Thursday, September 29, 2011

Eat Here

  The S Fashion Cafe has become our favorite pizzeria in Torino for the following reasons:

1. It's on the bottom floor of our apartment building so the commute can't be beat. (this is especially great for wine drinking as we won't need a designated driver).

2. They have 2 kitchens. One for a full pasta menu and another just to make pizzas.

3. It is owned by a local celebrity. An Italian TV actor.
4. It's crazy full of art work. 
5. You can sit inside or outside, both have great views of Piazza Carlo Alberto.

Check out the menu here: I recommend the Tonno Pasta Puttanesca and the Tre Stagione pizza. Both delish!
Via Cesare Battisti, 13
Torino
Telefono: 0115160085

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Italian Kids


 This kid was who was sitting on his fancy bike inside the McDonalds was decked out in true Italian style, head to toe name brands. He was wearing an Armani tee shirt, Adidas kicks, Oakley sunglasses, and a gold bracelet.

P.S. Thanks for all of your comments on my Venice post!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Insanity of Venice

For it's true marvels and unique atmosphere, Veneiza has to be the most romantic place on earth. The problem is everyone on earth wants a piece of that unique atmosphere.
This trip to the city on water was my second and so I was able to see things a little differently this time.We did a lot of sitting and watching. Watching the tourists and the locals intermingle. Watching the mailman deliver the post by boat. Watching the empty palazzo next to our hotel being turned into an H&M.
You can't say that only in recent times has Venice become such a tourist trap. It was founded by people who were fleeing the Goths and thought that it's harsh marshy lands would make a good hiding place. They were right. They invented an entire new way of building just to survive there. Over time it became the most cosmopolitan city, trading sea port, and major Grand Tour stop which ment that everyone who was anyone went to Venice. So really it's just a thousand years of tradition that makes the world flock there by the millions.
But, that thousand years of experience at tourism doesn't seem to make Venice any less insane. There was graffiti all over the Rialto Bridge. There was a huge advertisement covering the Bridge of Sighs. The Gondola "parking lot" is in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.
Still everyone should see Venice at least once in their lifetime. It's a marvel of genius engineering combined with some of greatest art the world has known. Have you been? Do you agree?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

My Yes and Yes Mini Travel Guide

  I love love love Sarah von Bargen's super fun blog Yes and Yes (subtitled: Because yes is more fun than no).
So I lucked out when I got to write a Mini Travel Guide on Torino for her blog. Most of her travel guides are about 3 things to do and eat in one country. But choosing only 3 things to eat in all of Italy was impossible. Really, I tried. Luckily Sarah accepted my story choosing 3 things to do and eat in Torino. Check out my 3 picks here!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sweet and Salty Gelato

  I'm traveling in Venice (photos to come) but for now I have to share the fantastic new flavors at Grom this month. I tried both and I have to give points to creativity.

The flavors:
1. Salted Caramel
2. Sweet Ricotta and Almond
Have you tried them?

Friday, September 16, 2011

Where Did This Come From?

 In Rapallo, I took off the plain white couch covers to give them a good wash and look what was underneath. I had no idea!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Nooks and Crannies: The Bathroom

Continuing in the effort to discover my design style, which I'm calling Cafe Culture Contempary, defined in my last home post, here is a post showing the nooks and crannies of my Torino bathroom.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Door Series #49

Sunday, September 11, 2011

To all the American expats all over the world...

I know that no matter where you are or live, today we are united. Sending all my LOVE to the US from Italy,

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Castle on a Hill

  I'm just gonna say it, our hotel in Montalcino (Castello di Velona) was a-mazing! It was on a hill with the best views anyone could find. Call me crazy but I swear that the moon is bigger in Tuscany. So between the hotel, views, and the moon I kept thinking that I was in a dream....and then I was attacked by misquitos and I snapped out of it.

Let me show you a little peek of the best spots of our hotel.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Inside a Tuscan Cheese Shop

 You can smell Pecorino wafting from a Tuscan cheese shop from the end of the street. The delightful aroma is hard to miss. It draws me in because I am quite the pecorino groupie.
We went to Pienza to buy some Pecorino. After a tasting we selected a lovely cheese not too hard, not too soft and sort of creamy.
 This tasting came with sides flavors of honey, pepper and orange, green tomato jam, and onion jam.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

We are in Tuscany!

 Lucky us Pier's dad has his 60th birthday this week and we have come to Montalcino in Tuscany to celebrate it! We are staying in beautiful castle hotel on the top of a hill with the best Tuscan vistas.
Our first night we had a rustic Tuscan dinner and I was so excited to order and try some things that I have never tried before like...Panezella
Tuscan meats, cheeses, and onion bruschetta
and wild boar stew (which is delecious!)
More of our trip tomorrow....

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

KCC is Better than Ever!

Anybody read the book yet?