Heading to Italy for a little under a month, in Sept.
Going to be in Venice, Bologna, Tuscany (Chianti), Naples, Rome areas with day trips out to some other places.
I know I'm in wine country, but, other than the birthplace of the Bellini, and imbibing copious amounts of Campari.....any other "must sees" cocktail wise?
Any overall suggestions? We are winging half the trip, and have half booked already.
http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com - I cook a lot and take a rediculous amount of pictures...
Anyone?
According to our membership map, we have 1 member in Rome, and 2 members near Naples. I'll ping them and see if they can provide any guidance.
...and of course Dom Costa should be able to provide some input as well! Dom?
Just wanted to update this thread....My honeymoon was awesome 23 days in Italy was MUCH better than a stinkin' wedding!
We went mainly based on our love of food, which was awesome, but since this is a cocktail forum, I'll update on that.
All of my pictures can be found here...http://rtimko.smugmug.com/Vacations-and-Trips/Italy-2009
While I didn't have any old-fashioneds, sazeracs, or martini's in Italy, what I did have was many a apertivo. First off, love the concept over there and wish we had it here. Daily cocktails (i should say, a single cocktail as no one appeared to order more than 1 usually, and sipped it very slowly) with friends before dinner, accompanied by a plethora of munchies! Love that concept. And in a place that functions as a cafe in the morning, gelateria in the afternoon and a bar at night!
Mainly drank capari and soda, already in the bottle camparisoda, aperol and soda, negroni, spritz.
had a bellini at Harry's bar
in Venice... I must say, while venice was overall touristy, and I thought this place would be touristy x2, it was, but it wasn't. Still had a great time...arrived at 12noon to see many people gettting turned down for wearing shorts, and we just (dressed in pants) walked right in and had a seat at the 6 man bar!
had some digestivo a lot too.. surprisingly my wife loved it. She's a keeper. Here is a picture of me, raiding the apertivo buffet! Screw bar peanuts...the Italians have it RIGHT with bar snacks!
I don't know the name of any place we really had apertivo's at, but it doesn't matter, as they are on every corner...sometimes 4 at every corner. Stayed at a really nice sustainable farm-to-table place in Tuscany, La Petraia http://www.lapetraia.com/ they made a nice prosecco and blackberry perfume apertivo. also had some farm made mead
stayed at a nice B&B in Positano, If i recommend 1 B&B the whole trip, this is the one. Casa Celeste.
This lady spoke not a LICK of english, but fed (sometimes forcefully!) us homemade lemoncello and lemon creme daily!!
the family owned a bar on the small beach, (ferdanando)
This is Marco who ran the bar with his brother. Just awesome relaxation here. And watching his brother go out fishing, then seeing it on the dinner table that night was fantastic.
Mom (and dad later on, to play cards!) would climb the 350 steps down to the beach daily...(let me tell you, I'm running the NYC marathon in Nov, and even I was winded!) Just something out of a book. Amalfi coast is pretty touristy, but this place made the trip there worth it! True hospitality.
Great report and great pictures! Thanks!
Rob,
Thanks for sharing!
Now my fellow Jersey-ite, as I am very envious of you trip and available time for such a trip, I wish you healthy children! (This way you'll be as house bound as me!)
I kid. Congrats on your recent nuptials!
Rich
Now that the new-born is no longer "new" and more importantly sleeping, I'm back at it!
Robert Hess: According to our membership map, we have 1 member in Rome, and 2 members near Naples. I'll ping them and see if they can provide any guidance.
Hey,don't forget your member based in Genoa
"I even once heard the story of a man who was allergic to himself"- David A. Embury
how'd I get the time off?
Well, I didn't really "ask"...just kinda "told" and hoped for the best....when your boss is a state away, it makes it easier to flub how long you are actually going on vacation!!!
If by any chance your trip goes anywhere near by Genova ( by the way worth visiting) you should head to a place called Chiavari. It is about a good 20 km from Genova city and in Chiavary there is plave called Moda Cafe. It is runned by a friend with whom worked together in London.
http://www.modachiavari.com/
Worth visiting.Z.