From April 29, 2016 to May 15, 2016
Milano MIC – Interactive Museum of Cinema presents,
GREGORY PECK, A FLAWLESS STYLE, 
retrospective that traces the extraordinary career of the star, 100 years after his birth, the unforgettable protagonist of great masterpieces such as Hitchcock‘s Spellbound , Huston‘s Moby Dick and Wyiler’s Roman Holiday
Info, calendar and schedules at MIC 
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BOUTIQUE HOTEL CASA ANGELINA, AMALFI COAST
by Cesare Zucca 
Three ‘Nobel’ days in Oslo Stay at the Grand Hotel
3 HOTELS ROOF TOPS you don’t want to miss
by Cesare Zucca
Discovering beautiful Poland POZNAN by Cesare Zucca
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL Phnom Penh
BEST ‘KIDS FRIENDLY’ MUSEUMS IN NEW YORK
Children’s Museum of The Arts (103 Charlton St) invita all’arte, coinvolgendo i bambini in disinvolte classi di pittura, ceramica, scultura e musica.
New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring St) organizza Safety Tour, una vera lezione sul fuoco con tanto di simulazione di incendio, dove un vigile newyorkese insegnerà le tecniche di salvataggio.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83 St) è un immenso asilo stile Disneyland con cinque piani di attrazioni, giochi educativi, passatempi intelligenti e divertimento, da Let’s Dance, spazio interattivo dedicato ai bambini che amano ballare, a Art, Artists & You dove i piccoli si improvvisavo artisti .
Natural History Museum (CPW/79 St) ospita The Butterfly Conservatory, una foresta con più di 500 farfalle da tutto il mondo.
You just don’t realize how lucky you were when your join the guided 3,30-hour food tour organized by VisitLLjubljana.com managed by the Tourism Office of Ljubljana until you experience it. 
They offer numerous guided city tours including the Historical City Centre and Ljubljana Castle revolving around history, art and landmarks, whether on foot, bicycle or on a boat cruising the river.
There is no other way to sample the incredible diversity of Slovenian food in so little time and in such a fun and well-paced way.
Slovenia is a small country yes, but it counts no less than 24 gastronomic regions.
Ljubljana, reminding me of Paris in a way, is pretty much in the center of the country and, as a capital, has attracted many food vendors and restaurateurs to benefit from the largest concentration of population (and tourists) of the country. But, right off the bat, let me tell you that, at no point, do you feel shepherded to a pasture of touristic traps you would have found on your own. The choice is balanced between food shops and restaurants, clearly very carefully picked.
Also, it isn’t a gorging party:
at the end of the tour, you feel satiated, without ever feeling over full!. As all good cooking requests, things started with the sourcing of ingredients: the market!
And Ljubljana is blessed, right in its center with a human sized, yet substantial farmer’s market, with one section dedicated to only certified organic vendors. I had noticed on my way to the tour some beautiful chanterelle mushrooms, as well as yellow broad beans that I had never encountered before. Lucky enough, I was able to find them again and was met with the most charming smile the seller could have shared.
Then, we got to visit the permanent covered market, a beautiful building along the riverbank. That was like entering a world of its own. Gorgeous charcuterie, cheeses, breads (got a loaf of this dark and dense bread, yet moist and oh! so tasty). A separate section is dedicated to fish, perhaps for temperature and odor control. Whatever the reason might be, I was really impressed by the display of fish available and the absence actually of any strong fishy smell. Slovenia is known mainly as an inland country, but it does have a little bit of coast on the Adriatic Sea and they sure know how to source the best of what can come out of it. Everything looked so fresh, a real temptation for any cook.
But carrying fish on ice for the rest of the tour was NOT going to happen!
We met our lovely guide Simona in Ciril-Metodov, the cobblestoned main street. She took us at Klòbasarna, where we had the first tasting: a warm smoked sausage form the Carniola region just South of Austria, in other words at the Northern end of Slovenia. Made of the finest pieces of pork, this sausage neither greasy nor too dry, just hit the spot accompanied by a light red wine, a little horseradish and mustard which I loved. 
Simona took us in more that 7 venues, specialized in different specialties, from the syrups and the honeys of Dobrote-Dolenjske, to the traditional cake prekmurska gibanica homemade at
Gujzina
I won’t be going in the detail of all the things tasted, either in gastronomic shops or in restaurants… I want you to go and experience it for yourself. Besides beef tongue, fried chicken, honey (Slovenia is Europe’s largest producer per capita), my heart will go for this humble dish of mashed potatoes with sautéed onions and bits of bacon that we tasted at a very special restaurant, Druga Violina, where all the members of the staff suffer from some form of disability or another. It felt really good to contribute to this effort to support the community and, let’s be frank, it also tasted soooo good, just by itself. 
With influences coming from all neighboring countries (Italy, Austria, Hungry and Croatia), tucked between sea, plains, forests and mountains, the small country of Slovenia is rich of diversity and, if this three-hour tour cannot cover everything, it sure serves as the best introduction one can hope to taste in this timeframe!
Tours priced at 52€ everything included,
To make a reservation
For more info www.visitLjubljana.com
Slovenia. Bled, about an hour North of the capital Ljubljana to the North-West of Slovenia. Rather than the town it is the beautiful lake that gives the name Bled, famous among the European elite as early as the 1930’s with the construction of a luxurious hotel providing natural hot spring source knowned for health benefits.I
am talking of the Grand Hotel Toplice, a venue that boasts a rich history, a magical location, gorgeous alpine and lake views and sumptuously comfortable, elegantly styled rooms.
Each of the rooms and suites at Grand Hotel Toplice has its own unique character and are traditionally styled with beautiful parquet floors, 
rich furniture and beautiful paintings with many of the rooms benefiting from breathtakingly beautiful lake views. The hotel has been recently renovated and restored to its former glory and is one of the best hotels in Slovenia as well as being a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection.
It has hosted many eminent guests and is frequented by celebrities such as Vivian Leigh, Arthur Miller, Pablo Neruda, King Hussein of Jordan, Paul McCartney and…me, with my best friend-chef-writer Philip Sinsheimer, graciously hosted by Sava hotel and resort group that manage the venue.
Starting from the impeccable reception. the hotel boasts luxurious accommodation, few restaurant, a bar and the enchantment of Lake Bled. 
All rooms and suites are individually decorated in an enchanting and traditional style, lavishly equipped with an excellent range of facilities, a relaxing thermal swimming pool and benefit from different saunas, wellness services and a solarium among a private lido,
where Philip (expert swimmer) dived in the limpid lake water while me (lazy man…) was indulging in a relaxing sunbathing. We dedicated the morning ( when the light is best) to row to the island where the minuscule baroque chapel.I was anxious to hear the bells rings, because 
I knew about the legend wich narrates that around the year 1500, the leaseholder of Lake Bled at the time, Hartman Kreigh, disappeared. People said he was killed. Sad for the events, the Lady of the Castle collected all of her precious golden jewellery to be melted down and casted into a bell for the chapel on the island of the Lake, so that the bell would toll in remembrance of beloved companion. They say the bell has a magic power, when it rings, you should make 3 wishes and wait for them to become real. We did 99 steps and finally we arrived at the church, where the view is really breathtaking and, yes, we waited for the bell… Not sure my wishes are becoming a reality, we ll see….
A true wish coming true was the splendid dinner we were invited for dinner at Julijana Restaurant where Chef Bertoncelj prepared a great dinner.
I leave Philip the privilege of writing about it, since he is a chef and a food blogger.
GRANDE CUISINE BY THE LAKE
This historic landmark now called the Grand Hotel Toplice, operated by the Sava hotel and resort group, has managed to preserve the relics of the past with grand salons adorned with memorabilia pictures and bring all the comfort of modernity at the same time.
