Things have changed a lot since I first started this blog in 2009. And when I say ‘things’ I mean both what I write about and the ‘platform’ I use to get my ideas out there.
The one thing that has stayed the same is me. I’m a writer. I use words to tell a story. And I’ve been doing this for my entire career. Before I became a ‘blogger’ I was a journalist and author. While I’ve now added photography to my skill set, I’m still – and always have been – in the business of telling stories.
I first started this blog as a way to continue telling stories when magazines and newspapers were no longer a viable platform (they stopped paying a living wage). And so I wrote and wrote and wrote, and this blog came into being. Along the way social media happened. And while it presented all sorts of opportunities to meet new people, what I really saw it as was a way to tell stories. I’m always up for new creative outlets and so jumped on board all sorts of things as they developed. Each one – be it Instagram, Facebook or even Snapchat – presented a new way to tell my tales. I”m always an ‘early adopter’ for better or worse!
One of the best decisions I made along the way was to embrace the project of writing an app. My first app, Eat Rome, was published in 2011 and was the first app written in English, to help people find the best places to eat in my city. I went on to add Florence and Venice, and eventually Torino, Milan, Umbria and Puglia.
The way EAT ITALY the app, works is that the primary app is free to download. Then, within the app you have the option to buy the different cities and regions that I’ve included. The bigger apps (Rome, Venice and Florence) cost $2.99 to $3.99. And the smaller apps were, up till now, $1.99.
The BIG NEWS of today is that the smaller apps will now be completely FREE! Guides to eating in Puglia, Umbria, Milan and Torino are already up and running. You may have noticed I’ve been traveling an awful lot lately, so expect to see Naples, Positano, Emilia Romagna, Sicily and more coming very soon. For free!!
Here’s how it works: you can download EAT ITALY right now, this very minute. You can download all the current apps right away. And as I write the new apps, they will magically appear as updates on your phone.
FYI: I also update all the content in the existing cities and regions constantly.
What will you find in the apps? Stories of course. Because that’s what I do. But in this case they are stories about all sorts of my favorite food related things. Restaurants for sure, but also gelaterie, enoteche, food stores and (duh!) ceramics stores!
Thanks to all of you for reading my stories, where ever they appear. And to those of you who have made EAT ITALY a best seller on iTunes since the day it was published, I can’t thank you enough for your support. It’s what keeps me moving forward!!!
For more information on dining in Italy download my app, EAT ITALY. EAT ITALY is a free app, and contains guides to Venice, Milan, Rome, Florence as in-app purchases. Torino, Puglia, Milan and Umbria are free. Eat Italy is available for both iPhone and iPad. Coming soon for free: Emilia Romagna, Naples, Positano , Sicily and more.
And if you’re coming to Rome? Don’t forget my book: Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City.
I am so delighted for your success. You are the most interesting food writer on the web to me and you are writing about the places I love the most and approach so many things about the food and the places in a way that fits my taste. I wish you continued success and thanks for adding so much fun to my life! Viva Italia!
Thank you!!!!
Do you offer this as an application for an android phone? Please let me know.
At the moment, no, I’m sorry to say.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Incredibly kind and generous of you. So grateful for your blog, apps and newsletter, which are all wonderful resources for trips taken, planned and anticipated!
Thank you, glad you are making use of everything!
I’ve just returned from 2 visits to Italy in the past 2 months. I ‘saved’ many of your articles and they were the backbone for our dining experiences. Thank you for making some of the cities free. I visit Naples and Sicily often and will look forward to seeing these new guides. Mille grazie
Happy to hear you had a great trip!!!
Just back from a month long first time visit to Italy. Your app worked great! Ate out every evening and went to 100 percent your restaurant recommendations in Venice, Rome and Florence all excellect choices. Please keep updating your app information because I want to go back next year! Great to eat like a local. Your shop recommendations were great too.
What a great report, sounds like you had a wonderfully delicious trip!
Hello Elizabeth,
I can’t seem too find your app on my samsung. is it only on itunes?
Yes, for now, only for Apple.
Great News about your EAT ITALY app and updates! We sure loved using it during our time in Italy last September. Our day exploring your neighborhood with you and Sophie was the best! One of the true highlights of our 40th Anniversary trip! Seeing the picture of you two brought back happy memories! Anyone joining Elizabeth and Sophie for a week in Italy is sure to have a fabulous time!
Kitty and Steve Hoden
Nebraska
USA
Aw, thank you !!!!!
Just curious, will you ever offer your apps for android systems? I would buy them all if you did.
Working on it! But for now, no.
I’ve just taken a look at the current free apps. I only start to study them closely when a trip is planned. I made extensive use of the Venice and Rome apps;I have kept the old ones and had some excellent food! Will you be adding some accommodation to the new apps? This was so useful in Rome and Venice. Really appreciate the first hand info. keep them coming
Hello!
I cannot find eat Italy on the Android app store. Does your app only work on iPhone and iPad? Not even Android? When do you think you might release an Android version?? I traveled to Florence and Venice last year and had the same problem, the app was only for Apple. Please consider making an Android version as everyone isn’t a die- hard Apple fan! Thanks, raadhika
Sorry, but for now it’s not on Android. I”m trying to make it work, financially, to do this. We’ll see!
I AM A LOYAL FOLLOWER AND I DON’T OWN AN I PHONE…I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR APP IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANDROID AS THAT IS WHAT MOST OF EUROPE USES…JUST GOT BACK FROM A 2 MONTH TOUR OF SPAIN, ITALY, AND SWITZERLAND AND MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE IPHONES!! TKS AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE YOUR APP!
I’m sorry you are frustrated by my app not being available in Android format. There are several reasons for that, which I”ll explain The biggest reason is financial. First of all I make an income from the sales of the three biggest guides contained within Eat Italy: Rome, Venice and Florence. For 4 years, when these 3 guides were available for Android users I made almost no income from then in that format, while the Apple versions sold quite well. As it turns out, most Android users do not like to pay for apps, while iTunes users do. When it came time to invest my own money (and quite a bit of it) to launch software on my own, I had to make the decision not to include a huge investment that would bring back little or no income. Things have changed a bit in the last few years, and if I can get a good estimate from my developer, to offer and android version, I will think about it. In the meantime I hope you will take advantage of a lot of information on my blog, and also in my book, Eating Rome.
Love the new format and great new apps. Can’t wait to use them in Italia in October!
I had previously bought Eat Rome and Eat Florence. Is there a way to get them in the Eat Italy app without having to buy them again?
Thank you for buying my original apps, Eat Rome and Eat Florence, which were published over 8 years ago. These apps were written for another company, which has gone out of business. This is why I have reissued them under the umbrella app, Eat Italy. This is also the reason you will have to repurchase them.