Still in Lombardy, even though Milan is a fashion paradise there is a lot more to it then shopping. Piazza Duomo, where Milan’s Cathedral and, obviously, its famous Duomo, are located, is the center of the city. The Cathedral is huge, almost intimidating and hypnotically beautiful on its in and outside. Milan grew axially around this amazing, gothic and recently retoured church, (which makes it pretty hard to drive there). Around the Dome Square there are also two places one must visit: the traditional Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the beautiful Teatro alla Scalla.
The ancient Galleria is an architecture icon. Its high and stylish glass arcades are capable of making anyone smile. On its interior there are some luxury fashion labels such as Prada and Vuitton; cafés such as the fashionable Gucci Café, on Gucci store, and Zuca, an interesting venue for cocktail lovers, since Campari was invented there; and one of, if not THE most exclusive hotel in Milan: Town House Galleria (http://www.townhousegalleria.it/hotel.html ). Located inside of the historical gallery this hotel offers a butler for each room among many unique services. Just out of curiosity, at the center of the gallery there is a huge mosaic on the floor. For the superstitious ones, the legend tells that you can bring yourself good luck by rubbing your feet on the genitals of the bull in the floor figure. Poor animal….
Two other great places to stay nearby are: STRAF (http://www.straf.it/ ), an arty hotel with a hip and busy bar worth having a cocktail, even if you’re not a guest; and Hotel The Grey (http://www.hotelthegray.com/ ), a beautiful, luxury design hotel, less then a block away from Piazza Duomo, and therefore, from the Galleria.
If you’re in Piazza Duomo, by entering and crossing Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II you will end up on Piazza della Scalla and will be face to face with the magnificent theater building. Teatro alla Scalla (http://www.teatroallascala.org ) is so charming… The small palace was built in the 18th century and still hosts many great events and has its own little museum. After a concert, have dinner at Trussardi all Scalla (http://www.trussardiallascala.com/ ) a wonderful restaurant housed on top of Trussardi store right in front of the theater (you can also find Café Trussardi right behind the store, perfect for lunch or coffee). It is a beautiful, modern and trendy Italian hangout. Seat by a window and have a great view of the theater building. The food is very good and I think it was where I tested one of the most different deserts of my live. It was actually Luv the one who ordered it, since he’s a cigar lover: a chocolate cigar. Seems simple? At first it does. The buzz, however is, its filling is cooked along with real Cuban tobacco! More precisely, the luxurious Partagas D4! The smoke released from the cooking of the tobacco impregnates the hazelnut cream. The filled chocolate straw is served with sauce and ice cream which makes the different textures, temperatures and flavors, among with the slightly smoky retro taste of the tobacco, one of the most indescribable sensations that could happened inside one’s mouth!!! Just try it!!
Around two blocks behind La Scalla is established my favorite hotel in Milan: Bulgari Hotel (http://www.bulgarihotels.com/ ). It is perfectly located between the fashionable Quadrilatero d’Oro and the classic Galleria. In spite of being right on the center of the city buzz it is located on a hidden, little, dead end street. It is surrounded with green, giving the idea of a peaceful oasis in the middle of agitated Milan. By the way, a coffee or a cocktail on those gardens is mandatory, even for those not staying there!
Since the days are already taken care of, lets close it with some great dinners.
My favorite restaurants in Milan are Sadler (http://www.sadler.it/ ) and Cracco (info@ristorantecracco.it). Both are trendy and inventive with amazing food, impeccable service and the perfect ambience. Other great places are Joia (http://www.joia.it/noflash.htm ), considered one of the best “cordon vert” cuisines (only with a few fish dishes), and, Il Luogo de Aimo e Nadia (http://www.aimoenadia.com/ ) a family-run business a bit far from the city’s center but with very good food.
Well, have a great time! Boa Viagem!
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Milano: Quadrilatero d'Oro
Italy is one of my favorite countries. No wonder Luv and I chose it for our honeymoon. Actually Mom and Dad took a big vacation in Italy a little before Luv proposed to me, and they kept on saying: “That’s where you should spend your honeymoon”. So we embraced the idea. We had both visited Italy before knowing each other but this amazing country gained a whole different meaning in our lives after our honeymoon. One of Luv’s grandmothers was Italian and, according to him, she was a wonderful person and an especially good cook, so the food has a special childhood-memories taste to him. As for me, I just love it because it tastes perfectly great.