This delicate balance between past was brilliantly reflected in the cuisine of the executive chef Simon Bertoncelj and the whole crew under him. Having dinner at the gastronomic Julijana Restaurant, especially if the weather allows to eat al fresco facing the lake is a moment of bliss: the quality of service, attention to detail and classic decor evoke a certain respect of classical elegance. This doesn’t constrain the cuisine to old classics, and the chef’s creativity and modern techniques seem to find their place very naturally in this elegant environment.
The mise en bouche consisting of a delicately baked oyster and a buttery giant shrimp had all the signs of what you can expect in a palace restaurant: prime quality ingredients simply treated. This seafood opening was in synch with the view of the water even though it wasn’t the sea. As I were to learn later by the chef, unfortunately, as beautiful as it is, the lake doesn’t often yield the quantity of fish needed to take place on the menu.
The mushroom cappuccino with porcini had the depth of flavor one can only get in top notch restaurants, served piping hot but adorned with the freshness of a few micro greens scattered on top rather than the old habit of a dollop of cream and a few chives. 
Fresh too was the vitello tonnato inspired salad, bright and lively. Here, as in all the great restaurants experienced in Slovenia, the wine list paid homage to the country’s fine wines, such as the 2017Verus Chardonnay from Stajerska, the western part of the Podravje region in the North of the country.
At last a chardonnay that can showcase both concentration of flavors and freshness in the 
palate with a mere 13° alcohol content.The shining fish course was a thick and moist turbot filet, perfectly cooked and adorned by a beautiful composition of vegetables and foamy grapefruit sauce. Here again: classic base and modern composition. Though generous, nothing was heavy, and the beautiful matured saddle of veal served pink with a herb crust was still welcome. 
To finish, the iconic Bled Cream Cake, which recipe goes back to 1953 and is secretly kept by the Sava hotels group. The result was up to the legend. Even though I really do not have much of a sweet tooth, and I have had my share of mille-feuilles in France, this raised version of the classic with just two layers of perfectly crisp puffed pastry holding a firm custard covered by a layer of lighter whipped cream is to die for…
Chef Simon Bertoncelj, who has worked under the commands of Gordon Ramsey, seems rather poised and discreet, but if you really want to find out, he opens his kitchen to a guest table of 2 to 6 people for a 7-course menu cooked and served, right before their eyes…and ears!
For more info
Julijana Restaurant
Grand Hotel Toplice
Cesta svobode 12, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
+386 4 579 10 00
Cesta svobode 12, 4260 Bled, Slovenija
Hotel Hellsten is located in the heart of Stockholm and is the ideal starting point for all those who are visiting the City, since the attractions and sites of interest are reachable by public transport within easy reach including the subway that is just round the corner.
The next street is the busy Sveavägen, Stockholm”s only real boulevard. The hotel is just around the corner from the underground (metro) stop Rådmansgatan.
The locality is one of the most exciting in Stockholm, with a multitude of different restaurants within a few minutes walking distance. It is also a short walk from Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historic and beautiful old town. I loved the area, and the next busy street Sveavägen, so alive and full of restaurants, shops and…barbers & haidressers,don’t ask me why, but very useful…
The rooms are divided into various types depending on the services they offer, mostly in different styles, some have canopy bed, some are equipped with the classic Swedish fireplace called kakelugnar, light rays, wooden panels, even a private sauna,
The walls are painted with warm colors that span from orange to red, to blue, to purple.
All rooms have private new bathrooms, TV, telephone, free wired internet access and a hairdryer. They are non-smoking as well as the entire structure.
My room had a cosy little terrace.
Here and there I found exotic touches, my guide explained that Mr.Hellsten, owner of Hellsten, Rex and the newest Hellsten Glashus, is an enthusiastic traveller who likes to collect items from his trips. I loved the african masks !
You have a colonial-style bar where coffee and tea are served 24 hours for free. Great idea! 
Every Thursday Hellsten Earth Bar transforms into one of Stockholm’s premier jazz venues. Exciting live acts on stage at 8pm and on the last Thursday of each month you are welcome to jam with the band, just bring your instruments or vocals, and the entrance is free..
Comfy beds and an excellent breakfast buffet that included pancakes, cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, lots of fruits and the traditional Swedish meatballs and served in a sunny and spacious veranda.
Add Hotel Hellsten on your next trip to Stockholm!
For more info
http://hellsten.se/en/Hotel_Hellsten
In my last trip to Hamburg I got the chance to visit and stay in Hotel Gastwerk and The George, two great properties owned by Fortune Hotels Group.
They have different style and decor, both friendly, welcoming and worth to spend one (or few) nights there.
Let’s start with the industrial red bricks Gastwerk. The name says it all, It was a squared and rigorous red bricks gas factory. Roughly 120 years ago, the old gas plant provided light to the streets and houses in West Hamburg. In the impressive and carefully restored industrial building, built with brick and steel, modern design and historical architecture form a fascinating harmonic setting. Gastwerk is first Hamburg’s design hotel.
The building welcomed me with a large hall with a wide, meticulously well lighted reception and two unforgettable metal elevators, one red and one yellow lighted. The industrial adventure was already starting…
141 rooms, lofts and suites, some with modern walls with a contemporary feeling, some with bricks walls (I love them), like the loft-like one where I was staying, giving the perfect atmosphere of and warehouse. 
In addition to that Gastwerk boasts a configurable conference area, the Mangold restaurant (I didn’t dine there, so no idea of the food) the L.BAR, the beautiful SPA, free parking spaces in front of the hotel and underground. 
Here and there you’ll discover classy touches of fresh flowers, old black and white pictures, original gas machines, and a splendid old water boiler.
The second Fortune Hotel is The George, located in the hearth of the vibrant Saint George area. 
This venue is a triumphant tribute to the apotheosis of a ‘boutique hotel’ concept, where design meets furniture, lighting and that smell of trendyness…
This reinterpretation of English style in Hamburg results in rooms swathed in warm colors ranging from cocoa to Champagne,
lamps with delightful pleated shades and stylish wallpaper in a variety of designs. 
Super comfy mattresses, a nice view of the Lake Alster, not to mention that sweet & cute ‘Welcome Cesare’… 
The George Hotel is a four-pearl property flush with a Great-Britain-in-the-’60s design, with 125 stylish rooms that all have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free weight, a party-vibe bar, the supercool rooftop Campari Lounge in the terrace with a spectacular view of the Alster, 
a defined breakfast buffet that included a fine selection of cold cuts, imported cheeses, fruits and vegetables, 
and…
Yes! there is Da Caio, italian restaurant (where I could not resist peeping at the menu, which I found correct in dishes choices and…right spelling, which is always a good sign for an Italian eating in an Italian restaurant abroad…
Here info
Hotel Gastwerk
The George,
Fortune Hotels Group.
I suggest you to do the same. Rossana told me a quite cute legend about a raw linen made tent (they called it velarium) that used to be opened up to protect from the sun and give some shade to the audience while watching the show, or function as a bug umbrella in case of rain.
Wines top quality wines including Malvasia (one of my favorites) the most famous Istrian wines produced from indigenous white grapes. and Teran, a rich red wine, intensely purple colored, able to compet with the Italian ones but less expensive. 
Have fun, look around, bargain!
Smile!
Dental tourism, is hot in Croatia, organized groups come here and put their teeth in place with low-budget, cheaper prices, excellent quality, good materials and expert dentist.
Chichen Itza, located inland of the Yucatan Peninsula, about 200 km East of Cancun, is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with over 2.6 million tourists in 2017.
