TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CESARE ZUCCA
Sunday morning in Harlem, a destination for African-American communities and visitors from all over the world. For those who love to travel in groups, there are organized tours, including welcometoharlem.com, harlemspirituals.com, harlemheritage.com.offering a global view of Harlem and its historical path.
Gospel masses start at 11, better to arrive well in advance to ensure entry. Harlem, a destination for African-American communities and visitors from all over the world.
Among those that host the most renowned choirs I like to mention: New Mount Zion Baptist Church, one of the most traditional churches in the neighborhood, founded more than 80 years ago. Its choir is considered one of the best in Harlem. Here the singing never stops, even during the Pastor’s sermon. In fervent union with music, the faithful clap their hands, mark the time and pray ecstatically (171 West 140th Street) .Abyssinian Baptist Church, a true architectural jewel with splendid mosaic windows. It boasts a mighty choir and is a favorite destination for tourists. Long line to enter. (132 Odell Clark Place / West 138th Street) Mount Neboh Baptist Church Its choir, in addition to traditional sacred hymns, sings new versions of popular pieces such as “Oh Happy Day” and “At Calvary.” The service starts at 10.45. (1883 Adam Clayton Powell Ave) and finally
The Greater Refuge Temple, my favorite. Large modern amphitheater where numerous choirs alternate. The energy is sky high, the music is enthralling. , voices and prayers are transformed into a musical crescendo, accompanied by organ, drums, electric guitar, and by the numerous tambourines with which the elegant African American ladies mark and color the rhythm. (2081 Adam Clayton Powell Avenue)
Powerful voices and sensational harmonies result in a collective frenzy that ignites souls and turns into a real show. Video and photo shooting inside the church are prohibited. Unadvisable (and irreverent) to be smart.
For the black ladies, it is an opportunity to show off an elegant look and unpredictable hats.
It’s time for lunch, one of the most popular soul food restaurants is Spoonbread Too
which serves authentic Southern American home cooking, famous for gumbo, collard greens and traditional fried chicken.
The restaurant is run by a Harlem icon: the legendary (and still beautiful) Norma Jean Darden, one of the first black top models in fashion history.
Norma serves comfort food based on the family recipes she collected in the book Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine, written with her sister Carole.
Among the classic dishes of the South, here is the “banana pudding” a banana pudding enriched with whipped cream or, just like the grandmothers of the South, with a meringue top.
GRAND MA BANANA PUDDING
Norma Jean Darden’s “banana pudding”, a Southern dessert made with layers of vanilla custard, biscuits and slices of fresh bananas Ingredients For 8 people 4 tablespoons of 00 flour 1 1/2 cup of sugar pinch of salt 3 separate large eggs (you will need the egg whites later for the meringue) 3 cups of milk 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 box of vanilla wafers about 45 wafers 5-6 bananas 3 egg whites 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar 1/4 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Preparation Preheat the oven to 325º F. How to make custard for pudding Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Lightly whisk the egg yolks and whisk to combine with the milk in a large bowl or also use a large liquid measuring cup, such as 4 cups. Whisk the egg yolk mixture into the dry ingredients in the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the custard has thickened, remove from heat and add the vanilla extract. How to assemble banana pudding Arrange the vanilla wafers on the bottom of a 2-quart dish, such as an oven-safe glass bowl or dish. Slice the bananas and place them on top of the vanilla wafer layer. Pour 1/3 of the pudding over the waffles and bananas. Repeat the layering process, ending with a wafer layer. Grandma recommends serving it in a glass bowl How to make the meringue garnish: Use a very clean whisk and bowl that have been chilled for a while. Then, whip the egg whites with your electric whisk at very high speed. When the egg whites begin to foam, add the cream of tartar and then the sugar one tablespoon at a time. Continue beating the egg whites until all the sugar has dissolved and hard peaks form, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Spread the meringue over the top of the pudding, taking care to spread it completely to the inside edge of the plate to completely cover the pudding. Cook for 25 minutes until the meringue is lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and serve.
Spoonbread Too
366 West 110th Street, di fronte a Morningside Park, New York
Tour
https://welcometoharlem.com/
https://www.harlemheritage.com/
https://www.harlemspirituals.com/
Cesare Zucca
Travel, food & lifestyle. Born in Milan, Cesare lives between New York, Milan and the rest of the world.For WEEKEND PREMIUM he photographs and talks about cities, cultures, lifestyles and discovers both traditional and innovative gastronomic delights. Cesare meets and interviews top chefs from all over the world, ‘steals’ their recipes and tells you everything in his blog, in style ‘Turista non Turista’
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Harlem: gospel, banana pudding and the legendary Miss Norma Jean Darden
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CESARE ZUCCA
Sunday morning in Harlem, a destination for African-American communities and visitors from all over the world. For those who love to travel in groups, there are organized tours, including welcometoharlem.com, harlemspirituals.com, harlemheritage.com.offering a global view of Harlem and its historical path.
