Photos and reviews of Restaurants and Fine Inns from around the globe.
An excellent lunch special with Lori Mendorff Klugman. A very pleasant surprise! Faro and Gem salads were excellent. Carbonara was very nice : pasta cooked perfectly as was crispy pancetta, conservatively cheesed and nice egg yolk. This is one of the better Carbonara’s we had in the US. Cocktails and wine list not extensive but…
We are big fans of Marea so we decided to try the Chef’s other retaraunt during restraint week. Once we got the food we really enjoyed our meal. The pasta was classic MW excellence ! The only problem with Morini is the hostess and coat check people. They seem to want to turn customers away…
When I asked Lori what she wanted for her birthday this year she said she’d like to go to Tuscany and visit our friends at the Villa di Piazzano. We’ve been to the Villa many times and always return because to leave the Villa is like leaving relatives behind in Tuscany. Many places can offer…
Back home on the ranch in the Cortona area of Tuscany, we decided to try some new places. We had a conversation with Alessandra the owner of Villa di Piazzano inquiring about any new and exciting restaurants in the area. She recommended Walter Redaelli. Coincidentally, we ran into her and her family two days later…
Owner/Chef Gabreile Bonci wrote the book on Pizza. They use only the finest ingredients for his creative toppings. This is a small local take-out pizza shop that you may eat in standing up. The pizza is great and the assortment is very special. Located in a neighborhood that is about a 1/2 mile from the…
Prior to our visit to Tuscany we had discussed some new restaurants in the area with our local friends Bianca and Enzo. They had mentioned a place had opened but they have not tried it yet. So prior to leaving Lori decided we are all going to Babette. Locate in the Casale di Brolio outside…
[flickrset id=”72157630728573900″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”large”] While staying in the lovely countryside of Tuscany, Lori decided to have me, drive us to Florence to visit a restaurant recommend by her doctor that is known to love his food. I was reluctant to drive in Florence because this usually involves driving down one way streets the wrong…
We learned about S.Anna from some locals siting besides us at Da Francisco. Since then we have visited several times. S.Anna is a nice local everyday Italian restaurant. Pasta are house made and great. The anti-pasta bar offer a good assortment and is very good. Once in a while they have this special cake that…
[flickrset id=”72157630728606980″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”large”] Across the street from the entrance to the Vatican Museum is Lori’s favorite gelateria in Rome. In fact I think it’s religious experience her! Old Bridge is one of the top shops in Rome their specialty is fruit flavors. We learned about this shop many years ago from a cab driver…
[flickrset id=”72157627824848173″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”large”] We received a recommendation from a friend of a friend that has sent a lot of time in Perugia. We called our Italian friends and asked them to join us for dinner. I set the GPS in the rental car and off we went. After the usual amount of animated…
[flickrset id=”72157628082021042″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] In the heart of San Gimignano lies this wonderful Gelato shop, it’s the one with the line in front of it. WAIT do not go to the other shops without a line!! This is homemade Gelato that is truly “World Class”. It’s not the best Gelato I’ve eaten but very…
[flickrset id=”72157628005164394″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] Probably the finest traditional Tuscan meal we’ve eaten. We walked into a packed restaurant without a confirmed reservation. There was one table for two or deuce for those in the business available. We were told that it was previously reserved however they have not arrived yet, they were 20 minutes…
[flickrset id=”72157627871267337″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] Trattoria del Tribunale offers excellent fresh cooked local specialties at a very reasonable price. We started with the Torta Fritta and Parma Ham. When in Rome as they say! The dough was light and airy and the Ham as expected wonderful. Primi: The Tortelli di Zucca(Pumpkin Ravioli) was so good…
[flickrset id=”72157627668090088″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] I have decide to change my rating system for Gelato and rate Italian Gelato in a separate category because to compare it to anything else is unfair and places most US products in the poor category. Fine Italian Gelato the homemade kind found in the small family run shops…
[flickrset id=”72157624704456653″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”large”] We stopped in for light lunch in Naples Florida today revisiting a favorite from last year. We are happy to report that the food is better than ever and all is going well at Sea Salt. This visit we where lucky enough to have a long chat with the…
[flickrset id=”72157626603308953″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] Several years ago we asked our friends that live in Camucia to take us to a local place where people go to eat for everyday food. They took us to Canta Napoli and we LOVE it….I have been reluctant to place anything about this place on the internet fearing it…
[flickrset id=”72157626959471074″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] Remotely located in the small village of Monticchello is this jewel of a restaurant, Osteria La Porta. Traveling to this town requires a 30 minute drive off the beaten path. If you follow your GPS you may end up on some unpaved roads. Don’t worry about the unpaved road just…
[flickrset id=”72157626827880324″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] In the small town (one cafe, one bar, one shop,one hotel/restaurant and one horse) of S.Mamette Italy is located the charming family owned and operated INN and restaurant Hotel Stella d’Italia. This hotel has been in the Ortelli family for four generations. Located on the west side of Lake Lugano…
Just a couple of blocks from the Campo de Fiori in the heart of Rome lies this wonderful bakery. Forno Riscioli features a world renowned pizza. It’s one of our favorite stops for a lunch while we are wondering about the picturesque alleyways around the Campo. The next time your in Rome don’t miss this…
[flickrset id=”72157623114839182″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”] Trattoria al Vecchio Forno, Tuscany, San Quirico d’Orcia, Italy Owned by same owners of the Palazzo del Capitano in San Quirico d’Orcia, This charming ristorante feaures truly authentic Tuscan food. Wonderfully simple dishes of tuscan beans teased and pleased our palettes. Fresh tri-color pasta was tossed with cheese and candy…