Do the math… .
That’s on average over 7000 visitors a day. Even though the site is not limited to the iconic Kukulcàn pyramid (photo 1) and covers a very large area (over 300 hectares), that is a lot of human flesh roaming around! Especialy when one considers that the most popular way to visit the Unesco world heritage site is via tour operators organizing day trips from Cancun or Merida, creating a huge influx of fully loaded buses arriving around 11 AM or so every day. Arriving with the sun at its hottest among hordes of tourists had always been a deterring idea to me. I had sacrificed the visit of wholly site during my passed 3 visits of Yucatan, favoring the ruins of Tulum and Cuba, less crowded and still awesome examples of the might and splendor of the Mayan civilization. 
For this fourth visit this last spring, I was determined to visit the legendary Chichen Itza in the best way possible. Staying overnight at the Hacienda Chichen revealed to be the smartest answer possible. Smart because by staying overnight in this historic hotel located a few hundred feet from the archeological site enables to start exploring the grounds as early as 8 AM, before the arrival of the crowds. Smart, because the hotel combines genuine elegance and great service while respecting authenticity and ecological responsibility. Follow me, let me show you the way…When I arrived from Tulum around noon at the Chichen Itza bus terminal, I was left at the main entrance of the site in one of the largest parking lots I have ever seen: hundreds of buses still unloading their loads of tourists from every continent. The line to the ticket booth was long, the heat dreadful. 
Instead of joining the frenzy, I hopped in a cab and 10 minutes later, I was discovering the old-world charm of the Hacienda Chichen. The check in was a breeze and the welcoming cocktail made of pineapple and Chaya leaf juice refreshing as heaven (pic 3). I was later to learn that it had been freshly made from the organic garden of the property, providing a lot of the fruits, vegetables and herbs used by the kitchen
The front desk offered to arrange the purchase of my ticket to visit the site the next morning, without any surcharge, avoiding the hassle to wait in line. They also offered the possibility to have a legitimate private guide for the visit, but as usual, I declined in order to feel totally free and visit at my own pace. The afternoon was mine to relax and enjoy what the Hacienda had to offer. The 28 rooms set in a total of 12 cottages spread out on the lush grounds were originally built to host archeologists who helped excavate the site. 
Now they are opened to all offering soothing air conditioning, large bed, beautiful sheets, large bathrooms, fresh flowers and hammocks on the front porch for those eager to adopt the Mayan way to take a nap at the sound of singing birds
Another way to relax in a horizontal way is to indulge in one of the treatments at the Yaxkin spa. And that’s exactly what I did, with the 45-minute Pakal treatment, a Maya healing ritual focusing on the head and the upper body. The soul is also soothed by an initial prayer in Mayan language by my charming therapist.
I loved the fact that the room was very large, not one of those cubicles where on feels locked up. The outside garden was present in the room with the use of various herbs and plants, including a refreshing aloe vera jelly applied on the face.Totally relaxed, I finished the afternoon by lingering by the superb swimming pool, large and square as I like them to do laps at length. 
.Recycled and chemical-free water added a guilt free sensation to the overall pleasure. 
Time went by and before I knew it was time to meet the general manager for a grand tour of the property, including the restored church where weddings can be organized, surrounded by the beautifully maintained vegetation).
No wedding the evening of my stay, but I still felt like a very special person, enjoying an evening drink on the beautiful front patio at the sound of a traditional trio singing deep from the heart local ballads.
For dinner, I ventured across the street to the humbler Villas Areological hotel (http://www.villasarqueologicas.com.mx/chichen-itza.html)
that I wanted to check out for its restaurant serving a variety of traditional dishes from Yucatan. 
The best, by far, was the cream of Chaya soup and I appreciated the selection of Mexican wines. The night was young, but the day had been long, so I was eager to return to my beautiful room for a good night sleep. At 8:20 Am, I recuperated my ticket to visit the site and was guided to the private entrance specific to the Hacienda. I was alone when I crossed the gate and after a ten-minute walk, I was facing the beautiful Mayan pyramid with the company of a couple of iguanas, but not another human soul. 
The morning air was cool, and the silence only broken by singing birds. All the merchants on the way were focused on unpacking their things, leaving me unburdened. Besides the famous pyramid, I loved walking through the gigantic ball game field practically alone
As well as discovering the sacred cenote (sinkhole) and the perfectly aligned columns without the eye sore of groups of tourists ruining the geometry of the monuments. 
After three hours of walking at my own pace, I went back to the Hacienda, walking against the growing flow of visitors and the solicitations of the souvenir vendors, they were in full swing mode, trying to sell their T-shirts and miniature statues probably made in China!
The heat had risen and a last dip in the pool after a refreshing outdoor shower felt like pure bliss. At noon I was packed and ready to leave this magical place. 
A short taxi ride took me to the small town of Piste where I tasted a delicious and original pozole de coco, lightly sweetened and perfectly chilled (pic 20), then hopped on a collective to reach Valladolid after 24 hours of total serenity, visiting the most famous Mayan site in the best way possible…
the nontouristytourist way!
Text and photos by Philip Sinsheimer
| HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT AND YAXKIN SPA
http://www.haciendachichen.com Tel: +52 999 920 8407
|
In summer Copenhagen is an ideal destination: favorable weather, long and sunny days, smiling, polite and serene people. 
It seems that everyone here discovers the secret of happiness: hygge, a Danish word that invites you to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and live alone or with friends, at home or outside, special and happy moments.
Find yourself singing on the beach around a bonfire, 
have a nice picnic at the park, attend an outdoor concert, participate in a street festival or take a bike ride … these and more are the little pleasures of life that feed the hygge spirit in the life of the Danes.
To find out right away just do this test . The result is a real personalized treatment based on hygge, released with all the tips on how to get it on a trip to Denmark.
Useful and precious, a true friend! I’m talking about the Copenhagen Card, 
a pass that allows you to visit as many as 86 museums and attractions, use all public transportation for free and benefit from discounts on tours, bars and restaurants.
I also used it for a tour of the canals and the port. 1 hour, audiogude in all languages, a show of ancient and modern architecture, a sea of photos. passing the numerous bridges of the city. But pay attention to be seated: the bridges are very low and the risk to bump your head on it, it s quite possible.
Tivoli
The oldest playground in the world. You will skip over breathtaking roller coasters,you will be projected into space, you will remain suspended in the air more than a thousand other rides in the charming gardens where the oriental facade of beautiful
Hotel Nimb stands out.
After the aerial acrobatics, I finally relaxed in the Brasserie, famous Nimb restaurant,
French cuisine, refined menu, excellent wine list, good service and relaxing atmosphere (apart from the crowded side room that celebrated a noisy birthday…)
I tasted the Chef’s specialties, a delicate mollusk bisque served with scampi and carrots, a crunchy turbot à la meunière, sprinkled with lemon drops, ending with a puff pastry stuffed with strawberries and cream,
all paired to my favorite Sancerre Domaine de La Garenne, deliciously fruity, In short, a dinner worthy of the unique atmosphere of the location.
Copenhagen history boasts of royalties and magnificent castles,Here my favorites
Amalienborg Palace, a must for anyone with a taste for royal history and the life of Denmark’s royal family who still resides inside the palace. 
Experience royal history at the museum and sense the present of one of the world’s oldest monarchies from the beautiful palace square where you can watch the changing of its famous guards called Den Kongelige Livgarde. Every day you can experience the changing of the guards, as they march from their barracks in 100 Gothersgade by Rosenborg Castle through the streets of Copenhagen and end up at Amalienborg, where the changing of the guard takes place at 12:00 noon.