Gospel masses start at 11, better to arrive well in advance to ensure entry. Harlem, a destination for African-American communities and visitors from all over the world.
Among those that host the most renowned choirs I like to mention: New Mount Zion Baptist Church, one of the most traditional churches in the neighborhood, founded more than 80 years ago. Its choir is considered one of the best in Harlem. Here the singing never stops, even during the Pastor’s sermon. In fervent union with music, the faithful clap their hands, mark the time and pray ecstatically (171 West 140th Street) .Abyssinian Baptist Church, a true architectural jewel with splendid mosaic windows. It boasts a mighty choir and is a favorite destination for tourists. Long line to enter. (132 Odell Clark Place / West 138th Street) Mount Neboh Baptist Church Its choir, in addition to traditional sacred hymns, sings new versions of popular pieces such as “Oh Happy Day” and “At Calvary.” The service starts at 10.45. (1883 Adam Clayton Powell Ave) and finally
The Greater Refuge Temple, my favorite. Large modern amphitheater where numerous choirs alternate. The energy is sky high, the music is enthralling. , voices and prayers are transformed into a musical crescendo, accompanied by organ, drums, electric guitar, and by the numerous tambourines with which the elegant African American ladies mark and color the rhythm. (2081 Adam Clayton Powell Avenue)
Powerful voices and sensational harmonies result in a collective frenzy that ignites souls and turns into a real show. Video and photo shooting inside the church are prohibited. Unadvisable (and irreverent) to be smart.
For the black ladies, it is an opportunity to show off an elegant look and unpredictable hats.
It’s time for lunch, one of the most popular soul food restaurants is Spoonbread Too
which serves authentic Southern American home cooking, famous for gumbo, collard greens and traditional fried chicken.
The restaurant is run by a Harlem icon: the legendary (and still beautiful) Norma Jean Darden, one of the first black top models in fashion history.
Norma serves comfort food based on the family recipes she collected in the book Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine, written with her sister Carole.
Among the classic dishes of the South, here is the “banana pudding” a banana pudding enriched with whipped cream or, just like the grandmothers of the South, with a meringue top.
GRAND MA BANANA PUDDING
Norma Jean Darden’s “banana pudding”, a Southern dessert made with layers of vanilla custard, biscuits and slices of fresh bananas
Ingredients For 8 people
4 tablespoons of 00 flour 1 1/2 cup of sugar pinch of salt 3 separate large eggs (you will need the egg whites later for the meringue) 3 cups of milk 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 box of vanilla wafers about 45 wafers 5-6 bananas 3 egg whites 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar 1/4 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 325º F. How to make custard for pudding Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Lightly whisk the egg yolks and whisk to combine with the milk in a large bowl or also use a large liquid measuring cup, such as 4 cups. Whisk the egg yolk mixture into the dry ingredients in the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the custard has thickened, remove from heat and add the vanilla extract. How to assemble banana pudding Arrange the vanilla wafers on the bottom of a 2-quart dish, such as an oven-safe glass bowl or dish. Slice the bananas and place them on top of the vanilla wafer layer. Pour 1/3 of the pudding over the waffles and bananas. Repeat the layering process, ending with a wafer layer. Grandma recommends serving it in a glass bowl How to make the meringue garnish: Use a very clean whisk and bowl that have been chilled for a while. Then, whip the egg whites with your electric whisk at very high speed. When the egg whites begin to foam, add the cream of tartar and then the sugar one tablespoon at a time. Continue beating the egg whites until all the sugar has dissolved and hard peaks form, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Spread the meringue over the top of the pudding, taking care to spread it completely to the inside edge of the plate to completely cover the pudding. Cook for 25 minutes until the meringue is lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and serve.
Spoonbread Too
366 West 110th Street, di fronte a Morningside Park, New York
Tour
https://welcometoharlem.com/
https://www.harlemheritage.com/
https://www.harlemspirituals.com/
Cesare Zucca
Travel, food & lifestyle. Born in Milan, Cesare lives between New York, Milan and the rest of the world.For WEEKEND PREMIUM he photographs and talks about cities, cultures, lifestyles and discovers both traditional and innovative gastronomic delights. Cesare meets and interviews top chefs from all over the world, ‘steals’ their recipes and tells you everything in his blog, in style ‘Turista non Turista’
The acknowledged father of modern Italian cookery, Pellegrino Artusi was born in 1820 in Forlimpopoli. He lived in his native town until 1851, when the city was violently attacked by the band of the Passatore, an infamous highwayman The Artusi family moved to Florence after that. Pellegrino became a wealthy man Working in finances and, at the age of 45, was able to concentrate full-time on his big passion: the home cuisine. He loved to search, meditate, About the recepies, have someone else to experiment the cooking and, finally, taste. Artusi anticipated trends which would become popular during the XX century, among them the introduction of pasta as the typical first course on the Italian menu. The book was ahead of its time.