There are so many great Italian cities to write about, their architectures, their food and their culture are quite different from one another but they’re equally good as well as their people.
I’ll just start with Milan. I know many people who aren’t crazy about Milan, just can’t figure out why, I love the place. I always get so exited when I get to the Quadrlatero della Moda or Quadrilatero d'Oro (or even Disney World of fashion) for the first time in a trip. I love its restaurants, its people and the city’s vibe. One will find almost every worth-knowing store in the block formed by Via della Spiga, Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Alessandro Manzoni and a few others in its surroundings. Giorgio Armani, for example, has his flagship store (he now opened one on 5th Ave and 56th St as well) and headquarters in a whole block on a corner of Via Manzoni (http://www.armani-viamanzoni31.it/ ). On that megastore one can find all of Armani’s brands, including Chocolate (Armani/Dolci) and Home (Armani/Casa), Armani Café, which is a great place to give shopping a break, have a quick lunch, snack or simply coffee or a cocktail. The building also houses a great club, Armani Privé and a branch of the world known, hip Japanese restaurant, Nobu (http://www.armaninobu.it/armani_nobu_index.html ), where Luv and I ran in to Falvio Briatore last time we went there. As if that wasn’t enough this year a beautiful Armani Hotel (http://www.armanihotels.com/en/index.html ) will be also sharing the famous corner.
Just like Armani, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana (http://www.dolcegabbana.com/ ) have their share of the Quadrilatero. There they have three stores: women’s, accessories and men’s. The first two located n Via della Spiga and the Third on Corso Venezia, where is also house the D&G Martini Bar, great place for a cocktail and a quick snack. The two also own a cool restaurant: Gold (http://www.dolcegabbanagold.com/ ). As the name says the venue is all golden. Beautiful place for dinner and it has nice bar.
Another great place for lunch, with perfect Milanese food, in this high-density-good-shopping-per-sqm area is Paper Moon (http://www.papermoonmilano.com/milano.htm ). It’s a must go! The pappardelle and the pizzas are magnificent and they have great desserts too. It’s a fine place for dinner as well.
If you’re looking for “Bed & Breakfast” near by I love The Four Seasons Milano (http://www.fourseasons.com/milan/ ) for the “Bed” part. It is literally on the center of the Quadirlatero on Via Gésu. As for the “Breakfast” part, Luv and I, rarely have breakfast, especially at the hotel, we find a stop for coffee in some cute spot much more fun. For that, I would recommend Cova (http://www.pasticceriacova.com/ ) at Montenapoleone, probably Milan’s oldest patisserie, founded on 1817 by one of Napoleon’s soldiers. It used to be at Piazza della Scalla and in the 50s it moved to Via Montenapolone.
If you’re still tiered from all your shopping take an after-lunch stroll on the close by Giardini Pubblici (just follow Via Manzoni, cross Piazza Cavour and you’ll be there) and its cutes museums, recharge your batteries and get back to work!
Boa Viagem!
There are so many great Italian cities to write about, their architectures, their food and their culture are quite different from one another but they’re equally good as well as their people.
I’ll just start with Milan. I know many people who aren’t crazy about Milan, just can’t figure out why, I love the place. I always get so exited when I get to the Quadrlatero della Moda or Quadrilatero d'Oro (or even Disney World of fashion) for the first time in a trip. I love its restaurants, its people and the city’s vibe. One will find almost every worth-knowing store in the block formed by Via della Spiga, Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Alessandro Manzoni and a few others in its surroundings. Giorgio Armani, for example, has his flagship store (he now opened one on 5th Ave and 56th St as well) and headquarters in a whole block on a corner of Via Manzoni (http://www.armani-viamanzoni31.it/ ). On that megastore one can find all of Armani’s brands, including Chocolate (Armani/Dolci) and Home (Armani/Casa), Armani Café, which is a great place to give shopping a break, have a quick lunch, snack or simply coffee or a cocktail. The building also houses a great club, Armani Privé and a branch of the world known, hip Japanese restaurant, Nobu (http://www.armaninobu.it/armani_nobu_index.html ), where Luv and I ran in to Falvio Briatore last time we went there. As if that wasn’t enough this year a beautiful Armani Hotel (http://www.armanihotels.com/en/index.html ) will be also sharing the famous corner.
