I can only say that if my husband can make a great tagliatelle, so can you!

And what do you do when you’re done with the pasta? Make a great sauce to spread over the thin noodles, add fresh Parmesan and eat. Don’t forget the wine to enhance your efforts of having worked so hard in the kitchen!

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The Puro Suites of Scarlino is nestled into a beautiful, quiet marina which has all the creature comforts one could possibly want. The suites are understated luxury and have top of the line ammenites which one would expect in Ferragamo hotels.  And for those of us who love spas, Daniela Steiner offers the best massages to enhance relaxation; make sure you book with Michela, the best masseuse I have ever had.The Ferragamo Family and the Spanish company, Puro, are working together and have built a residence that is one of the most inviting places we have found in a long time, with a view to die for!

We have seen Puro Suites grow over the past two years and have been very proud to have sent many of our clients there. Our clients had nothing but praise for the residence, the staff and the wonderful restaurants in the area.

Talking about restaurants.

One of the most original places we have come across in a long time is called Zero Distanze (zero distance) and they really do get all of their ingredients from the local area.

Besides the wonderful pizzas that Paolo, the owner, makes (he began as a pizzaiolo – pizza maker), he makes great chef’s salads with your choice of ingredients made in a basket of pizza dough….yum, what a combination.

Il Veliero, the Schooner, is owned by Marino who takes care of the daily catch of fresh fish and then disappears into the kitchen to prepare the most delicate and sumptuous fish you have ever eaten.

If you want to go to the nearest town to see what the locals are up to, don’t miss Filippo’s restaurant, Il Sottomarino ( the submarine).

Filippo used to be head chef at Cala del Porto in Punta Ala; one of the jet set’s places on the “silver coast”. If you do not make a reservation beforehand, you will be turned away with a smile from the waitress. A quick look at the plates coming out from the kitchen and you will wish that you had made that call!

Besides being an amazing place to relax and have great food, this area offers wine tastings at one of the most famous Antinori vineyards, Le Mortelle, boat rentals along the coast, ferry rides to the nearby island of Elba and some very cute and lovely towns to visit; who could ask for more?

Puro Suites
Localita’ Puntone
Scarlino
Tel. +39.0566.86630
www.purosuites.com

Marina Beauty Spa
Daniela Steiner
www.steinercosmetics.com

Zero Distanze
Via della Dogana
Puntone
Cell: +39.334.233.9219
www.pizzeriazerodistanze.it
closed Monday

Il Sottomarino
Via Marconi, 18
Follonica
Tel. +39.0566.40772
www.ilsottomarino.it
closed Tuesday

Il Veliero
Via della Collacchie, 20
Scarlino
Tel. +39.0566.866219
www.ristoranteilveliero.it
closed Wednesday

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This palazzo, which dates back to the 1500’s, houses contemporary art and cleverly is called Lu.C.C.A.- Lucca Center of Contemporary Art.

What makes the restaurant L’Imbuto (The Funnel) so particular is that you actually get to sit amidst the artwork of the exhibition on view. Exhibitions change a number of times during the year. There is a main entrance, which is my favorite part of the restaurant.   It has the best vantage point to people watch if you can tear your eyes away from the creative and truly amazing dishes Cristiano Tomei brings to your table.

Cristiano transferred his restaurant from Viareggio, on the coast of Tuscany, to the small town of Lucca last year and he has brought innovation to food that mirrors the colors and creativeness of the works of art on the surrounding walls.

This is one of the first places I have found where there is no menu and unless you have special allergies or do not like certain foods, you best leave the decision to Cristiano, who changes his menu daily.

You only have to select how many courses you want to eat and the choice of 2-6 tastings determines the price, which is from €20-90.

All of his ingredients are local and he uses extra virgin olive oil from Lucca for his starters as well as for many of his desserts!

One of his dishes, which I order as often as I can, is strips of beef served on warmed pine bark, with the added wow factor of potato strips, pan roasted, sitting on top of the beef.

His creativeness in combining cuttlefish with a gazpacho topping or his Russian salad and prawns crème brulée are just some of the concoctions that Cristiano brilliantly blends together guided, of course, by his passion for creating great food.

I do not normally like desserts but Cristiano has changed my palate for sweets with his sensational offerings at the end of the meal. One of the most delicious creations is a Chantilly made with Stracchino cheese, sprinkled with pieces of candied apricot and topped by coffee meringue and a pinch of coffee powder for color!

This is a chef who travels all over Europe to play host to royalty, nobility and VIPs, but his heart is pure and his love of what he does makes him one of the most unforgettable chefs I have come across in a long time.

L’Imbuto at Lu.C.C.A. – Lucca Center of Contemporary Art

Via della Fratta, 36

Phone: +39.0583.491280

www.limbuto.it

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The dinner took place in the towering Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza Signoria square.  We dined on the top floor overlooking both the incredible Sala del Cinquecento inside the Palazzo Vecchio and the the hills south of the city.  What a way to enjoy the splendor of this building, holding a glass of champagne and deciding which of the beauties to see first, the timeless works of art made by the Swiss or the breathless works of art with which we were surrounded.