Christiansborg Palace famous for its hall covered with 17 giant tapestries, which tell 1000 years of Danish history, It is a gift from The Danish business community in occasion of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe 50th birthday,. Bjørn Nørgaard painted the full-size sketches upon which the tapestries were woven. 
These impressive royal rooms host the official receptions in the presence of the Queen, between a sparkle of uniforms and great evening gowns. Better to avoid arriving by car or taxi, the protocol prefers that the guests present themselves in a carriage…
As a food lover, I could not resist the temptation to descend into the legendary Royal Kitchens to discover the background of an official banquet, browse the Queen’s recipes and admire one of the largest collections of copper crockery in Europe.
To be or not to be…
I recommend a small excursion outside the city. Helsingør 30 minutes by train.
The famous Castle of Kronborg, better known as Hamlet’s house, reigns there. In fact, here Shakespeare set his drama. 
Gossips say that the writer had never been there, but would have been an actor in his company to tell him about this mighty fortress, from whose park, littered with cannons, you can glimpse Sweden. Suddenly the walls resound with the voices of the characters of Hamlet, which appear, like ghosts, perfectly interpreted by talented actors who bring to life the tragic events of the drama, 
You could spend a whole day in Kronborg, and live many experiences, guided tours through the casemates and the halls, explore the passages and towers, see a play and relax admiring the sea – but if you prefer, you can get an idea Kronborg concrete even in just one hour. Kronborg is open all year round (except 1st January, 24th, 25th and 31st December) from 11am to 4pm. In the summer (June, July and August) the schedule is extended: from 10.30am to 5.30pm.
After all that drama I needed a…great meal and I went to the renowned restaurant Brasserie 1861, where I met the Chef. 
His name is Casper Stuhr Sobczyk I can describe him as a gentle viking with the sweetest smile and… smoked sardines tattooed in his arm.
They called him ‘the king of herbs ‘for his passion for vegetables and fresh products from the field. His passions are: fish, molluscs, entrails as lamb’s brain, (not so popular in the quite skeptic Northern Europe), He started with French cuisine, passed to the molecular and ended up with mixing them two styles. ‘I like to play with the ingredients, says Casper, like for example, pairing strawberries to balsamic vinegar. I worked in Danmark a lot, including the Copenhagen National Library. I got good reviews and I started my new adventure here at Marienlyst Hotel, In my my fridge at home, there is always place for eggs, probably because my wife loves them, lot of vegetables and of course several max sizei Pepsi. I Love Pepsi… ‘His friendly Verona born partner Fabio Ciccarelli started serving a surprising 
appetizer: a revolutionary version of the traditional blini, made with caviar white sturgeon, to be mixed to crème fraiche on herbal waffle. The ingredients just melt perfectly together.
Then a salted unusually cooked burned salmon, followed by a mackerel with foie gras, green peas. As a main dish , I tasted halibut with asparagus that burned for few minutes to maintain the crunchiness.
Every dish was so intense, so fresh and so herbal.
No wonder why Chef Sobczyk is the ‘king of herbs…
’In the summer, Denmark is a foodies paradise with its festivals and gastronomic events Do not miss the Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival from August 24th to September 2nd, during which Copenhagen becomes a huge Nordic restaurant and definitely stop at the new street food Reffen, 
an urban playground recently opened, that mixes crafts and culture.
Reffen is a place where the people of Copenhagen are invited to take part in the development. 54 start-ups in the form of food stalls, bars and creative workshops many confirming the dogmas “Reduce and Reuse”.
Mermaid yes or no?
The most celebrated mermaid statue of The Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen’s children’s story, sitting on a stone at Langelinie in the harbor of Copenhagen, 
Denmark. Honestly I saw her from the boat and I have to say that the invading ‘selfie addicted crowd’ didn’t appeal to me… So I went at night, and here she was, alone, shining on the dark, mysterious and looking like wanting to splash in the water any minute,
That, I call a magic encounter with Miss Mermaid…
for more info
#visitdenmarkstories @govistdenmark.
I started my Hamburg experience with an avalanche of photos and selfies on board of the Stadtrundfahrt double-decker bus, providing earphones in all languages. In a couple of hours you’ll know the city, get off when you want, visit and get the next one. An indispensable tour, also in a mini-cruise version with Harbor Cruise You will enjoy the aquatic view of the city, of the immense port and of the colossal cargo ships with gigantic containers.
Hamburg means bricks, red bricks, so my next stop was Speicherstadt.
Almost a kilometer of old warehouses with typical red bricks, used as storage for incoming goods: oriental carpets, tea, raw coffee, cocoa, tobacco, spices. Among the attractions: a kaffeerösterei, an old coffee roaster, where you can also enjoy decadent cakes with strawberries and cream.
Chocoversum, a true chocolate triumph,
Manufactum a trendy shop and the Spice Museum where you will find and taste everything: European spices, Asian and Indian flavors, exotic perfumes, 50 varieties of pepper, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, mustard seeds and the most expensive ones: orchid vanilla and saffron.
Miniatur Wunderland Models of trains and landscapes in miniature? I was doubtful …well, I was amazed. Two huge floors where landscapes and cities of all the world have been meticulously reconstructed 
with airports, motorways, railways in great turmoil and crowded by a thousand minuscule people, including a team while washing Pope Francis car…
Travel and read.
130 bookshops stocked with second hand books! Passengers are allowed not only to read them during their journey ,but also to take them home.
Elbphilharmonie
Extraordinary glass structure, with windows that look like eyes. With its perfect acoustic, hosts concerts and shows. You get there with a spectacular 82 meter escalator that runs through The Plaza, from which you can enjoy a great view. 
Perfect location for a drink or a snack at the Beer & Dine and a little shopping in the well-stocked book, music and souvenir store. Tickets can be booked 18 weeks in advance and children up to three years do not pay.
Hamburg and its museums. I chose two. Kunsthalle, 700 years of art, from the great masters of the Renaissance until 1800 with Manet, Caspar David Friedrich, up to the German expressionism (which I adore) and the contemporary avant-garde .
MKG Great museum with unusual exhibits: famous deco posters, precious vintage pianos, sketches and 30s dresses, a space dedicated to design furniture, photo galleries avant – garde and much more.
It is true that the hamburger was born in Hamburg?
The most famous meatball in the world is ‘made in the USA’ or ‘made in Hamburg’?
The name would leave no doubt, but the Americans boast its paternity.
The Germans claim that it was cooked in the houses of Hamburg and then it was exported to the USA, while for the Americans it would be born in the port of Hamburg, a municipality located in the state of New York and the inventors would have been the Menches brothers who in 1885 would propose the first sandwich stuffed with meat during the country festival Erie County Fair.
Legends aside, here you will find space burgers. The best from Burger Lounge, Jim Block Jungfernstieg, Dulf’s Burger , Otto’s Burger Grindelhof and Schanze .
WHERE TO STAY
I tried two hotels, both experiences were great!
Novotel Hamburg City Alster Hotel
4-star hotel in the modern rooms and suites with a desk and free WIFI
Central location and U-Bahn station on our doorstep make the Novotel Hamburg City Alster hotel the ideal base in Hamburg. 5-minutes away from Alster-Schwimmhalle and within 20 minutes of English Theatre Of Hamburg. Highlights at this hotel include in-room free WiFi, free high-speed Internet, and LCD TVs. All 210 soundproofed rooms feature sofa beds, satellite TV, and separate bathtubs and showers. You’ll find nice touches like soaking tubs and free toiletries to enhance your stay. Coffee/tea makers, free newspapers, and safes are also available. Enjoy the fitness centre, Turkish bath/hammam, and sauna. Business amenities include a meeting room and a business centre. Added amenities include free WiFi in public areas and laundry facilities. Each morning excellent buffet breakfast is served between 6:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Sights within a 20-minute walk of this 4-star Hamburg-Nord hotel include Museum of Arts and Crafts Hamburg and Mundsburg Center. Enjoy the comfort of the sauna and the video games area. Rooms are spacious and bright, Super comfy bed…I slept like a baby!