Just like Armani, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana (http://www.dolcegabbana.com/ ) have their share of the Quadrilatero. There they have three stores: women’s, accessories and men’s. The first two located n Via della Spiga and the Third on Corso Venezia, where is also house the D&G Martini Bar, great place for a cocktail and a quick snack. The two also own a cool restaurant: Gold (http://www.dolcegabbanagold.com/ ). As the name says the venue is all golden. Beautiful place for dinner and it has nice bar.
Another great place for lunch, with perfect Milanese food, in this high-density-good-shopping-per-sqm area is Paper Moon (http://www.papermoonmilano.com/milano.htm ). It’s a must go! The pappardelle and the pizzas are magnificent and they have great desserts too. It’s a fine place for dinner as well.
If you’re looking for “Bed & Breakfast” near by I love The Four Seasons Milano (http://www.fourseasons.com/milan/ ) for the “Bed” part. It is literally on the center of the Quadirlatero on Via Gésu. As for the “Breakfast” part, Luv and I, rarely have breakfast, especially at the hotel, we find a stop for coffee in some cute spot much more fun. For that, I would recommend Cova (http://www.pasticceriacova.com/ ) at Montenapoleone, probably Milan’s oldest patisserie, founded on 1817 by one of Napoleon’s soldiers. It used to be at Piazza della Scalla and in the 50s it moved to Via Montenapolone.
If you’re still tiered from all your shopping take an after-lunch stroll on the close by Giardini Pubblici (just follow Via Manzoni, cross Piazza Cavour and you’ll be there) and its cutes museums, recharge your batteries and get back to work!
Boa Viagem!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Dinning: NYC
Once I read somewhere that by living in Manhattan and eating out every single day you could spend at least three years without repeating a restaurant! I find that so fascinating and so frustrating at the same time. It’s so wonderful having so many options and, on the other hand, it feels like one can’t ever keep up with the City’s gastronomic expansion. One more thing to love about New York! I get quite anxious and doubly hungry: for the food, of course, and for all the great new places to know. It makes it really hard to write, since it’s difficult to know where to begin. I’ll just start with our last trip.
On our last escape to NYC Luv and I went to some great places. For dinner some of the restaurants we visited were: Eleven Madison Park, Commerce, Corton, Del Posto, Waverly Inn, Daniel and Gilt.
Eleven Madison Park (http://elevenmadisonpark.com/ ) is a beautiful place on the Flatiron District with an amazingly high ceiling, classy ambience and impeccable service. We sat at a great table by the window overlooking the Madison Square Park. The cuisine is French-American. The suckling pig and the Malted Milkshake are my recommendations.
Commerce (http://www.commercerestaurant.com/ ) is a cozy, loud and cheerful restaurant on a hidden corner of the West Village with a great cocktail list. It’s housed on a renewed historical NYC space, formerly Grange Hall which used to be a cute neighborhood spot often packed with martini-drinkers. The service is friendly and the spaghetti carbonara comes with a semi-raw egg yolk on top. Delicious! They also serve great homey entrées (I still haven’t figured out why that’s how Americans call the main dishes) to be shared, as well as great apple pie for 2.
Only a few blocks away from Commerce you’ll find the hidden Waverly Inn (16 Bank St, at Waverly Pl). It’s an exclusive, semi-private place where you might need to talk to a friend or two to manage to get yourself a table. Try stopping by a couple of days before and you might be able to make a reservation since there are no public phones or website. The spot is very romantic, quite dark with a fireplace and a welcoming garden on the back of its main room. Very beautiful people, sexy ambience and great cocktails! Depending on the day of the week you’re there try the mac n` cheese with truffles, a dish where comfort meets sophistication: just like the Inn!
Corton (http://www.cortonnyc.com/ ) was a wonderful surprise! This TriBeCa, French-accented venue seems very basic and simple at first but it serves some mind-blowing dishes. Their staff is perfect, the wine list is quite fairly priced and the sommelier did a great job with wine paring for us. The black truffle pasta with Gouda cheese and the Lobster are impeccable plates. But what will burned in my "gustative memory" forever is the Caramel Brioche dessert. I will never forget its test and texture. I was so lucky since, in fact, I initially ordered the Honeycrisp apple – I’m on an apple, cinnamon and honey dessert phase – and when our very kind waiter told me they were out of it I went for the Caramel Brioche. Best ever!!!!!
