A visit to Parma with Parmigano Reggiano.
I was recently invited to Italy, more specifically to Parma to learn all about the process of the product of Parmigiano Reggiano. Of course, I was only too delighted to accept. Parmigiano Reggiano is one of those products that is literally always in my fridge. I find myself reaching for it throughout the week — for any pasta dish, to top salads, the list is endless. If you want a shortcut, find the steps of production here. If you want to see some highlights from my trip, click here. And if you want to know more about the history and benefits of the product, please keep reading! Rooted in Tradition Parmigiano-Reggiano is one of the oldest and richest cheeses in the world. This cheese is essentially produced in the same way it was nine centuries ago: using the same ingredients (milk, salt, and rennet) with the same craftsmanship and production…
On the topic of cheese.
Specifically, Parmiagganio Reggiano. So, where do we get started? While you might be familiar with the name (and taste), I don’t think I knew that Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna to the left of the Reno river, and Mantua to the right of the Po river. And why is this important? Basically, these areas host the farms where the cattle are fed on locally grown forage, compliant with norms of a strict specification that bans the use of silage, fermented feeds, and animal flour. So, what about the process to make Parmiagganio Reggiano? The milk from the morning and the previous evening is poured into the traditional upturned bell-shaped copper vats. It takes about 550 liters of milk to produce each wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. The milk slowly and naturally coagulates with the addition of rennet and a whey starter, rich in…
Casa Angelina: Perfect Praiano.
In a toe-curling cliffside location (complete with a one of a kind driveway), just past Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina is a bastion of urban style done in chic, reflective white. Service is highly attentive and begins prior to guests ever stepping foot inside the property via a welcoming e-mail. Given the slightly isolated location, this Design Hotel is a welcome retreat from the crowds – a place to relax, unwind, and reconnect. Compared to nearby Positano (with its restaurants, shops, and bustling beach scene), Praiano is a bit of a sleepy village. Adventurous travelers in search of a convenient base to explore the region will find it here, but night owls and activity-seekers are in for a bit of a disappointment. This hotel is a good fit for individuals and romantics in their 30s and 40s seeking a vacation wherein reading a thick novel, writing postcards (or…
Le Sirenuse Champagne & Oyster Bar: A tradition that lives up to the hype.
The Amalfi Coast is a location synonymous with luxury and sophistication, and perhaps no property is more sought after than that of Le Sirenuse, the iconic hotel in picture perfect Positano. While our original intention was to enjoy a pre-dinner drink at Franco’s Bar (technically a spill over watering hole from Le Sireneuse), we were just a few days early for the season to have officially started (and thus found ourselves staring sadly into a locked patio). Fortunately, the Champagne and Oyster Bar at La Sirenuse was less than a block away (and on the same stunning side of the street). Would we mind having a sundowner there? Well, of course not! The drinks menu is fairly extensive, and after a lot of talk of Espresso Martinis and Bellinis, the rest of the table ordered exactly that, while I was happy with my Lemon Drop Martini. Now, having traveled to the St.…
Zass*: Michelin makes a mistake?
Let it be said that my friends have impeccable taste in travel. Thus, when the opportunity to attach on to an extended birthday trip to Italy for a friend of my sister that I’d only met a handful of times came up, what do you think I did? Of course I said yes! And when I had to do practically no planning, and we ended up at a Michelin starred restaurant? Yay me. Having a bit of a hectic schedule before my departure to Rome, I didn’t research everywhere we were planning to visit as much as I usually do (i.e. check out other reviews, the menu and social media of venues I’ve booked). Thus, I went in with fresh (non-researched) eyes to Zass. Now, I think I’ve established I dine out quite regularly and am fortunate to enjoy some the best restaurants in the countries and cities I visit.…
Un Piano Nel Cielo, dinner by the sea.
While staying at Casa Angelina, it only made sense to dine at their fine dining restaurant, Un Piano Nel Cielo. We booked the terrace on the top floor for a private dinner as the main meal of our ongoing birthday celebrations. Friends, if you ever have the opportunity to dine overlooking the beautiful cliffs of the Amalfi coast, I strongly encourage you to do so. While there were those at our table who were not ready for another tasting menu, I was more than happy to and chose the Gavitella option (also on offer, the Traditional and Vegetarian tasting menus). Of course, with a nod to less modern times, the women at the table were all presented with menus not including the price (perhaps our little lady brains could not handle the concept of money, I’m not sure). I find this especially antiquated given that the person who organized our…
Conca del Sogno: Idyllic beach dining in Amalfi.
When the captain of our boat suggested we stop by a restaurant on our return from Capri to our hotel (sidebar: renting a private boat > ferry to Capri), we shrugged and thought, ‘He’s a local guy, so he probably knows best.’ And I’m glad we decided to follow his advice. While I’m sure there are any number of fantastic places to eat on the island of Capri, I have to admit I enjoyed pulling up and having a small dinghy come to collect our group to deliver us to the dock of Conca del Sogno (‘the basin of dreams’), one of the most remote restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Cut into a small inlet, this venue is equal parts bar, beach club, and restaurant (but not touristy at all). Hungry from our climb of Capri (the many steps were worth it) and better balanced after clearing our…
Ad Hoc: That’s (not) amore in Rome.
You know how you can get really excited for a restaurant and then it doesn’t live up to expectations? This was, unfortunately, the case at Ad Hoc, a well-reviewed venue in Rome. As we had first time tasting menu diners in our group, I felt especially disappointed by the experience (though they were perfectly happy with the meal, I know it could’ve gone a lot better). So, where was my disconnect? Well, it certainly wasn’t with the setting. Located in a rather intimate venue (of course, given this is Rome, I could be describing any number of restaurants because no one has a lot of extra square footage), we were escorted to the center room, which was surrounded by floor to ceiling bottles of wine (my kind of place). However, if you’re dining with your partner, try and snag one of the front tables by the window for some prime people watching.…