Restaurant-Dining Critiques » Italy

Campari, The World’s Favorite Aperitif – Italy

Kit Marshal — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:03:33 +0000

Campari has one of the best global marketing plans I have ever witnessed. From the largest city to the remotest island you will find Campari on the back bar. I have always been amazed at how they can accomplish this. Annually they sell almost 3 million cases in 190 countries; this is unbelievable coverage. You may enjoy this alluring bitter-sweet concoction on the rocks with a slice of orange, in a tall glass with soda, or as a refreshing Americano (mixed with red & white sweet vermouth & soda) this could be an arguable point with some, but I have always mixed it with both red & white sweet vermouth, although equaling the same quantity. Then there is the famous Negroni cocktail (mixed with sweet vermouth & gin) and usually served straight up although, there are times that I prefer it on the rocks . Other bitter aperitifs are: Aperol, Byrrh from France, Fernet Branca, Cynar (whose main ingredient is artichoke) and the non-alcohol bitter aperitif Crodino, even though made in Italy its main market is Germany.

Amanita Caesarea Mushrooms

Kit Marshal — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:29:05 +0000

These fungi are indescribably delicious when tossed with pasta along with olive oil and possibly a touch of garlic.

This culinary prize, Amanita Caesarea appears in Autumn although the season can vary depending on location. At first glance its distinguishing characteristics are: A somewhat shiny reddish cap with radial lines around the margins; yellowish gills and a ring around the yellowish stalk with scattered white tissues; and a saclike cup at the base of the stalk, typical of many amanitas. This mushroom is highly prized, and is a common sight in the markets of Italy, southern France, and Spain. However, many mycologists warn inexperienced gatherers against seeking it out as it can be easily confused with other deadly members of the Amanita genus, for example Amanita Muscaria or Amanita Phialloides.

The well-known, hallucinogenic Fly Agaric has no radially lined margins around the cap and has whitish gills. A close inspection should easily allow identification of either of these similar mushrooms that are members of the dangerous genus Amanita.

The genus Amanita is better known for its poisonous members the death angels (Amanita virosa, A. bisporigera, A. verna), the destroying angel or death cap (A. phalloides) and the hallucinogenic and toxic fly agaric (A. muscaria).

No foraged mushrooms should be eaten without the advice of an expert!

Orvieto, Umbria – Italy

Kit Marshal — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:08:48 +0000

Orvieto is a charming medieval hilltop village just off the autostrada near the Umbria-Tuscan border. It has a central piazza, the enormous church, quaint small streets and old buildings, shops and restaurants. A splendid Italian village. Following are a list of restaurants and Pizzerias:

AL SAN FRANCESCO: V.B.Cerretti, 10 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343302 – 0763 340283

ANTICA CANTINA: Piazza Monaldeschi 18/19 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344746

CASTELLO DI TITIGNANO: ‘Borgo Medievale': Loc. Titignano – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 308000 – Fax: (+39) 0763 – 308002

DUCA DI ORVIETO: Via della Pace 5 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 344663 – Mobile: 347 6285663

GIALLETTI: Via A. Costanzi 71 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 300392 – Fax: (+39) 0763 – 390149

LA ROCCA ORVIETO: Rocca Ripesena – 05010 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 344210 – 393437 – Fax: (+39) 0763 – 395155

LA TAVERNA DELL’ETRUSCO: Via della Misericordia I’b0 – 5 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343947

ZEPPELIN: V. Garibaldi 28 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 341447 – Fax: (+39) 0763 – 341447

AL POZZO ETRUSCO: P. Ranieri 1/A – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 34445

ANTICO BUCCHERO: V. Dei Cartari 4 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341725

BUCA DI BACCO: C. Cavour 299 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344792

DA GREGORIO: Loc. Morrano 136 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 215011

DA NINO: V. 7 Martiri 45/47 – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 300478

DA PEPPE: Loc. Canonica, 55 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 217232

DEL COCCO: V. Garibaldi 6 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342319

DEL MORO: Via San Leonardo, 7 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342763

DELL’ANCORA: V. Del Popolo 7-9 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342766 – 0763 344455

DELL’ORSO: Via della Misericordia, 16/18 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341642

GIGLIO D’ORO: P. Del Duomo 8 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341903

GIRARROSTO DEL BUONGUSTAIO: Loc. Tamburino 81 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341935

I SETTE CONSOLI: P. S. Angelo 1/A – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343911

I TRE PICCIONI: V. G. Falcone, 20 – Loc. Orvieto Scalo – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 305895

IL LABIRINTO: Via della Pace, 26/36 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342527

IL PORTONACCIO: V. Costanzi 67 – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 300022

L’ALFIERE VERDE: Piazza Del Popolo 2/3 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 -343463

L’ANTICA RUPE: Vc. S. Antonio 2 A – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+390763 343063

