WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN?
Four ways into Foodie Goes Travel.
The Journal brings together essays, encounters and observations from Umbria and beyond. Some stories begin with food or hospitality; others with architecture, memory, migration or an ordinary detail that changes the way a place is understood.
There is no single route through it. Begin with what interests you.
A landscape shaped by water
A hotel shaped from within
A restaurant where one becomes many
A life between Umbria and Asia
Living Within the Walls
Hakka architecture is often remembered for its extraordinary forms. Travelling from the circular tulou of Fujian to the ancestral houses of Dabu revealed something more interesting: how architecture once organised family, protection, education and life across generations.
Three Curries with Angkrit
In his private kitchen in Bangkok, MasterChef Thailand winner Angkrit and I cooked green, red and yellow curries. Among his collected objects, with a vegetable vendor stopping at the door, we shared stories of London, life in Umbria and the Hakka food I had encountered on a recent journey to my family’s villages in China.
The Generosity of Da Niko in Milan
I came to Da Niko at Bulgari Hotel Milano for dinner in a room I already loved looking at. What stayed with me was the welcome: an honest conversation about the pasta, a walk through the garden with Chef Giorgio, and a half portion of pistachio-filled brioche that made an abundant evening complete.
The Water Between Lunch and Thunder
On Ferragosto, a return to Trattoria Teresa, a first walk beside Lago di Piediluco and the full force of Cascata delle Marmore revealed a side of Umbria shaped by water-as ingredient, summer gathering place, engineered spectacle and source of power.
The Places We Are Taught to Want
Luang Prabang, Umbria and the way travel culture teaches us which places to desire—often before we have encountered them ourselves.
The Plural of One
At UNE in Capodacqua, Giulio Gigli’s restaurant becomes a study of land, preservation and the many people behind a singular vision.
Before Umbria Becomes a Brand
New hotels, easier access and international attention are changing Umbria. What will growth bring—and what should remain recognisable?
When Sicily Takes the Lead
Over seven days in eastern Sicily, the island repeatedly rewrote our plans. From abandoned tuna factories and fishing villages to orange orchards, Baroque towns and the slopes of Mount Etna, the most memorable experiences weren’t the ones we expected - they were the ones Sicily quietly placed in our path.
Coming Home Before Landing
For more than two decades, Cathay Pacific has quietly accompanied my journeys to Hong Kong. This is not an airline review, but a reflection on how thoughtful design, hospitality and the smallest observations can make a destination begin long before arrival.
Understanding Umbria
Umbria isn’t another city to tick off a list. It’s a region where countryside, quietness and everyday life shape the journey as much as any landmark. Here’s what I’d love you to know before you visit.
When the Duomo Became a Concert Hall
Every summer, Piazza del Duomo in Spoleto quietly transforms into one of Italy’s most remarkable open-air concert venues. During the closing evening of Festival dei Due Mondi, I discovered that the most memorable performance wasn’t only the orchestra - it was also the changing light, the ancient cathedral and the art of noticing.
Waiting for Tomatoes
Every summer, I find myself photographing tomatoes again - in gardens, markets, restaurants and kitchens across different places and seasons. Somewhere along the way, I realised I was not really documenting tomatoes, but the quiet role they play in daily life, memory and the way we eat.
Seeing Someone Twice
At the Far East Film Festival in Udine, a Singaporean film, an aperitivo at sunset and a conversation with friends became reflections on memory, migration and human connection.
Colours of Umbria
Beyond the familiar imagery of central Italy, the visual journal explores a quieter Umbria shaped by changing light, seasonal rhythms and the slow discovery of colour through everyday life.
Where Rome Softens
Beyond the monuments and familiar postcards, Rome softens through hidden courtyards, jasmine-covered facades, evening rituals and quiet moments best discovered slowly.
Orvieto: The Ancient Umbrian Town Suspended Between Sky and Stone
Perched atop volcanic stone in Umbria, Orvieto is a town suspended between sky and earth - where cathedral mosaics shift with the light, underground tunnels carved through ancient rocks, and centuries of history remain deeply embedded within the landscape.
Spoleto, Between Stone and Silence
In Spoleto, medieval streets give way to forests, mountain paths and a quieter rhythm of life shaped by stone, silence and seasonality.
Why Umbria Feels Like Italy’s Best-kept Secret
Beyond Italy’s better-known cities, Umbria unfolds through hill towns, long lunches, stone streets and a quieter rhythm of life shaped by landscape, memory and slowness.