Stilton - The King of English Cheeses: Stilton Cheese, the King of English Cheeses takes its name from the Cambridgeshire village of the same name. Apart from tasting delicious, here are some interesting facts about this cheese. Colston Bassett Dairy, Cropwell Bishop, Long Clawson Dairy, Quenby Hall, Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery and Websters are the only six dairies in the world licensed to make Blue and White Stilton cheese. So next time you buy some Stilton, check that they're from … [Read more...]
Café Hawelka – More than a Typical Viennese Café
April 7, 2010 by
Vienna's equivalent of Paris' St-Germain des Prés Literary Cafés : If you're looking to experience a typically Viennese coffee house, Café Hawelka in the old town comes highly recommended. This classic Viennese coffee house is a legend in its own right. Located at Dorotheergasse 6 in the 1st district, this venerable institution owes its success to its prime location, excellent food and above all, the amazing people who run it, not to mention the regulars who frequent the café. Café … [Read more...]
Genovese Pesto Recipe – Liguria
April 2, 2010 by
Genoa is the birthplace of Pesto: The Ligurian region is the birthplace of the Pesto sauce. More precisely, it was in Genoa, on the north Ligurian coast, that Pesto originated. Basil, a main ingredient of pesto sauce, grows well in the Ligurian temperate climate. Travelling around Liguria, you'll see that this sauce is used extensively in dishes. Traditionally, families would use a mortar and a pestle (hence the name) to make pesto. The grinding action of the pestle brings out the … [Read more...]
Baia Saracena – Vernazza
April 2, 2010 by
The Location is Fantastic but the Food Quality is Wanting : This bar on the breakwater enjoys a splendid location. For parched, sunbathers this is a convenient place to get a drink. Baia Saracena is the first café/bar that visitors will see when they come off their boat from one of the other villages. It is a nice place to stop and have a drink, whilst enjoying the sea view. It's fantastic location also makes it an ideal place to enjoy that sundowner and watch the sunset. Food Quality is … [Read more...]
Trattoria da Sandro – Vernazza
March 31, 2010 by
Even the Slow Food Movement would Baulk at the Slow Service here: Maria, our landlady recommended this place and said that she and the locals would dine here. This trattoria is on the right-hand side of via Roma as you walk towards the train station. There is an inside restaurant, but even without any views, we prefer al fresco dining . What I remember most about Trattoria da Sandro is not the food, but the extremely long wait for service and meals. There was only one other couple who arrived … [Read more...]
Ristorante Al Castello – Vernazza
March 30, 2010 by
Ristorante Al Castello - a Restaurant with Incredible Views: For our final dinner in Vernazza we dine at Ristorante al Castello which is high above Vernazza's main square, just below the castle. To ensure we got a cliff-side table overlooking the sea, we hiked up here earlier in the day to make a booking. Yes, the restaurant enjoys an incredible location and the views from up here is breathtaking indeed. Ristorante Al Castello is owned by Monica and her husband Massimo. … [Read more...]
Trattoria Gianni Franzi – Vernazza
March 29, 2010 by
At Trattoria Gianni Franzi you'll find typical Cuisine of the Cinque Terre: For standard of food, service and price of meals, Trattoria Gianni gets our vote for the best trattoria/restaurant in Piazza Marconi. This trattoria enjoys a full house most evenings, leaving the other restaurants salivating over its success. We also notice that when Trattoria Gianni closes on Wednesday night, the other trattorias and restaurants on the square get a few more diners. Trattoria Gianni is on Piazza … [Read more...]
Dining Out in Vernazza – Cinque Terre
March 29, 2010 by
Restaurant Dining in Vernazza: Vernazza has a nice square by the harbour that is filled with a range of restaurants, trattorias and cafés. Along the main street, via Roma, there are more eateries. If you're staying in this town during your Cinque Terre holidays, there are enough restaurants and trattorias here to keep you nicely fed. We certainly found it convenient to have all our evening meals here as hopping on trains to get to the next town for dinner and back is too much of a bother … [Read more...]
Trofie al Pesto – a Ligurian Specialty
March 27, 2010 by
A Typical Ligurian Pesto Pasta Dish: Trofie pasta is a Ligurian specialty and this is one dish that you'll find on most restaurant menus. Trofie is often served with pesto (Trofie al Pesto) which is also a specialty of the Ligurian region. In fact, Liguria is the birthplace of pesto which uses basil as its main ingredient. Basil grows very well in the temperate Ligurian climate. The Trofie pasta is made with flour and water and the dough is rolled on a flat surface until it forms a … [Read more...]
Rendez-vous at Paris Cafés Renowned for their Famous Clientele
March 19, 2010 by
Historic Cafés of Paris: Paris is famous for its café scene and an enduring image is of Parisians passing time at a café reading their newspaper, friends having a rendez-vous over a slow drink, businessmen and women discussing deals in a relaxed environment or people just chilling out and watching the world go by. But for many visitors, the romantic vision of eminent writers, philosophers, artists and musicians mingling and having animated discussions about the issues of the day in … [Read more...]