Dining in is an option with room service, and minibars provide refreshments. I had a great lunch at the hotel stylish restaurant Novo2, and a nice chat with the executive Chef, who told me that his menu focuses on seasonal products and evergreen tasty meat. and suggested a juicy and tender La Maracho Rump Steak with sauteed vegetables and … a silver swan (just for decoration…) Novo2 is an innovative combination of a bar lounge , that offers delicious seasonal dishes and light snacks are served from 6.30am to 9.30pm. A cool spot where where you can have a nice glass of wine, like i did!
INFO
HafenCity. It is the new futuristic district of Hamburg, area of creatives and artists,
To get there they have specially built the metropolitan U4 line. in 3 stops from the center you have already arrived. Here you can breathe fresh air, the spaces are open and many Hamburgers get away from work to go for a drink or a snack.
I stayed at the brand new 25 Hours HafenCity Hotel where I had a great time. I felt like a sailor, the rooms look like a ship’s cabins, with prosperous painted models on the bathroom walls.
Here atmosphere is easy and relaxed , The motto says COME AS YOU ARE! There is also free access to a spectacular spa in stones and wood. In the morning a rich buffet breakfast is set up, there you can find everything, including rote gruetze, my beloved raspberry, blueberry and cherry sauce served on lean yogurt. Yummy!
What does a real Hamburger drink?
Beer, of course! It has been produced in Hamburg for over a millennium and has become an icon of German culture. Here some popular ones.
Ratsherrn, one of the city’s most famous artisan breweries From pilsner to light beers. Galopper des Jahres, popular and animated. The members of the staff are true fan of craft beer, so be sure to ask for their recommendations: they know what to suggest for every taste and palate. Blockbräu, a terrace with a wonderful view.
My favorite? Altes Mädchen An incredible variety of excellent local and around 70 international beers, also combined with tasty German specialties.Remember, the real Hamburger does not drink Coca Cola! 
The preferred alternative is fritz-kola, rich in caffeine and lemon. It was born in 2002, invented almost for fun by young friends Lorenz and Mirco and produced with a really amateur process. Imagine: the labels were photocopies and they were glued by hand on the bottle …
Today it is the national soft drink.
Red lights …
night and day!
The St. Pauli district was once a bad area full of noisy pubs, frequented by criminals, sailors and prostitutes. Today the taverns have become artistic skyscrapers, like the Dancing Towers, which seem to really dance, while the smoky haunts of the past have become fashionable places.
But the raunchy survived: sex shops, theaters, striptease, burlesque and the inevitable bouncers who invite you to enter. In addition to the ‘sensory’ attractions, the neighborhood is full of super-trendy shops, new boutiques, hip clubs and bars
Keep walking around the St.Pauli district,
head towards Markstrasse and the surroundings of KarolinenvIertel.
There You will find small bars, self-managed restaurants, flowers, perfumes, mini boutiques and lots of vintage. If you are ‘bio’ dive into the Rider Markt Halle, and a relaxing drink from Zoe the bar of the different sofas. For more chic and exclusive products, head to Hole Bleichen.
Then it comes the time for…
beauty and relaxation.
After a long walk, it is right to take a relaxing break in Jungfernstieg, in the heart of Hamburg with a fantastic view of the Alster river. Here Nivea Haus awaits for you, this is the official store of the famous face cream, born in Hamburg in 1929. Here you can find classic or brand new creams for face and body, cosmetics, revitalizing treatments, relaxing massages, as well as manicures and pedicures. 
Plus a really cute souvenir: your ‘Nivea’. You ‘ll be photographed and in a second …you’re on the cover of the famous blue box. I couldn’t resist …
So, what do you think?
Am I fine for a cream cover?
Matera is one of the oldest cities in the world. By day the sunlight enhances its white. At night, it looks like an immense nativity set up under the starry sky.
Its quarter I Sassi, ancient dwellings dug into the tufo, where the roofs serve as a base for the houses that have developed on higher levels. These were dug entirely into the rock and represent one of the most striking examples of exploitation of natural resources to obtain suitable conditions for the life of a large community. 
In the caves often lived more families and despite the lack of space, almost all daily activities took place in the cavities of cave-houses: from handicrafts to weaving, from food storage to animal care (dogs, chicken, pigs, horses and donkeys were living with the family as primitive source of heating). The temperature was constant and guaranteed by the characteristics of the sea tufo , so the inhabitants did not suffer too much from the cold in winter and found a shelter from summer heat. This way of life for years has been seen as a sign of backwardness and incivility. The inhabitants of the Sassi were often considered as primitives living like animals. In 1952 Sassi was considered “the Italian national shame”and abandoned in the late ’50s, Sassi was able to be redeemed until they became Unesco World Heritage in and will be the 2019 European Capital of Culture. 
Its amazing scenario has been used s a set for Mel Gibson “The Passion” Pier Paolo Pasolini “The Gospel According to Matthew “King David”, Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt “, and the remake of “Ben-Hur “
.
I took the Gran Tour of Sassi,
an intense 3 hours guided tour and I learn so much about the history of this amazing city. The tour begins in front of the Cathedral, in the upper part of the City, and then goes deeper into the tangle of narrow alleys, caves, cellars, churches, small gardens, tiny squares and districts. I was able to discover in detail these unusual dwellings partly carved out of the limestone. It s a long walk, so wear comfy shoes.
Matera is also well now for its cooking tradition, a classic example of Italian peasant cuisine, using free ingredients combined with a fair amount of labor and know-how to turn an odd edible food into a delectable dish.
Here my choices:
ll Terrazzino
View, ambience, real food, rich menu, moderate prices and …did I mentioned the view? Welcome to Il Terrazzino, one of the oldest deck restaurant in Sassi Eustachio Persia welcomed me with a dish of local cold cuts, including my fav lampascioni, bulbs of a common wildflower in southern Italy, then I ordered lamb, and…surprise! iIt came wrapped in yellow strawpaper.
‘This place used to be a cantina, told me Eustachio, just wine, no food.So people used to cook it at home and take it here, all wrapped up in paper tto keep it warm, then tear the bag and eat it paired with a nice glass of wine.Then came the crapiata a soup of different legumes, cereals and potatoes typical of the Basilicata cuisine of rural tradition, prepared in great quantity every year on the first day of August in the district La Martella, close to the cultivated fields and served to the inhabitants. Eustachio took me downstairs, to the 17 century cellar, which incorporates the typical architecture of the Sassi and was refurbished to retrace moments of daily life of the peasant life,
Baccus 
Simple yet elegant restaurant Located in the Sassi area, Baccus is well know for its Chef Carlo Pozzuoli who likes to reinterpretate typical local dishes and flavors of the past in a modern way.
Starting with super crunchy chips of red peppers, followed by fagots of ziti with cream of yellow and red peppers, bundled in a slice of sweet scamorza cheese topped by goat ricotta curlS.
A soupy Dish with tagliolini pasta with black and white chickpeas, considered ideal fro pregnant women, since it contains a lot of iron.
The menu dedicates an attentive search of local herbs, like the cicoriella, the sivone and other fresh leaves variously used in cooking: in salads, minestrone, simply boiled with oil and lemon, or as a filling of ravioli and pansotti or excellent omelettes. 