Food and drink, although very good and truly creative, could not hold a candle to the surroundings of the Florentine hills. Both the external and internal views are so sumptuous, one doesn’t need anything else!

Laura Piccini and her daughter Elisa hosted this incredible event and when we left we could only bid them “arrivederci” (until we meet again!)!   This spectacular building is a must to revisit, party or no party!

The post Time to Visit Florence appeared first on Request Italy - Concierge Services for Italian Travel.

Almost everyone likes sweets and Sandra and her dad have made their pastry bar, L’Angolo Dolce (The Sweet Corner), as sweet as it gets! This is one of the best pastry bars in Lucca and I think that it might be one of the best in Italy. There is something for everybody and if you don’t like the sweet side of things, their savories are amazing too.

This is also one of the most creative pastry bars I have ever seen. The long glass vitrine which houses all the home-baked goods was designed by the innovative Costa Group and you could spend your time just going up and down the aisles deciding what you want to taste first.

Sandra learned her trade traveling throughout Italy, working in various restaurants as well as frequenting some of the top cooking schools.  She has perfected everything she has learned using her friends as her focus group!

She loves to invite people to taste as many pastries as they can. How can we blame her? She should be proud of what she has added to the community. Sometimes you cannot get in the door as there are so many customers waiting to try one of her mouthwatering cakes; what indecision! But it is worth the wait and once in the door, the point is to take your sweet time and enjoy!

L’Angolo Dolce
Via Borgo Giannotti, 391
Lucca
Tel.+39.0583.342.462

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This is not some dark secluded place; everybody knows everybody else’s face at Ristorante Filippo in Pietrasanta! But it is off the tourist track and mostly locals hang out with their friend and chef because the mantra of this man is true conviviality.

Filipppo just renovated his small but welcoming locale and the design is just another  component of his desire to make something traditional,  that reminds him of his grandfather Ilio, evolve with the modern touch of his amazing staff.

To begin with, all the ingredients Filippo uses in his kitchen come from the local area and you can taste the difference.

I had a radicchio salad with shaved parmesan cheese and balsamic dressing which was unlike most of the salads I have had with these same ingredients.

Radicchio Salad

The crunchiness of the radicchio was superb and the balsamic dressing was just one step above heaven!

I always ask for Filippo’s mini veal meatballs with lemon zest but they were not on the menu that day so I chose the spaghetti with shrimp and tomatoes.This dish truly gives meaning to the expression “chilometro zero” or “just around the corner” because this is where both the tomatoes and the scampi come from.

Spaghetti with Shrimp & Tomatoes

You could taste the freshness in every bite and all those shrimp seemed to be a topping for some birthday cake!

If you are still hungry, you do not need to even refer to the menu; have their unbelievable Roastbeef di Chianina. Chianina beef is the most famous in Italy and Filippo does it justice by serving it thinly in its own juices so you get the full flavor of the beef.

Have this dish with Filippo’s Vermentino, a dry and slightly fruity wine from the area; it’s such a complement to his food.

I am not a lover of the famous “cantucci” (originally made in Prato in 1779 by Amadio Baldanzi) but you cannot leave Filippo’s without trying their cantucci; a great finish to a memorable meal.

Visit Ristorante Filippo and tell them Request Italy referred you!

Ristorante Filippo
Via Stagio Stagi,22
Pietrasanta, Italy

Tel.+39.0584.70010

www.ristorantefilippo.com

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I began visiting Capri over 30 years ago. My parents always made this one of their vacation stops every summer and I would find just enough time to take off from work to join them for a long weekend. For me, this was truly a vacation since there were, and still are, no cars on the island (except for taxis and public transportation). Since I was “living” in a car for my work, this was a brief respite from all the driving I had to do during the year.

At that time we all stayed at the famous Quisisana Hotel which has one of the best views in town, overlooking the Faraglioni Rocks and the Mediterranean. Today, unfortunately, the hotel is a haven for the new rich and “famous” and does not seem to attract the chic and stylish clientele they once had.

With Capri becoming more of a place not to be missed, many new hotels have sprung up or have had marvelous face-lifts to attract the clients who have either never been to this magical island or have made this trip many times and keep coming back; like the movie, “Same Time Next Year.”

As perfect as the island is, I have never thought about it being a place that would attract people for its exceptional food; the good news is that the restaurants have gotten better over the years, but this is not the reason that people visit the island.

We were very lucky last year as we were advised by our hotel (one of our favorites) that we should try a tiny restaurant, which is just off the beaten tourist track, has good food and one of the most unbelievable views on the island; it is called Pulalli Wine Bar. We were in Capri during the 2012 European Soccer Championships and wanted to follow what was happening that evening between Italy and Germany, so low and behold, the owner set us up at one of the few tables indoors, right in front of the TV. What luck eating, not by candlelight, but viewing the game we did not want to miss. Italy won and we had a really good meal to boot!

