Why “Fritto Misto Comune”? A Story of Friendship, Food, and Fabriano.

It all started in the back row of a classroom in Pollenzo, Italy.

Not just any school, but the University of Gastronomic Sciences—often referred to as “Slow Food Hogwarts” for the food-obsessed. That’s where we, three strangers from very different corners of the world, first met. Karin, a Swedish-speaking Finn, with incredible design skills: Elizabeth, a creative in all the ways from Canada; and me, the Aussie behind Roaming Graciously. We bonded over group projects, back-row learning, and endless conversations about food systems, brand stories and much more.

After graduation, we reunited to work at Terra Madre in Turin, the largest gathering of food communities in the world. One night, en route to dinner at a fellow alumna’s restaurant, our taxi driver turned around and asked, “Where are you three from? You’re all speaking English, but none of it sounds the same.” We laughed and shared our stories, and he replied, “Ah… siete un fritto misto!” A mixed fry—just like the Italian dish: a jumble of things that don’t necessarily match, but together? Delicious.

And it stuck.

Fast forward a little, two more Slow Food festivals, and one very old property purchased in the quiet, creative town of Fabriano in Le Marche—and Fritto Misto Comune was born. It’s more than a name. It’s a way of living, learning, and sharing.

We’re building curated accommodations for the kind of traveller who prefers slower, more meaningful journeys. People who want to feel rooted in place, to drink wine with the neighbours, to sleep in a space filled with intention and good design. Casa Renata and Casa Alberto are the first of our spaces—deeply considered, each telling its own story.

But Fritto Misto Comune is also a vision for the future. We’re creating an orto—a riverside vegetable garden—thanks to Elizabeth’s expertise in urban farming. We’re shaping spaces for residencies, workshops, and community gatherings, from pottery and photography to gardening, journaling, language, and craft. It’s a space where creatives and curious souls from around the globe can come together, just like we did in the back of that taxi.

This is only the beginning.

If you’re someone who seeks connection, flavour, and meaning in the places you stay, Fritto Misto Comune is for you. And if you’re wondering what a mixed fry of three gastronomes, a 19th-century property, a riverbank orto, and a dash of mischief looks like… well, come and find out.

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