PREPARING A NEW POST: PUGLIA

Wait until next week..... I am working for you!!!
Many tips about the South of Puglia: beaches, restaurants, visits, when to go,what to see and shopping!!!!
Enjoying so much that I need to share....

FOOD AROUND ITALY

Do you notice my passion for Italy, don't you? I assume it!

A few weeks ago, I thought about this subject: food ! I was thinking about how the Italian kitchen is diversified, by the way as the country that I came from: Brazil. 

Travelling around Italy, I have the pleasure to taste and also to notice the difference of food by regions. 

To my surprise, I discovered dishes that it is difficult to find in a restaurant outside Italy!

Pappa al Pomodoro is one of those dishes. Do you have any idea of the region that this plate comes from? What is it? Okay, pappa = potato and pomodoro = tomato....and then?

Typically from Toscana, to be more precise from Siena, Pappa al Comodoro is a soup prepared with fresh ingredients as tomatoes, basil, onions, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and bread (better if it is a leftover).

This dish has ancient origins and it was popularized by the singer Rita Pavone on TV with the music ' Viva la Pappa col Pomodoro'

Check the receipt, the photos help a lot!!! And 'buon appetite'.www.ricette.giallozafferano.it/Pappa-col-pomodoro.html

MILANO = CULTURE

Milano is a mix of fashion, history, art, expression..... This city that is also part of my life offers so many culture activities, let's take a look!

Last Saturday, we decided to visit some exhibitions of the city. We began with the one at PAC : SO FAR SO GOUDE. The brilliant path of the French Jean- Paul Goude is shown in a beautiful exposition with photos and a great video. Goude is the one that created many known publicity campaigns seen around the world: Galleries Lafayette, Kenzo, YSL and also launched Grace Jones in the fashion world. If you are planning a visit to Milano, don't miss to this expo. It is running until June 19th.www.pacmilano.it

From there, we decided to see one of the exhibitions of the Triennale di Milano that is running around the city until September. Our choice was NEW CRAFT at the Fabbrica Del Vapore, and we don't regret the choice. Arriving there, we passed by a huge open area with several food trucks, ateliers of arts for adults and also an area of recreation for kids.

Finally entering in the exhibition, we had a great surprise with the high tech definition. The combination of the new generation of artisans and new technologies offers us an over-view of the revolution in design. I loved the 3D printer pasta machine of Barilla!!!! www.triennale.org

Finishing, it was the time of the famous 'Italian aperitivo'. The food trucks at the Fabbrica Del Vapore offers all kinds and more..... Salute!

CINEMA

From May 11th until 22nd the world of cinema is there: Cannes.

Take a look on my off-Cannes selection, those films around the world fascinated me!

This American movie reveals a side of the story of the cinema that was obscured: communism on the backstage of Hollywood. A fascinating real story of a top screenwriter that was jailed and blacklisted for his political belief. His maneuvers to work, his successful career and the love of his family fascinate me at each moment. Don't miss it!

The pleasure to see Ricardo Darin on the big screen is indescribable. I am his fan!!!

His simplicity translates in his personages and TRUMAN is one more example. His performance is perfect and this Spanish-Argentine movie proves that friendship is a priority in life - friends, dogs.....you can name it!

Mobile phones are very useful, but can betray you!!! This Italian movie resumes the smartphone era.  A dinner between friends, all phones on the table and....You will have good laughs! A funny movie with a malicious touch.

LOMBARDIA : CHIAVENNA & PIURO

A place to discover!

Valtellina surprises not only by the beautiful landscape, but also for the cordiality and kindness, and of course about its food - we are in Italy!

Our first stop: Chiavenna, almost 7Kms from the Swiss boarder. Saturday is the day of a market with local products that lies in the valley between the Swiss alps and the Italians villages. 






Known by producer the famous  Italian meat:  Bresaola, delicious Italian meat. But 'in loco' I discovered much more things. 












Do you know what is a Crotto? It is a typical natural cavity of the mountainous regions of the Alps, in particular the areas of Lake Como, Valchiavenna and Canton Ticino. I visited some of them and this is fantastic the way that people use them! The temperature is 8C all over the year!!! 

Our lunch: we decided to go to Piuro and try the Crotto Belvedere, located in front of the river Mera. A fabulous place to taste all the speciality of the region: salamis, sciatt, pizzoccheri and gnocchetti. The owner made us visit the  'crotto'! www.crottobelvedere.com

Just an information: they have also a Bed & Breakfast not far from the restaurant. 

After lunch, a walk around the small village made us discover the paths to hiking. If you like sports, the place is a paradise, plenty of trails and waterfalls. 

Going ahead, we arrived at the Palazzo Vertemate Franchi. What a surprise!
This 'palazzo-museum' worth a visit. The history and the conservation of the site are impressed. The guide tells about the evolution and also some curiosities from the XVII century! 

www.palazzovertemate.it

After the visit, time to have a coffee and move to the Agriturismo that we have dinner and also rest. A charming place in Ardenno that all the food is produced by them and the neighborhood. Case dei Baff has a special charm and talk with the owners and listen their history about their place was a special time in our weekend.  