Carlo and his wife Mariella were wonderful hosts. Not only keeping me company at the table but also surprising me with a taste of a sweet heart shaped Sporcamuso, (begrime the face) a dessert so full of cream that I inevitably ended up with hot pastry cream all over my face.
Da Mario
‘We represent the tradition. My family managed this restaurant since the 50’s’ told me Anna, owner of the popular Ristorante Pizzeria Da Mario ‘Since then we are always been loved by the people from Matera and from all over the world. Many celebrities have eaten here: Richard Gere, Mel Gibson just to mention few’ 
I went there for lunch and followed Anna’s suggestions, starting with a tasty orecchiette alle rape with anchovies and toasted breadcrumbs, then I tried home made strascinati pasta with cardoncelli mushrooms and garnished with the typical crunchy peperone crusco, fried red pepper.
Da Mario is know for its pizza. I tried a baby Margherita, perfectly cooked. ‘I love my town, peaceful and quiet, I run the restaurant a cosy BnB called Sassi Belvedere although sometimes I need some noise… some that’s why I have a place in Milan, where I go , like an escape little vacation, but then I am happy to be back in my Lucania ( the ancient name of Basilicata) Sorry I still call it Lucania.. perhaps it’s because I like the old things…
I don’t blame her..
Where I stayed.
Residence San Gennaro, located in the inner courtyard of the old “neighborhood”, once the fulcrum of the days of the inhabitants
Super friendly host Francesco delighted me with anecdotes about the city, gave me tips took me to the prehistoric hypogeous cave below the residence, embellished with a precious Nativity and prepared a great breakfast that included fresh local products. I stayed in Guerricchio suite, that has a kitchenette, a delightful double bedroom, a private bathroom and a cute little balcony to enjoy the view on the enchanting Sassi of Matera. It is At the entrance an artistic work of great value welcomed me. “Girasoli di Guerricchio”, a Lucanian artist to whom the suite is dedicated. 
I also loved
Casa Noha
An amazing gateway” to the city, charting its history thanks to an innovative communication project, where the walls, the ceilings and the floors will take to an extraordinary journey through the history of Matera from its origins to the present day.
MUSMA
(Museum of Contemporary Sculpture Matera)
This unique museum provides the perfect environment for the symbiosis of sculpture and the characteristic carved sites in the Sassi; the exhibition galleries, in fact, consist not only of the rooms of the Palazzo, but also the vast hypogea, where the works of art are revitalized by the strength and beauty of the surrounding rock hewn spaces
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Mamma Rita’s recipe of the day in Italian and English
RISO PILAF ‘AL SALTO’ CON VERDURE (tecnica di cottura, cuocere al salto)
RICE PILAF ‘AL SALTO’ WITH VEGETABLES (cooking technique ‘al salto’)
Per 4 persone
3 hg di riso cucinato con metodo pilaf
1 hg di pancetta affumicata tagliata a dadini
3 zucchine tagliate a mirepoix
1 carota tagliata a mirepoix
1 cipolla a mirepoix
Saltate in padella, con un po’ di olio la cipolla, poi aggiungete la pancetta, la carota ed infine, dopo qualche minuto, gli zucchini. Per ultimo aggiungete il riso precedentemente cucinato col metodo pilaf,, facendo saltare il tutto a fuoco decisamente vivace.
Servite facendo dei piccoli sformati. E’ un ottimo contorno ed esemplifica come non aggiungendo liquido sia possibile riscaldare il riso pilaf senza che scuocia.
For 4 people
3 hg rice cooked pilaf style
1 hg of bacon diced
3 zucchini cut mirepoix
1 carrot, cut into mirepoix
1 onion mirepoix
Sauteed the onion with a bit ‘of oil, add the bacon, carrot and finally, after a few minutes, the zucchini. Add the previously cooked rice pilaf, blasting all at very high heat.
Serve making small pies. It’s an excellent side dish and exemplifies how adding liquid iit s possible to heat the rice pilaf without overcooking.
BUON APPETITO!
FOOD INNOVATION SUMMER SCHOOL MEDITERRANEO
July 14, 15 2016
A two days tour around Ragusa region, Sicily 
for students , teachers , experts or amateurs
A full immersion into taste and tradition, strictly Made In Sicily.
Places, flavors and traditions that make the production processes of the Mediterranean culture. T.A great experience to get acquainted and value The Mediterranean diet 
and revisit our relationship with the agricultural tradition in key technological advances, facing to the challenges that the future poses to agriculture and the Mediterranean world.,
Remember: food is a global language. food is the first commodity being a highly interdisciplinary sector, food is the primary form of cultural expression.
For more information and full of Program Highlights, visit FUTURE.FOOD 
Terrazza Boscolo, Milan
On the Rooftop of the Hotel, that is called “Terrazza Boscolo” by Dama,
Sommellier Diana Zerilli will create two exciting drinks
Chiantigno, born from the encounter between Chianti Colli Senesi Mormoraia,
with Campari, Gin, Angostura, Rosmarine and Ice
Tropical Wine, con Vernaccia San Gimignano Mormoraia,
with Honey, Mango, Ice.
Chiantigno Photo © Cesare Zucca 2016
To join the party the guests will pay 20€ including 1drink and finger food
July 13th from 6 pm to 9 pm,
Terrazza Dama st Boscolo Hotel, Corso Giacomo Matteotti, 4/6,Milan
He turns geometric research and rigour into the purest visionary aesthetics, combines a range of different languages into a new and intriguing itinerary that represents a one off in the history of art across all ages and continues to thrill the wider public.
Milan, Teatro alla Scala.
Last night I indulged in a dream.
The Scala Ballet Company was performing
a very classical Swan Lake,
as a tribute to the genius of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov,
the original creators of the choreography of this masterpiece.
Marius Petipa
Petipa is considered the father of 19th-century Russian ballet.
His thoughts on all aspects of ballet – the dance technique and style, the music,
the structure, even the props used – became prevailing practices.
Lev Ivanov
For some Lev Ivanov is Petipa’s dependable assistant.
For others he is ballet’s unjustly ignored unsung genius, who transformed Swan Lake
into a very different ballet.
Director Alexei Ratmansky created a new version respectful of Petipa style and intentions. 
The Scala Orchestra, directed by Michail Jurowski, started
with some hesitations
then was able to carry the passion and the drama on the stage to a great finale. 
Nicoletta Manni in the principal roles of Odette/Odile showed an amazing amount of grace, power and technicality. (I was carefully counting the nearly perfect Odile’ s32 fouettés in Act 3) Timofej Andrijashenko as the Prince Siegfried, colored his role with athletic moves and an amazing dramatic interpretation. 
Bravo to the female Ensemble that, in a challenging tour de force, spanned from being joyous courtesan to swans, to character figures from all over Europe, back to swans. The Spanish dance was a winner, thanks to the flamboyant Riccardo Massimi and Massimo Garon while Christian Fagetti as Benno performed a passionate pas de trois. Applause to the iconic Litte Swan, beautifully featured by Daniela Cavalleri, LusyMay Di Stefano ,Christelle Cennerelli, Agnese Di Clemente
I wasn’t so impressed by the Jerome Kaplan costumes.
In my opinion, the pastel palette worked great on the courtesans in the Act I, but I didn’t like the long-than-usual feathered tutus of the Swans, as well the ‘Cirque du Soleil-meets-Disneyland’ Hungarian look neither the Botticelli/Art Nouveau/Renaissance dresses of the ‘marry-me’ Ladies who kept fanatically fanning with their golden fans.
Swan Lake will perform till July 15th
The roles of Odette/Odile and Siegfried will be played by
Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko,
Vittoria Valerio and Claudio Coviello,
Martina Arduino and Nicola Del Freo
All photos by Brescia e Amisano-Teatro alla Scala
For more info and tickets
www.teatroallascala.org/en/index.html
Talking of a beautiful Sunday!
