Ischia. How many people have even heard the name? And how many have visited? Its next door neighbor Capri has captured the imagination of the international jet set. They and their wannabe hangers on jam Capri port, fill its restaurants and make the island a daytripper’s paradise. But Ischia? Poor and undiscovered (or underdiscovered) Ischia is not poor at all. It is the real deal. Continue reading Another Day Another Island→
After four days in Capri we arrive in Ischia, Capri’s larger but less well known neighbor. There’s plenty of ferry traffic from Capri to Ischia but we have to search a bit to find ferries going the other way. It’s worth it though. We arrive on Ischia Saturday afternoon for a return visit to the Mezzatorre hotel, the luxe hotel we discovered last year and which will be our home for the next week as we begin our week long scuola di vela sailing school on island. Continue reading Hail Yea!→
“You are people that want to learn about other cultures, that enjoy meeting people and getting to know about them and where they come from, who are curious to see more than what you can see from a tour bus.”
“We love to welcome people in and show them what we love to do.”
“You make us very happy and proud that you want to learn from us. To listen to us.”
“No, the pleasure has been all ours. What an incredible experience. What a wonderful day.”
And so went the nearly all day love fest that we called a cooking class with Stella and her son Maurizio, owners of the Excelsior Parco Hotel, our home in Capri for the past three nights. Continue reading Table of Contentment→
The term “island life” conjures up some pretty powerful images in most peoples’ minds. Visions of bronze skin – radiant skin, really – not so much as a result of the constant absorption of UV rays from the everpresent sun, but an inner radiance that comes from a contentment and happiness of being one of the chosen few privileged enough to reside apart from the world, in one’s own private paradise. Continue reading On the Outside Looking In→
Campania, the Italian region south of Rome that calls Naples its capital, is rightly known for its sunsplashed coastline, fun loving inhabitants and great food and wine. On our first full day here we can vouch for all of the above. Continue reading When Life Hands You Lemons→
An uneventful flight from Charlotte to Rome marks our summer 2014 return to Italy. The beginning of our summer odyssey of sun and islands, the countryside and world class jazz and finally a long overdue reunion with one of our first Italian friends who now resides, of all places, in France. Strap on your seatbelt, make sure your tray table is in its full, upright position and get ready to join us for five weeks as we dolce vita our way through the land where the term was invented. Continue reading Starita Struck→
Yesterday’s main Cucinapalooza activity featured a visit to the Perugina chocolate factory for a three hour class in chocolate making. Head over to Dolce Vita, our monthly online magazine for the whole story and check back here for more updates.
Cucinapalooza is upon us once again. Our second annual installment of last year’s week long cooking tour designed not to enable our budding chefs to leave here thinking that they can cook like an Umbrian but so they can return home knowing they can more think like an Umbrian cook. Continue reading Cucinapalooza II→
“Regrets. I’ve had a few. But then again, to few to mention”
— Frank Sinatra, My Way
Perhaps a sign of a good life, or at least a charmed life, is being able to look back without a great deal of regret. Such has been my life. And one of my biggest regrets was not having a camera that day in the stazione Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Continue reading Pheasant Dreams→
We’ve written before about Teatro del Sale, the Florentine members-only social/supper club operated by the owner of the city’s renowned Cibreo restaurant. But the opportunity to have lunch at Teatro is one of the main reasons that drew us back to Florence for our brief two day, beginning-of-the-trip excursion. That and trying to unlock the mystery of what makes Teatro del Sale so special and how we could translate its concept into the new Bella Italia. Continue reading Membership Has its Rewards→
We’ve written before about Teatro del Sale, the Florentine members-only social/supper club operated by the owner of the city’s renowned Cibreo restaurant. ...
Viaumbria
[via_heading class="stay_in"]stay in the know[/via_heading]
Ischia. How many people have even heard the name? And how many have visited? Its next door neighbor Capri has captured the imagination of the international jet set. They and their wannabe hangers on jam Capri port, fill its restaurants and make the island a daytripper’s paradise. But Ischia? Poor and undiscovered (or underdiscovered) Ischia is not poor at all. It is the real deal. Continue reading Another Day Another Island 
It’s always so hard to say goodbye. To let go. It is even harder when you are saying goodbye to Capri. 
After four days in Capri we arrive in Ischia, Capri’s larger but less well known neighbor. There’s plenty of ferry traffic from Capri to Ischia but we have to search a bit to find ferries going the other way. It’s worth it though. We arrive on Ischia Saturday afternoon for a return visit to the Mezzatorre hotel, the luxe hotel we discovered last year and which will be our home for the next week as we begin our week long scuola di vela sailing school on island. 
“You are people that want to learn about other cultures, that enjoy meeting people and getting to know about them and where they come from, who are curious to see more than what you can see from a tour bus.”
The term “island life” conjures up some pretty powerful images in most peoples’ minds. Visions of bronze skin – radiant skin, really – not so much as a result of the constant absorption of UV rays from the everpresent sun, but an inner radiance that comes from a contentment and happiness of being one of the chosen few privileged enough to reside apart from the world, in one’s own private paradise. 
Campania, the Italian region south of Rome that calls Naples its capital, is rightly known for its sunsplashed coastline, fun loving inhabitants and great food and wine. On our first full day here we can vouch for all of the above. 
An uneventful flight from Charlotte to Rome marks our summer 2014 return to Italy. The beginning of our summer odyssey of sun and islands, the countryside and world class jazz and finally a long overdue reunion with one of our first Italian friends who now resides, of all places, in France. Strap on your seatbelt, make sure your tray table is in its full, upright position and get ready to join us for five weeks as we dolce vita our way through the land where the term was invented. 
Yesterday’s main Cucinapalooza activity featured a visit to the Perugina chocolate factory for a three hour class in chocolate making. Head over to 
Cucinapalooza is upon us once again. Our second annual installment of last year’s week long cooking tour designed not to enable our budding chefs to leave here thinking that they can cook like an Umbrian but so they can return home knowing they can more think like an Umbrian cook. 
“Regrets. I’ve had a few. But then again, to few to mention”
We’ve written before about