Tag: gelato

Season 5, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 099 | Italy: Venice Food & Wine Tour

The Boozy Blondes

The Boozy Blondes are bringing you back to Italy in this episode, and they are letting you in on a little secret: if there’s one travel rule they swear by, it’s to book a food (preferably paired with booze) tour for early on in your trip, ideally on day one or two, especially when you’re visiting a new city.

Listen in as the Boozy Blondes break down why the Eat Like a Local: Venice 3-Hour Small-Group Food Tasting Tour through Viator ended up being one of the smartest (and tastiest) decisions of their entire Venetian adventure.

The DOE is a Bianco Spritz in this episode in honor of a valuable tip the girls learned during their tour. This spritz, a refreshing mix of Prosecco, white wine, and sparkling water, became the group’s go-to drink for the remainder of the trip. And bonus, learning a drink you can easily recreate at home makes it feel like the vacation keeps going!

Venice is magical! But it’s also overwhelming. Crowds, winding alleyways, and more than a few overpriced spritzes aimed squarely at tourists can make it tricky to know where to eat and drink well, and that’s where a local-led food tour comes in.

Instead of tourist traps and Tik-Tok bait, this tour focuses on authentic Venetian spots: tiny wine bars, standing-room-only cicchetti counters, and neighborhood restaurants that locals actually frequent. The kind of places travelers would likely walk right past without a guide pointing the way.

This tour covered a lot of ground! The girls definitely got their steps in and worked off some of the indulgences they enjoyed.

Tour details:

  • Price: Around $93 per person (September 2025)
  • Start time: 10:45 AM near the Rialto Bridge
  • Duration: Approximately 3 hours
  • Stops: 7–8 local bars and restaurants
  • Tastings: About 15 food and drink tastings total
  • Group size: Small and intimate
  • Guide: An expert local who shares history, legends, and insider tips along the way

Those 15 tastings are spread across multiple stops, meaning guests sample a variety of cicchetti, pours, and bites without ever feeling rushed—or stuffed too early.

One standout moment for the Blondes was their first cicchetti stop, featuring a topping of tomato confit…slow-roasted tomatoes and garlic in olive oil. It was so good it inspired Chrissy to recreate homemade versions as Christmas gifts back home. Another great stop was for gelato at the conclusion of the tour. Everywhere you look in Venice, you’ll find gelato shops showcasing their variety of flavors towering high. But that’s not where to go. Find a smaller shop off the beaten path. You’ll find better ingredients and flavors!

By participating in the tour, the Boozy Blondes had:

  • A mental map of the neighborhood
  • A list of bars to revisit later in the trip
  • Trusted restaurant recommendations

They even ran into their guide, Anastasia, later in the week—proof that after a tour like this, Venice starts to feel a little less like a maze and a lot more like home.

Remember these key tips if you’re planning to book a food tour:

  • Book early in your trip. Don’t save food tours for your last day.
  • Bring cash. For tips, snacks, and impulse buys.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking and standing A LOT.
  • Hydrate. Wine math works differently in Italy, but water still matters.
  • Communicate dietary restrictions early. Preferably when booking.
  • Use reputable booking platforms. Viator offered flexible payment, free cancellation, and peace of mind.
  • Use restrooms when you can. Bathrooms are different in Italy compared to the states. Just trust the girls on this one.
  • Take photos with location enabled. Future-you will want to find these places again.
  • Plan buffer time before and after. Don’t rush—leave room to linger or return to favorites.

And maybe bring a backpack. If you’re anything like the Boozy Blondes, you’re probably going to buy something. And remember. This tour is not a power walk. The pace is easy, with plenty of stops to sip, snack, and soak in the city.

By the end, Venice felt less intimidating, more approachable, and a whole lot tastier. And if blending in while slightly buzzed is the goal of every vacation… this tour absolutely delivers.

Have you booked a food tour in Venice or another city? Let the girls know what you think! Message them on Instagram or email them!

Season 4, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 085 | Italy: Roman Angels & Demons Pub Crawl

The Boozy Blondes

Listen here!

Whether you’re feeling angelic or sinful, this episode is for you. The Boozy Blondes embark on a full day of bar-hopping and sightseeing around the Eternal City at places referenced in Dan Brown’s popular thriller (and movie starring Tom Hanks), Angels & Demons!

The DOE is a Select spritz – the national drink of Italy!

If you’re not familiar with Angels & Demons, it’s a great read (and as mentioned, available to watch in about 2 hours) – and the references in this episode might make a little more sense. Regardless, these stops will not disappoint – Angels & Demons fan or not! In the story, the main character follows “The Path of Illumination.” In this episode, the girls follow “The Path of Intoxication!”