Yesterday I went to the picnic lunch at the Palazzo Monti della Corte , in Nigoline right in the heart of the Franciacorta region, one of the best producer of sparkling wine.
Tasting a Berlucchi Brut, one of the most recognized product of the Franciacorta region.
The occasion was the annual Franciacorta Festival
a bonanza of wines and food, traditional or revisited, all signed by well-known chefs
who were invited to create dishes using local traditions and ingredients.
I loved Alberto Bittu from Trattoria del Gallo. who celebrated the event with a traditional dish
Manzo all’Olio di Rovato, slowly cooked beef paired with polenta.
Alberto Bittu. The traditional Manzo all Olio , literally beef at oil
Fabio Abbattista Chef at the deluxe Bistrò de L’Albereta,
served a crusted bread with lavarello fish, that I found a little too dry.
Fabio Abbattista . Crusted bread with lavarello fish
Fabio Abbattista from Bistrò de l’Albereta
What about vegan? 
The answer was Alessandro Cappotto, with a very interesting mini quinoa burger
with fava beans and cream of lettuce.
Vegan guys went crazy for it.
Matteo Cocchetti from Dispensa Pani e Vini Franciacorta
The most curious?
The back cold spaghetti with Monte Isola Island trout caviar and goat ricotta, created by Matteo Cocchetti from Dispensa Pani e Vini Franciacorta.
I loved the vision and the fantasy of Fabrizio Albini
from the legendary Cristallo Hotel in Cortina d’Ampazzo.
Fabrizio trasformed the traditional manzo all’olio into a mini burger,perfect solution
for a street food that respect the history of the Franciacorta cuisine
Fabrizio Albini from the legendary Cristallo Hotel in Cortina d’Ampazzo trasformed the traditional manzo all’olio into a miniburger
Simone Gaibina from Trattoria da Gina served a home made Franciacorta wine raviolo. Andrea Martinelli from Trattoria Muliner made a delicious summer risotto with Lake fish,
Simone Gaibina from Trattoria di Gina Home made Franciacorta raviolo
Andrea Martinelli from Muliner . Summer risotto with lake fish
Ennio Zanoletti from Hostaria Uva Rara, went for a panini (actually I should call it panino) with ham,tomatoe sauce,cicory and bacon chips,
Lorenzo Cogo, the youngest Michelin Star Chef of the event, prepared (and burned my mouth) a quite unexpected spicy Tacoq, that followed indeed the ‘street food’ theme of the Festival, but didn’t seduced me.
Lorenzo Cogo making a spicyTacoq
My ‘Master of Invention Award’ goes to Piercarlo Zanotti
Piercarlo Zanotti Cappuccini Cucina San Francis.Potatoe cream local sardine,trout eggs and Franciacorta oll
who combined a soft cloud of potatoes cream to the savory taste of local sardines and trout eggs, baptized by few drops of Franciacorta oil. 
Talking about fish a deserved. bravissino. goes to Stefano Cerveni from Due Colombe al Borgo antico.Its stewer of oven roasted local tinch was like eating paradise.
Stefano Cerveni from Due Colombe al Borgo Antico An oven cooked skewer of local tench fish
Finally Vittorio Fusari, from the Pont de Ferr in Milan, surprised me for the sophisticated taste of his Pesci (fishes) and Panelle (small breads originally from Sicily fritters),
Vitorio Fusari Pesci e Panelle
Vittorio, a man with a great sense of humor, told me that his dish was kinda a tribute to Jesus Christ’s legend of the loaves and fishes and ..to the next door Christo’s installation on the Lake Iseo.
Vittorio Fusari. A classy dish from the Chef of Pont de Ferr in Milan
The 2017 Franciacirta Festival will be back next year
. If you are into good food and excellent wines, mark it in your calendar.
Here info
http://www.franciacorta.net/en/festival/
A traditional ‘manzo all’olio’with polenta Photo Cesare Zucca ©2016
The Floating Piers Photo Andre’ Grossman © Christo 2105
Check my article for ZesterDaily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/travel/christos-floating-piers-connect-food-and-art-in-italy/
The set is simple: a banch, a red balloon, an elderly homeless woman who talks in grammelot alternating French, Italian, Milanese, English
Her stories are real or false…It doesn’t matter. I loved the rewinding of the tape of past events by mixing truth and fiction, the life of the living and the dead, until the present.
The still elegant Bag Lady brings out moments life, carrier, travels, lovers, not to mention a very persona interpretation of the every single sign of the horoscope according to his penis…The 70 minutes monologue of Je Me fut is brilliantly performed by Rosalina Neri, notorious back in the 50′ and 60’as the Italian bombshell Marylln Monroe lookalike.
Neri, a former renowned opera soprano , sings and tells stories through vivid song such as Hymme à l’amour, Autumn Leaves, Ma Mi (a traditional milanese song, probably her best performance) among any others, with the help of the talented Nicola Nastos at the keyboard.
I found a little static the direction, signed by Cristina Pezzoli who co-wrote the piece, and did’t frame the emotional temper of the Diva. Lights and coreography (or any moves that the still flamoyant Diva could have done) are none.
Applauses and emotions, starting from a tender Rosalina’s tier..
At Teatro Franco Parenti till June 26 
The territory of Franciacorta is a section of the Province of Brescia
in the Region of Lombardy
The annual Franciacorta Festival will entertain again his visitors with a two days
tour de force of exquisite food and superb wines.
Saturday 25 will be dedicated to the discovery of the territory, its wines,
its products and its food. 
Photo N.Tirelli
The wineries will organize little events, guided tours and tastings during the day, while in the evening the best restaurants, diners, farms and the Strada del Franciacorta venues will offer their menu, dedicated to local food and wine culture.
A legendary Franciacorta Brut , the exquisite 61 Berlucchi 
Photo N.Tirelli
On Sunday 26 June, from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. the lawn of the magnificent Palazzo Monti della Corte di Nigoline will host a spectacular . A tasting bar will be set up, where over 60 local wineries will offer tastings of various types of Franciacorta:, while street food delicacies by great chefs and pizza masters. 
The € 20,00 ticket includes: 4 Tokens, Wine glass and wine glass pouch ,Water, Coffee
Free“Refill” packages (available on site for those who already have the ticket)
3 tokens € 15, 6 tokens € 25, 15 tokens € 50Photo N.Tirelli
The address is Via Alessandro Volta, 2 – Nigoline di Corte Franca (BS)
More info at http://www.franciacorta.net/en/festival/
First Italian date for Lukas Graham Band at Carroponte Center, Milan.
I was surprise to see not a big crowd , but made the concert even more intimate , colloquial and definitely grand. Lukas loves to talk to the public, to entertain, to be cool. “This is our first concert in Italy and the first one not sold out, but that’s ok , we ‘ll love to play for you, we would like to thank you for coming .
” A humble, gentle friendly performer, who like to talk of family, memories, personal stories, dreams, food and to cheer with a drink.The band, an amazing voice and , of course. There is a great companionship between Lukas and his band, drummer Mark Falgren, bassist Magnus Larsson, keyboardist Kasper Daugaard and a great session of saxophone and trumpets that brings to stage rhythm n blues atmosphere.