As for Del Posto (http://www.delposto.com/home.htm ), it is another one of Mario Batali`s masterpieces. The venue is impressive in basically everyway. The place is big and imposing with a gorgeous mezzanine and busy bar – with perfectly made cocktails - but still friendly. Great service, extensive wine list plus Batali-quality food. I always find tasting menus a great option, since one gets to taste all of the house’s signatures dishes and a few more. If you find it too much try the TRIS, which is basically three tastes of pastas to be shared by the hole table, no matter how many you are. The Garganelli is amazing. As for dessert try the chocolate and ricotta Tortino: very, very good!!!!
Well, Daniel (http://www.danielnyc.com/ ) will always be a classic with perfect haute-cuisine and service. Decoration is now different, a bit more modern, since it has gone through a recent renovation. Daniel is one of NYC’s top restaurant. It must be visited at least once. As I said before I always find testing menus, if possible with wine pairing, a wonderful option, especially in a top quality venue as this one.
Finally Gilt (http://www.giltnewyork.com/ ), I absolutely loved it! One of my best experiences in the City! It offers top quality food and service but much hipper and exquisite ambiance then most locations with its level. High ceiling, wooden walls and a sleek, funky bar create a sexy and hip environment. It is located at The New York Palace Hotel, one of the most beautiful and luxury in town, on Madison Ave & 50th St, a Must Go! It opened its door last years and already won 2 Michelin stars. The miso consommé, the waygu beef and the crème brûlée are to die for.
Enjoy dinner out in the City and Boa viagem!
On our last escape to NYC Luv and I went to some great places. For dinner some of the restaurants we visited were: Eleven Madison Park, Commerce, Corton, Del Posto, Waverly Inn, Daniel and Gilt.
Eleven Madison Park (http://elevenmadisonpark.com/ ) is a beautiful place on the Flatiron District with an amazingly high ceiling, classy ambience and impeccable service. We sat at a great table by the window overlooking the Madison Square Park. The cuisine is French-American. The suckling pig and the Malted Milkshake are my recommendations.
Commerce (http://www.commercerestaurant.com/ ) is a cozy, loud and cheerful restaurant on a hidden corner of the West Village with a great cocktail list. It’s housed on a renewed historical NYC space, formerly Grange Hall which used to be a cute neighborhood spot often packed with martini-drinkers. The service is friendly and the spaghetti carbonara comes with a semi-raw egg yolk on top. Delicious! They also serve great homey entrées (I still haven’t figured out why that’s how Americans call the main dishes) to be shared, as well as great apple pie for 2.
Only a few blocks away from Commerce you’ll find the hidden Waverly Inn (16 Bank St, at Waverly Pl). It’s an exclusive, semi-private place where you might need to talk to a friend or two to manage to get yourself a table. Try stopping by a couple of days before and you might be able to make a reservation since there are no public phones or website. The spot is very romantic, quite dark with a fireplace and a welcoming garden on the back of its main room. Very beautiful people, sexy ambience and great cocktails! Depending on the day of the week you’re there try the mac n` cheese with truffles, a dish where comfort meets sophistication: just like the Inn!
Corton (http://www.cortonnyc.com/ ) was a wonderful surprise! This TriBeCa, French-accented venue seems very basic and simple at first but it serves some mind-blowing dishes. Their staff is perfect, the wine list is quite fairly priced and the sommelier did a great job with wine paring for us. The black truffle pasta with Gouda cheese and the Lobster are impeccable plates. But what will burned in my "gustative memory" forever is the Caramel Brioche dessert. I will never forget its test and texture. I was so lucky since, in fact, I initially ordered the Honeycrisp apple – I’m on an apple, cinnamon and honey dessert phase – and when our very kind waiter told me they were out of it I went for the Caramel Brioche. Best ever!!!!!
As for Del Posto (http://www.delposto.com/home.htm ), it is another one of Mario Batali`s masterpieces. The venue is impressive in basically everyway. The place is big and imposing with a gorgeous mezzanine and busy bar – with perfectly made cocktails - but still friendly. Great service, extensive wine list plus Batali-quality food. I always find tasting menus a great option, since one gets to taste all of the house’s signatures dishes and a few more. If you find it too much try the TRIS, which is basically three tastes of pastas to be shared by the hole table, no matter how many you are. The Garganelli is amazing. As for dessert try the chocolate and ricotta Tortino: very, very good!!!!
Well, Daniel (http://www.danielnyc.com/ ) will always be a classic with perfect haute-cuisine and service. Decoration is now different, a bit more modern, since it has gone through a recent renovation. Daniel is one of NYC’s top restaurant. It must be visited at least once. As I said before I always find testing menus, if possible with wine pairing, a wonderful option, especially in a top quality venue as this one.