The first stop actually isn’t boozy, but it’s worth mentioning. Tattoos at Bad Church Tattoo in Trastevere. In Angels & Demons, some of the characters get branded, so why not really get into character…and drag the Boozy Bros with them! While lifelong ink might not be everyone’s souvenir choice, if you are looking to get a tattoo abroad, the girls list off some pro-tips:

  • Make reservations online
  • Go early so it doesn’t slow down your day.
  • Email your art ahead of time in case of language barrier.
  • Bring cash.

If you want to see behind the scenes at Bad Church Tattoo, check out the Boozy Blondes’ Instagram Reel.

From here the girls traveled to Piazza del Popolo on the north end of the city to Angolo degli Artisti. Piazza del Popolo is the largest square in Rome and an iconic site in the book. The girls loved this restaurant; they were seated outside looking across the square and enjoyed spritzes, pizza and charcuterie…adding limoncello shots to wrap up the meal.

From here, the girls crossed the square and wandered up some steps to Terrazza del Pincio. This public park offers sprawling views of the city and is one of the best places to see the sunset in Rome. Since it was early in the day, there was no sunset, but the girls still captured some beautiful pictures overlooking Piazza del Popolo!

Next, the girls headed south to see the Spanish Steps and grab espresso at Don Nino. The Spanish Steps aren’t in the book, but an iconic (and super busy) spot in Rome. Don Nino is a traditional pâtisserie chain in Rome where Chrissy had stopped just days earlier to recreate the Audrey Hepburn scene in Roman Holiday.

Next stop was the Trevi Fountain, but the girls didn’t wait in line to throw in coins. Go early! The line stretches pretty far! The girls moved on past the Trevi Fountain and around the corner to Baccano for cocktails and appetizers. The girls were seated outside along the street and absorbed the bustling ambiance will sipping spritzes and enjoying carpaccio and tartare. It was about a month before Christmas and Baccano nailed it with the decorations – it was beautiful!

From Baccano, the blondes traveled to the Pantheon. While there are different options for tours, the girls chose a self-guided one. Major Pro Tip and time saver – there’s a cash-only line at the Pantheon where there’s rarely a line, and it’s only 5 euros to get in. Make sure to find the line farthest to the left.

After spending some time soaking up the ancient history at the Pantheon, the Boozy Blondes made their way to Piazza Navona, another plaza hosting an iconic scene from Angels & Demons. While it’s only a 4-minute walk to here from the Pantheon, there are beautiful churches lining the way that the girls highly recommend you visit. The combination of history, art and faith is not to be missed in these stunning structures.

Just around the corner from Piazza Navona is a great wine bar and deli, I Pizzicaroli. Here the girls enjoyed a bottle of wine and drooled over the giant charcuterie boards. The girls found there way back here later on to grab another bottle for the road!

The final stop on the Angels & Demons tour was Castillo San Angelo. While the girls didn’t go in, you can tour Castillo San Angelo for around $20. This is basically where Angels & Demons ends, so it was the perfect finale to the day. It’s a 20 minute walk to here from I Pizzicaroli, but feeling the effects of “The Path of Intoxication” it took the Boozy Blondes way longer than that! They stopped for espresso, gelato, shopping and provisions, and enjoyed some wine overlooking Castillo San Angelo from across the river.

Technically the Angels & Demons tour ended here, but the girls had one more stop on their list: Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, frequently named one of the best 50 bars in the world! The girls found their way to the Jerry Thomas Bar Room, which is a new edition and location for the famous speakeasy. The speakeasy is just a few blocks from I Pizzicaroli, while the bar room is across the Tiber River back in Trastevere where the girls were staying. If you’d like a sneak peek inside the bar room, watch the Boozy Blondes’ reel highlighting this spot. If you want the password, you can find it on the website.

The itinerary for this day was definitely aggressive, and credit is due to Chrissy for mapping out this amazing tour. If you want a more guided, all-inclusive experience that involves little to no planning on your part, they’re out there. Reputable groups like GetYourGuide and Viator had a few different Angels & Demons tours available at the time of this recording.

You can see the Boozy Blondes’ reel highlighting this pub crawl on their Instagram. If you’d like a map with details of the Boozy Blondes Angels & Demons Pub Crawl Tour, send them a message, and they will send you their custom plan. And remember, whether you’re feeling angelic or sinful (or both, like the young Boozy Blonde Chrissy in this picture), this day is sure to be fun! Cheers!