Many hits, starting from the opening Better Than Yourself that echoes Beethoven’s Sonata au clair de lune , Welcome to my funeral, Strip no more, Mama said,
We love Italy , probably the one country in the world where you have lunch…before working. We love to see the main church in the city we play in. So far the Cathedrals in Milan and Colone are our favorite, but hey, tomorrow will be in Rome…His love for father Eugene whom Lukas describes as My father. My mentor. My best friend became a strong reference like in Don’t you worry about me , You are not there and the super famous
7 Years, one the most beautiful song of the season, that I would not be surprised ( and I wish) to see it crowned as Best Song of The Year in the next Grammy Awards.
Lukas Graham will play shows across the globe through the summer
reaching Europe, the USA and Australia
Tonight Rome at Rock in Roma , Via Appia Nuova, 1245
Here the next shows in Europe
This gallery contains 29 photos.
Blue sky, gray sky, sun, rain, even a hailstorm…. A dramatic weather palette that was greatly pairing the palette of Isaia Spring / Summer 2017 that feeds on bright shades of color between the sky and sea. A compendium of … Continue reading
World-renowned. Artist Christo nd his wife, the late Jeanne-Claude,
created many spectacular temporary large-scale artworks from wrapping in silver fabric the Reichstag building in Berlin and the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, to building a 25-mile fabric fence across Northern California, to installing 1,340 giant blue umbrellas across the Sato River valley in Japan and 1,760 giant yellow ones in Tejon Pass, California.
In New York more than four million visitors experienced the amazing trill of 7500 gates saffron-coloured fabric panels decorating a spectacular 23 miles walk in Central Park.
The Gates at Central Park Photo Cesare Zucca
Their last project ‘The Floating Piers’ is taking place in Italy at the beautiful Lake Iseo till July 3th. It is an amazing 52 feet wide pathway on the water from the town of Sulzano to the Monteisola Island and continuing along pedestrian roads from Peschiera to Sensole, then reachingto the San Paolo Island.
The floating Piers at Lake Iseo , Italy Photo- Wolfgang Volz © 2016 Christo
The piece of work has a total length of 2,7 miles. The artist describes the sensation of strolling along the floating piers as “walking on the back of a whale” and yes, it is a long walk indeed. Probably at the end we’ ll be hungry and looking to taste some local, traditional, truly popular food. Just check around, along the lakeside promenade, there are many osteria where you can enjoy the most traditional dish,
manzo all’olio di Rovato,(literally ‘Rovato beef in oil’)
The traditional ‘manzo all’olio’ served with polenta © Cesare Zucca 2015
.Rovato is a small town located in the Franciacorta hills, close to the lake to be paired to a great Franciacorta brut such as the Berlucchi ’61 Nature Millesimato
a multi-faceted aromatic sparklyn white wine that combines
the freshness of Chardonnay and the minerality of Pinot Noir
As suggested from Michelin starred Chef Vittorio Fusari, born and raised between the Franciacorta wineries and a true philosopher of the local cuisine. On June 25th, Vittorio will present his own version of the manzo all’olio.
Manzo all’olio inteepreted by The Vittorio Fusari-Photo-Masaka-Zukurihara
For more info http://www.berlucchi.it/
“Never throw out leftover bread!”
our Milanese mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers used to exclaim.
Milanese cuisine has its roots in simpler traditions,
and that includes reusing old bread to make exquisite dishes.
Like these delicious polpette di mortadella 
So if you happen to have bought too much bread ,you have two options:
Freeze it while still fresh and then remove it a few hours before use,
or listen to my granny and try one of these six Milanese dishes.
Check my article on ZesterDaily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/cuisine/stale-bread-6-ways-frugal-italians-get-cooking/
CASA ANGELINA is a contemporary interpretation of the Italian Riviera; an innovative, intimate retreat of 43 guestrooms. Although just a few minutes’ drive from the destination village of Positano, 
Casa Angelina’s fishing village location immerses guests in an off-the-radar authenticity that occupies a prime spot on the Amalfi coast.
Resting high up on the cliffs, the converted fishermen’s homes look to the future with an immaculately minimalist design complimented by exquisite Murano glass sculptures. 
Aperitivi are served at the on-trend Marrakech Bar, and the rooftop gourmet restaurant—Un Piano nel Cielo—offers sweeping views of the Gulf of Salerno. 
Guests are also encouraged to make use of the restorative spa and exclusive access to Casa Angelina´s own beach, La Gavitella, to fully appreciate la bella vita. 
designhotels.com/casa-angelina
Last week we wrote….
No news yet about the menu…but the NTT will discover it soon!
and the NTT did it!
Here the amazing menu that Massimo Bottura created for this unique night
Let’s start with “Una lenticchia meglio del caviale”: A ‘better than caviar’ lentil.
A gamelike where lentils lie down over ice with acid cream and dill.
“La parte croccante di una lasagna”, the lasagna crunchy side.
Both dishes will be paired with Cellarius Rosé 2011, Franciacorta
Then another Bottura must, the answer to the dilemma should Tortellini be served with broth or crème fraîche? “Compromesso Storico: Tortellini in crema densa di Parmigiano Reggiano”,
Chef Massimo is coming out with a surprising solution.. paired with Berlucchi ’61 Nature 2009, ‘A true expression of our territory, says PR Cristina Ziliani, combining Chardonnay to Pinot Nero. More surprises, from the “Psychedelic Spin Painted Veal, not Flame Grilled” paired with Palazzo Lana Extrême 2007 “Caesar salad in bloom” to the “Oops! Mi è caduta la crostata al limone…” My pie felt down… A lemon cake, zabaione vervain sorbet, bergamot e candied fruit.
Franciacorta, Friday, July 1 2016
It will be a special night at the luxurious 17 Century
Palazzo Lana Berlucchi 
An exclusive dinner hosted by the emperors of the renowned
Italian sparkling wine Berlucchi, King Arturo Ziliani and Queen Cristina,
with a menu created by His Majesty three Michelin stars Chef
Massimo Bottura
of Osteria Francescana Modena. 
Bottura, proclaimed # 2 in the world by prestigious The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,
will offer his ingenious creations paired with
Vintage, the Reserves and the best Berlucchi Franciacorta.
For more info http://www.berlucchi.it/speciale-eventi/#visita-9.
300 cellars, 100 artisans of Italian taste. 150 international wine producers!
Merano is hosting the annual WineFestival,
an international wine&food bonanza, one of the most exclusive places and occasions for all industry operators, where the recurring keyword is always “excellence”.
In addition You will find the best Italian wines produced organically, biodynamically and naturally, the Beer Passion experience, where the artisan flavour becomes beer, Consortium: the Italian protection consortia are presented within the Gourmet Arena, charity Wine Master Classes. where the revenues of which are given to charity and spectacular show cooking among,seminars and workshops for discussion on the future of wine in Italy and Europe.
November 5th-10th
More info at
www.meranowinefestival.com
Imagine: a secret bottle kept in the cave for years (sometimes more than 30). It’s the rich and velvety wine called sciacchetrà. This aged treasure resurges in occasion of a wedding as the greatest gift that the family of the groom could offer to the bride’s family. I had the privilege of opening a bottle than was more than 10 years old. It reminded me of a rich passito straw wine, sweet and liqueur-like.
The color is intense: from golden shades to amber. The taste is a fruity, floral bouquet that reminds of a Mediterranean garden: scents of nuts, apricot jam, nectarine, vanilla, chestnut honey and spices.
Where can you drink the best sciacchetra’?
Cinque Terre, a piece of the Ligurian coastline, just West of the border with Tuscany. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are five multi-colored borghi (villages) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
They are pretty close to each other, a few minutes distance by car or train. Better yet, a boat will take you back and forth, making an unforgettable five stop mini cruise. If you like to hike, you can also reach them via a beautiful trail and enjoy spectacular sea views.
Spectacular from the terrace at La Torretta Guesthouse www.torrettas.com
nontouristytourist.com 