After the game was over, I asked the owner if I could take some photos from their most amazing viewpoint. This is what I want to share with my readers, just how “picture perfect” this place is. We also had a very good organic white wine which has proved to be very difficult to find in our wine stores; next time we will bring a case back with us.

The following day we took a boat tour with one of the boat services we use for our clients. My friends Julia and Costanzo took us on a boat tour that made Capri come to life the way that I had known the island many years ago. By sea is the most beautiful way to explore the island. The captain, Rafaelle, will take you anywhere you want to go and if you really want to treat yourself to a spectacular sight, try their cruise at sunset!

When planning a trip to this amazing resort, you should try to arrive at the island around midday, after all the day-trippers have arrived, and also try to avoid the main squares during the afternoon, coming up for air only after the groups have left. The stores stay open late so if shopping is your thing, you will have plenty of time to make purchases after dinner. The restaurants will be packed so make sure that you have reservations, otherwise you might not even be able to dine until after 11pm!

Some of my favorite restaurants are Aurora, where Mia and “Mamma” Lucia will try to fit you in (literally) as the place gets very crowded. Another reliable place to go is La Capannina, owned and run by Antonio and his lovely American wife Aurelia.
If you want to celebrate a special occasion (I did when I came here last year to celebrate my birthday) don’t miss Edode’. This is a bit more sophisticated than the usual trattorias on the island, but the food is very good and they do a great version of “Happy Birthday.”

One thing about Capri that has not changed over the years is the hospitality and warmth of the Caprese who will show you a wonderful time no matter wherever you happen to go on the island.

The post Capri- Playground of the Gods! appeared first on Request Italy - Concierge Services for Italian Travel.

Italy has been my home for over 30 years and, being my home, I want to share what I have learned about this amazing country and what I am still learning every day.

The people are exuberant, warm, sarcastic but always living life to the fullest– carpe diem!
I will be taking you along my travels and introducing you to my favorite restaurants, hotels, and tours and the people behind the scenes who make it all possible – who make the tours and we plan for our clients such
a success.

Everybody loves Italian wine. Finding Giovanni and Giuseppina in an out of the way enoteca outside the walls of Lucca, was extraordinarily lucky. Giovanni was in the paper business all his life. When he “retired” he decided to follow his passion for wine. He is truly a great sommelier! Giuseppina, his “better half” as he calls her, is the chef at the enoteca and her cooking complements any wine which Giovanni selects for his “guests”.

Giuseppina’s spaghetti alla Carbonara will leave you cleaning your plate with a slice of bread which is what Italians do when they enjoy a dish; they call it la scarpetta.
Her antipasti are made by hand every day – her vegetable soufflé and her “polpettini” (small meatballs made with veal and yogurt) are remarkable. But the truly extraordinary dish from Giuseppina’s repertoire is her baked fennel.

She makes this dish with cooked fennel and layers it with her “secret” Pecorino cheese and into the oven it goes for about 10 minutes until there is a crusty topping.
I have tried to replicate this dish many times and have even passed on the recipe to clients who we sent to the enoteca, but, alas, the “secret” cheese seems to be what sets her dish apart from all others.

Depending on your taste and budget, Giovanni has wines from €5 to €5,000. Even his selections at the lower prices are high quality. His collection of wines include famous labels as well as those from small, unknown vineyards that do not produce enough wine to export.

A couple of examples of smaller vineyards are:

1) Palistorti di Vagliano, a lovely light red from the hills surrounding Lucca, comprised of 40- 70% Sangiovese and 30% of Canaiolo; a natural substance from the earth which goes back as far as 100 years ago in wine making, or Ciliegiolo and 15% merlot; it sells for €15 a bottle;

2) a very good red, produced organically, is Podere Concori Melograno, a still lighter red than its companion — it sells for about €13. This is 60% Syrah, Ciliegiolo 5%, Carrarese 5%, Pinot Noir 10% as well as other native grapes from the area.

When asked about his favorite red, at a higher quality and price, Giovanni doesn’t hesitate; Brunello di Montalcino from the Biondi-Santi estate. The 2005, a wonderful year for that wine, comes at a mere €70 a bottle.

This enoteca is a great find and one that this writer wants to keep secret for as long as possible, but sharing secrets is what Request Italy is all about!

Giuspeppina’s Fennel Recipe

For 4 people:

Take 5-6 fennel hearts and cut into pieces and wash thoroughly.
Put into a pan with enough water to cover the fennel.
Add salt and pepper and cook for 15 minutes.
Drain the water.
Add 2 ounces of butter and sauté the fennel making sure not to press them
Put the mixture in a pyrex dish and layer the fennel with strips of Pecorino making sure to have the layer of Pecorino on the top.
Put into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

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