Naples, aka Napoli, the birthplace of pizza, the home of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Naples has it’s own unique style and feel, rich history and incredible local food. Join me as I take you through the flavors of Naples!
First and foremost, you can’t visit Naples without a trip to Pompeii. The ancient city left in ruins by an earth shattering volcanic eruption just miles away. The city has wonderfully preserved streets, buildings and even amphitheaters, allowing you to walk in the footsteps of this historic city. It really is a step back in time, giving guests a glimpse of how industrious the Pompeiians were as well as how catastrophic the eruption was. In fact, Mount Vesuvius is still active today and the centerpiece of Naples.
After spending a few hours exploring Pompeii, you definitely work up an appetite! My first stop was Mangafoglia. A vegetarian and vegan restaurant, Mangafolglia is as chic as it’s menu, celebrating the incredible local and seasonal produce from the region. My favorite dish was the tofu orata in crosta di patate, a beautifull cooked and marinated tofu steak topped with artfully cut and placed potatoes. SO yummy!
I was very excited to visit Un Sorriso Integrale, seeing as it was the first veggie restaurant in Naples. Setting the stage for plant based food in the city, Sorriso serves local, organic food an showcases the flavors of the region. I highly recommend anything off the menu that includes tomatoes, olives or potatoes as you will never taste produce bursting with flavor the way Neapolitan produce tastes!
As you may have noticed, I love stocking up on vegan goodies when I travel so I have snacks in my hotel room as well as on-the-go. Luckily I found ToBio Vegan Shop! Jam packed with awesome vegan products from locally made vegan meats and biscotti to fresh produce and treats! I fell in love with their selection and went back several times!
For a quick vegan treat, O’Grin is awesome! A fully vegan and organic cafe, their daily offerings vary but every dish from small plate to dessert is great. I popped in and grabbed a tomato and olive pizza and I pretty much floated through the rest of my day with a smile plastered on my face!
If you happen to make your way to Sorrento on your way to catch the ferry to Capri, be sure to stop by Mondo Bio. I started with a fresh tomato salad, moved on to the mushroom risotto, shared a spelt saltimbocca and polished off a lemon sorbet. Mmmmmmm!
For Naples, that’s a wrap but as for Italy, there’s more to come! Stay tuned!
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