Finally Gilt (http://www.giltnewyork.com/ ), I absolutely loved it! One of my best experiences in the City! It offers top quality food and service but much hipper and exquisite ambiance then most locations with its level. High ceiling, wooden walls and a sleek, funky bar create a sexy and hip environment. It is located at The New York Palace Hotel, one of the most beautiful and luxury in town, on Madison Ave & 50th St, a Must Go! It opened its door last years and already won 2 Michelin stars. The miso consommé, the waygu beef and the crème brûlée are to die for.
Enjoy dinner out in the City and Boa viagem!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Paris: Haute Cuisine (hotels)
Since my last stop was Paris I think it’s appropriate to start by righting about that lovely Ville.
There are just too many things I love about Paris, but one of my favorites is the food. I often say that recommending the top and most expensive restaurants in town is not much of a tip since they are all very famous. On the other hand the risk of going wrong is really small. But as soon as I feed the blog with the “basics” I’ll start posting more specific tips and more “secret” places. Besides, I had to start somewhere, why not from the top?
Many of the greatest restaurants in the world are concentrated in a rather small piece of land. That spiral-shaped joint of neighborhoods contains most of the world's best chefs and chefs to be.
I consider ambiance a very important aspect of a venue on the final balance of a perfect experience. Some of these top rated restaurants are very traditional and classic and some really clean and modern but I find them all amazingly beautiful and they all offer an outstanding service. Obviously, the food served in all of them is impeccable.
Le “Cinq” (www.fourseasons.com/paris/), Le Meurice (http://www.lemeurice.com/ ) and Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (http://www.alain-ducasse.com/ ) are located in three of the best and most luxurious hotels in town. Well, Monsieur Ducasse deserves his own post. Restaurant Le Meurice has been renovated, looks better then ever, and has gotten a Starck decorated new neighbor, Restaurant Le Dali. Le “Cinq” has the most beautiful flower arrangements, which, by the way, I used as inspiration for my wedding party decoration, so it’s hard for me not to love the place. All three have great “next door” bars, worth having a cocktail before or after dinner, especially Le Bar du Plaza Athénée, which is quite modern and hype.
Another great hotel restaurant is Les Ambassadeur (http://www.crillon.com/) in Hôtel de Crillon, facing the gorgeous Place de la Concorde, one of Paris' best locations. Besides lunch and dinner they serve a marvelous Brunch du Monde on Sunday mornings! Don’t miss it!
I’ll place some more haute cuisine Parisian restaurants on the a post.
Boa Viagem!
There are just too many things I love about Paris, but one of my favorites is the food. I often say that recommending the top and most expensive restaurants in town is not much of a tip since they are all very famous. On the other hand the risk of going wrong is really small. But as soon as I feed the blog with the “basics” I’ll start posting more specific tips and more “secret” places. Besides, I had to start somewhere, why not from the top?
Many of the greatest restaurants in the world are concentrated in a rather small piece of land. That spiral-shaped joint of neighborhoods contains most of the world's best chefs and chefs to be.
I consider ambiance a very important aspect of a venue on the final balance of a perfect experience. Some of these top rated restaurants are very traditional and classic and some really clean and modern but I find them all amazingly beautiful and they all offer an outstanding service. Obviously, the food served in all of them is impeccable.
Le “Cinq” (www.fourseasons.com/paris/), Le Meurice (http://www.lemeurice.com/ ) and Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée (http://www.alain-ducasse.com/ ) are located in three of the best and most luxurious hotels in town. Well, Monsieur Ducasse deserves his own post. Restaurant Le Meurice has been renovated, looks better then ever, and has gotten a Starck decorated new neighbor, Restaurant Le Dali. Le “Cinq” has the most beautiful flower arrangements, which, by the way, I used as inspiration for my wedding party decoration, so it’s hard for me not to love the place. All three have great “next door” bars, worth having a cocktail before or after dinner, especially Le Bar du Plaza Athénée, which is quite modern and hype.
Another great hotel restaurant is Les Ambassadeur (http://www.crillon.com/) in Hôtel de Crillon, facing the gorgeous Place de la Concorde, one of Paris' best locations. Besides lunch and dinner they serve a marvelous Brunch du Monde on Sunday mornings! Don’t miss it!
I’ll place some more haute cuisine Parisian restaurants on the a post.
Boa Viagem!
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