L’ANTICA TAVERNA DEL CORSO: Corso Cavour, 231 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341388 – 339 6096323

L’ASINO D’ORO: vicolo del popolo 9 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344406

LA BADIA: Loc. La Badia 8 – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763-301959 – 301876 – Fax: (+39) 0763-305396

LA GROTTA: V. Luca Signorelli, 5 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341348

LA MORA: Loc. Buon Viaggio 18 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 375022

LA PALOMBA: Via Cipriano Manetti 16 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763-343395

LA PERGOLETTA: V. 7 Martiri 7 – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 301901

LA VOLPE E L’UVA: V. Ripa Corsica 1 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341612

LE GROTTE DEL FUNARO: V. Ripa Serancia 41 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343276

MAURIZIO AL DUOMO: V. Del Duomo 78 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343212

OSTERIA DELL’ANGELO: Piazza 29 Marzo 8/a – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763-341805

OSTERIA NONNAMELIA: Via Duomo, 25 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342402

PANE E CIPOLLA: piazza A da orvieto 7 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 340972

PENG CHENG: C. Cavour 443 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343355

S. GIOVENALE: P. S. Giovenale 6/7 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 340641

TRATTORIA DA VALERIO: Via I Maggio 37 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 – 301950 – 390040

TRATTORIA ETRUSCA: V. Maitani 10 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344016

UMBRIA: V. Monte Nibbio 1/3 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 301940 – Fax: (+39) 0763 305646

*PIZZERIAS*

CAPRICCIO: V. Signorelli 9 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342852

CHARLIE: C. Cavour 194 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344766

CHIOLLE: P. Del Popolo 20 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341587

CORDONE: V. Filippeschi 22 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341817

DEL PONTE: V. Dei Gelsi 1 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 305477

DUE PINI: . Fontanelle Di Bardano 31 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 316050

IL FORNO DEL 2000: C. Cavour 282 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341722

LA FUNICOLARE: P. Matteotti 3/4/5 – 05019 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 300092

LA FUNICOLARE: C. Cavour 225 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344530

LA PIZZA: V. Costanzi 68 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 300321

LA PREFERITA: V. Aceri 18 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 305248

LO STORNELLO: V. Tevere 32 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 393397

PAOLERI: C. Cavour 49 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 342370

PICNIC: V. Ulivi 11/A – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 302403

S. DOMENICO: P. 29 Marzo 18 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344608

SUBITO SUBITO: V. Arno 8 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 343197

TAVERN ENGEL KELLER: P. Scalza 1 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 341098

VERDE LUNA: V. Tevere 2 – 05018 – Orvieto (TR) – Tel: (+39) 0763 344676

Le Tre Vaselle Restaurant & Hotel, Torgiano – Italy

Kit Marshal — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:39:57 +0000

On our way driving up to the Le Tre Vaselle restaurant-hotel in Torgiano we stopped for lunch at a restaurant by a lake presumably Lake Trasimeno. I have forgotten the name of the restaurant. In fact, I can’t remember what I had for lunch, although I will always remember drinking the best bottle of rose-tinted Pinot Grigio I have ever had the pleasure to drink, made increasingly better by the intense heat, while dining on the shaded terrace on that very hot day. So good, that I had to order another bottle when one would have sufficed; it was plunged into the ice bucket straight-away.
The village of Torgiano has been made famous due to the wines produced by Dr. Lungarotti. The village is surrounded with vineyards set in the hills.
The 17th century building of Le Tre Vaselle is within the medieval walls of Torgiano, a peaceful village set in the heart of the Umbrian countryside. Its warm hospitality, elegant decor and exquisite cuisine are reminiscent of the aristocratic country houses of times past, and offer an ideal environment for those wishing to have excellent accommodations, an outstanding restaurant and beautiful wines grown and produced in the area surrounding the hotel and restaurant. Maria Grazia and Giorgio Lungarotti established the Museo del Vino, which is dedicated to wine; the Lungarotti winery is one of the most important in Italy. The restaurant offers game and black truffles in season, the superb Chianina beef and pike and perch from Lake Trasimeno, in addition all produce is supplied from the Lungarotti estate and of course, we cannot forget the Wines—and the cellar contains an abundance of Lungarotti’s rare, older vintages.

