last few months is this. Food is so inherently tied with culture and heritage. When we experience a destination’s food, we taste a small slice of their history, their legacy, their story.

So, What’s Next?

I’ve always been a total believer in spending quality time learning in preparation for a trip. Educating myself on destination’s languages, food, cultural heritage, history and art practices is one of my absolute favorite parts about the travel experience. Those months I spend filling my brain with knowledge only lends to a deeper sense of appreciation for a place once I’m experiencing it for myself.

After the gargantuan amount of joy Roaming Italy brought me, I can’t imagine not taking on cooking projects like this for each destination we explore from here forward. It has completely shifted my perspective on my yearly blog calendar.
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As a teacher, I have 9.5 months every year to invest in learning about culture, history and creating recipes related to my next destination while at home. Why not use that time to REALLY invest in my own self education before jetting off? Think about it! Months of learning to fully immerse myself in two-ish months exploring.

Come the fall, my plan is to share my next big trip with you all. From there, I will begin the next Roaming Project… investing in research, recipe development and more on that chosen destination!

Summer Plans

That said… you might be sad to hear that I will not be jetting off to Italy this summer. With so much unknown variables, Luke and I decided this summer would not be the summer we’d experience Italy again. And that, my friends, is okay! It does not make this project less meaningful or fulfilling. Not one bit. I am certain we will return to Italy… it just won’t be this summer!

I’ll be taking the next few months “off” from posting. I’ll be investing in my own personal practice of writing and photography. When I return from the summer, I’ll be going full force on the next Roaming Project. Keep an eye out for that!

As always I’m extremely grateful and thankful for your support for this project. It’s been soul enriching and also has allowed me to connect with so many of you about your connection with Italy.

Until the fall!

- Laura

Roaming Italy