A tip: try the ' costine cotte al lavècc' cooked for 3 hours at least.

www.lecasedeibaff.com

LOMBARDIA

Enjoying so much the weekend around the lake of Como!
Very soon all the details...

TOSCANA & WINES

How to separate them??? Impossible.

Known by extraordinary wines, Toscana stands out for diversity. 

Bolgheri.... Not far away from the sea, this region produces the more notables wines of Toscana called informally as 'Super Tuscan'.

Tenuta San Guido is famous for the excellent wine Sassicaia, but also Guidalberto and La Difense. The winery is beautiful with a project of the architect Agnese Mazzei and it is not easy to book a visit.... Just a curiosity: the table of the main room is maiden with the wood of the stadium of Boca Juniors - Buenos Aires - Argentina.
Best wine: Sassicaia 2012.

www.tenutasanguido.com

Not far away, Ornellaia is also another 'Super Tuscan'. It is possible to book visits and lunch on-line. 

Best wine: Ornellaia 2002.

www.ornellaia.com

Le Macchiole is an 'azienda agricola' that produces excellent wine. Book a visit and enjoy the view of that winery.

Best wine: Paleo Red 2008
www.lemacchiole.com

Tenuta Guado al Tasso - Marchesi Antinori. Tignanello, Solaia, Marchese Antinori, Badia a Passignano, Guado al Tasso, Il Brucciato are some examples of wines produced by the famous winery. Spread around Toscana, the winery of Bolgheri is just a sample. Should visit the winery located on San Cassiano.www.antinori.it

MILANO FOR KIDS

Yesterday a friend of mine that has 3 kids asked some tips. This city, known by the design, fashion and art can also provide culture and fun to kids.

Milano is a city to visit with kids? Yes, of course. All the museums have spaces dedicated to kids: art, design, creativity. Even that is an urban city, Milano has plenty of parks and gardens.

Check them here:

MUDEC - Museo Delle Culture has a program for kids from 4 until 11 years old that calls Mudec Junior. Mosaic Marroco gives the kids a ludic experience and you can buy the tickets online.www.mudec.it/en/mudec-junior/

PAC - Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea has an interesting proposal to introduce contemporary art to kids. Every Saturday and Sunday at 17h30. www.pacmilano.it/en/educational-and-guidedtours/

MUBA - Museo dei Bambini di Milano proposes workshops for kids and families, one of them looks funny and interesting: how to make a radio broadcast. Take a look: www.muba.it



Triennale di Milano created a space for kids called La Balena. Take a look: www.trienalle.org/en/famiglie-e-bambini/

Located around the Pinacoteca of Brera, the Orto Botanico di Brera is a green oasis in the middle of the center of Milano. Plenty of history, this is one of the programs to kids. www.brera.unimit.it  

Duomo di Milano is a symbol of the city in the world. Buy your tickets online and enjoy your visit. www.duomomilano.it
Check if the roof is open and your kids are going to discover a beautiful landscape.

Darsena deserves a walk with the kids, also a good place to eat as it is surrounded by restaurants and bars.

TOSCANA

If you read my last post..... If you don't, read it!!! 

Nearby the beach, few kms in the mountains, Tirli is a hiding place surrounded by beauty. 

Perched on a hill, from which the view of the landscape takes your breath away even to the most seasoned of travelers. The chestnut trees.... 

And there you can have a dinner with an incredible view and taste a different kitchen from the seaside.

Boar and mushrooms are on the menu!

Il Re di Macchia - www.ilredimacchia.it

Leccio Moro - www.ristorantelecciomoro.it

TOSCANA

Spring is there. Need some inspiration?

Less touristy than other beaches of Italy, the stretch of the Tyrrhenian coastline remains wild, unspoiled with a relaxed charm.

The seaside of Toscana

From Rome or Pisa..... Take a car and discover the coast that many have not found yet!

Castiglione della Pescaia grew around a medieval fortress and a fishery. This charming city is plenty of local products shops and nice restaurants. 

My bet is a lunch at Da Romolo and eat fresh fish and seafood. 

Punta Ala is a cozy place with an extend area of beach. Small hotels, a Golf club, a place to do a horse ride or chill-out. The Porto is the shopping and restaurant area and Gualdo a small shopping complex with a great selection of Italian fashion. If you want to try my suggestions .... 

Where to stay? 

Arli Hotel Punta Ala - a cozy and nice hotel just close to the sea. www.arlihotelpuntaala.com

Where and what to eat? 

Pasta, fish, vegetables, try Da Bruno - simple restaurant with an incredible quality of food. www.ristaurantedabruno.eu 

Ristaurante Bernardo with a charming terrace and fresh fishes or a nice pasta. www.ristaurantebernardo.it

A coffee with a pastry? In the mornings the Pasticceria Siciliana is crowded, it is worth a visit before shopping in Gualdo.

Follonica is not far away.... and if you want to try a restaurant to die for..... I recommend: Il Sottomarino. Don't miss the seafood and fresh fish.... Who says that Italian eats only Pasta? www.ilsottomarino.it