Restaurants around the vicinity of Torgiano:

Città della Pieve (21 km)

Il Pinzimonio, In San Litardo (3.5 km north towards Po Bandino): (0578 298105) It is a good value restaurant with a pizzeria, popular with locals. Closed Tuesday.
Restaurant, Trattoria Tawny, V. Vannucci, 135 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298108 Fax +39 Closed Monday
Restaurant the Flour Mill Of Drago, Str. St. 71, 54 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578222170 Closed Monday
Restaurant 27 Pinzimonio, S.S.71 – Loc. S. Litardo Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298105 Closed Tuesday
Restaurant Arches, It V. Stradone, 105 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578294303 Closed Wednesday
Restaurant The Source Of The Folletto, Str. Stat. 71 North, 15 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298752 Closed Tuesday
Nardelli Restaurant, via G. Di Vittorio, 62 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578248081 Fax +39 057824807 Closed Tuesday
Small restaurant Eden via S.Lucia, 53 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578297065 Fax +39 0578297066 Closed Tuesday
Restaurant, Trattoria Serenella, V. Fiorenzuola, 28 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578299683 Closed Wednesday
Taverna Restaurant of the Perugino, V. Vannucci, 37 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298848 Closed Monday
Vannucci Restaurant, via Icilio Vanni, 1 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578299572 Fax +39 0578298063 A typical Umbrian kitchen; Closed Friday

Other villages in close proximity:

Panicale (13 km)

Lillotatini, Piazza Umberto I 13–14 Top end of the main square. Good restaurant presented properly. Booking usually necessary.
Masolino, Via del Filaoio 4 (075 837 151)
Le Grotte di Boldrini (075 837 161) Outside the West gate.

Piegaro (16.5 km)

Il Mondo Antico, Via G Garibaldi 1/a (075 835 8351) – in old town, 100 m from top gate. Friendly service and the restaurant is surrounded by antiquity.
Da Elio, on SS220, 0.5 km from Piegaro junction towards Tavernelle (075 835 8017) Typical Italian restaurant, friendly staff and good food. Excellent value.

Paciano (18 km)

Il Casale, In Cereto (2 km off road westwards, follow signs from the main road) (075 830 465) worth finding it; the terrace looks over the hills towards Lake Trasimeno. Very good food, booking is essential. Closed Wednesdays.

Lake Trasimeno

Advance bookings suggested
L’Acquario, Via Vittorio Emanuele 69 (075 965 2432)
La Cantina (075 965 2463)
La Fontana It is attached to the Miralago Hotel. The terrace looks over the lake. Good food.
A.Z. Bar Ristorante Pizzeria Excellent home made pasta dishes. Via Roma 25 Tel/Fax +39-075-953326
San Feliciano (28 km) East side of the lake
Da Settimio (075 847 6000) Good restaurant specializing in fish dishes. Excellent view of the lake. Closed Thursdays.
Below: La Tre Vaselle

Harry’s Bar – Venice, Italy

Kit Marshal — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:00:13 +0000

S. Marco, 1323
30124 Venezia (VE), Italy
+39 041 5285777
Website: www.cipriani.com
Opening Hours:
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Very Expensive

Harry’s Bar is an institution and has always been a hangout and haven for Americans as diverse as Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, and more recently Woody Allen. Hemingway was a regular from the late forties forward and some of the scenes in his novel Across the River and into the Trees took place at Harry’s Bar. This probably partially influenced the decision of Arrigo Cipriani, who is the son of the founder Giuseppe Cipriani, to post a sign recently, giving notice that every American will be entitled to a 20% discount on all consumables until the financial, sub-prime mortgage crisis is over. An honorable gesture, everything considered.

The bar and ristoranti that brought to the Italian culinary repertoire the Bellini and Carpaccio along with expected steep prices and special services catering to the patrons, which might have included carrying the Aga Khan to the table in his own armchair, where he proceeded to gulp down Beluga caviar whole without even bursting a single egg with his teeth.

As the story goes, an American student named Harry Cushing was strapped for cash and asked Giuseppe Cipriani the barman at the Europa Hotel in Venice for 10,000 lire ($6,000 today). He then disappeared, leaving Cipriani worried that he might never see his money again. However, the American returned in February 1930, and he not only repaid Cipriani but offered to put up 40,000 lire more and said, “We can now open a bar and call it Harry’s”.

Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry’s Bar in Venice in 1931 directly on the St Mark’s bay waterfront. He also made famous a drink, the Bellini, a mixture of white peach juice and sparkling prosecco, named after the fifteenth-century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini. The dish is Carpaccio of beef, a plate of trimmed wafer-thin sirloin drizzled with a blend of mayonnaise and lemon juice, which was invented for an Italian Contessa who was on a diet free of cooked meat. It too was created by Giuseppe and was also named after an Italian painter, Vittore Carpaccio, who was famous for using colors in deep red hues.

The clientele’s motive for returning so often was not that they expected marvelously innovative culinary experimentation, just Italian classic cuisine, properly cooked and presented.

Recommended dishes & drinks include:
Carpaccio alla Cipriani, Scampi all’Armoricaine, Trippa alla Parmigiana
Bellini, Whisky Sour, Martini

If you would like to find a great selection of places to stay with discounted prices, visit Hotel Reservations in Venice for more information.