No publisher was interested. Finally, in 1891, the author took a chance and published it at his own expenses. Success was as unthinkable as it was overwhelming. During the following 20 years, the author himself worked on 15 editions and the “Artusi” became a hit. Casa Artusi was founded in the name of its cultured gastronomist and his manual La Scienza in Cucina e l’Arte di Mangiar Bene (Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well). one of Italy’s best read books. Most Italian families had it—and still have it. It has been translated into English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Japonese.
MORE THAN 2O RESTAURANTS IN THE PIAZZA!
CESARE ZUCCA
In Alta Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site, picnics are back in fashion. You can order a picnic basket from ten refuges taking part in this initiative and enjoy your meal in the peaceful meadows next to the hut.
CURIOUS ABOUT THE MENUS?
CESARE ZUCCA
Unije – this small paradise is located in the shadow of the island five times larger, Losinj. Cars don’t circulate here because the narrow streets are narrow. The main means of transport is the wheelbarrow; however, a small airport is located on the island. The northern part of the island is of particular ecological importance as it is located on the route of migratory birds. It
Silba – called “the door of Dalmatia”. This island is an oasis of peace: cars don’t circulate here too. This island of seafarers and sailors defended themselves from the machines with a decree approved by all the inhabitants. The best known attraction of the island is undoubtedly Toreta, the tower with an external spiral staircase. According to legend, in the 19th century Petar Marinic built it as a reminder of a love never forgotten.
Koločep – the southernmost inhabited island of Croatia, located west of Dubrovnik is a true corner of paradise. There are no roads on the island; the only paved road is the one that connects two fishing villages – Gornje Čelo and Donje Čelo. It is wide for pedestrians, but not for cars.How to get there: with one of the daily ferries from the port of Gruz in Dubrovnik or with a taxi boat
Che tu ci creda o no, le leggende sui poteri attribuiti a questi talismani hanno viaggiato attraverso mari e continenti, dai tempi più remoti, fino ad oggi. Ecco una mappa ‘fortunata’ alla ricerca del talismano (e della buona fortuna) che vorreste possedere.
Squame di carpa, Polonia
Elefante, India
Acchiappasogni, USA
E se proprio non riuscite a dormire… puntate verso il Guatemala
Scarabeo, Egitto
Zampa di coniglio, USA
Ferro di cavallo
Buddha che ride, Tailandia
Dente di alligatore
E IN ITALIA ? ….
Delfino, Roma
Quadrifoglio, Irlanda e …Dolomiti
A special apron bearing the words “MILAN KEEPS ON COOKING” to send a positive message to Milan, Italy and the whole world in a moment of immobility and general concern that threatens to deal a blow to everything the catering sector. The idea came to the team of the agency Alessia Rizzetto PR & Communication, specialized in the food & beverage sector 
We therefore lend ourselves as a sounding board to a message of optimism that starts from the Milanese chefs and that we hope will reach the public and institutions,
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BOUTIQUE HOTEL CASA ANGELINA, AMALFI COAST
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL Phnom Penh
You just don’t realize how lucky you were when your join the guided 3,30-hour food tour organized by 
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!
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 
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….
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. 
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!
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 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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
Here info
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.
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
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).
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!
After the aerial acrobatics, I finally relaxed in the 
Copenhagen history boasts of royalties and magnificent castles,Here my favorites
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.
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…
Every dish was so intense, so fresh and so herbal.
for more info
I started my Hamburg experience with an avalanche of photos and selfies on board of the 
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 
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 “.
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.
‘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,
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 
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TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CESARE ZUCCA
Benevento gained the reputation of a city difficult to conquer: even the Franks and Charlemagne himself had to stop at its borders. In 1077 Henry III ceded the city and the entire area to the Church, which held power until the unification of Italy.
These were women who possessed the knowledge of the occult and magical rites, such as invoices and the evil eye, capable of ruining life. According to tradition, in fact, it was necessary to place an upside-down millet broom or a bag with grains of salt in front of the door, counting which the witch would have lingered until dawn, when the light, her bitter enemy, would have forced her to flee away, leaving the inhabitants of that house or that room in particular in peace.
T
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the slopes are a succession of vineyards, woods and small clearings, which only in the last hours of the day the Monte Taburno profile subtracts light and heat.
The barrel vaults, that dominate the area destined to accommodate the aging of wine, entirely coated in terracotta bricks and partially dug into the tuff, bring us closer to an idea of the cellar to those who were the old “cellai” of rural farms, that is, those places that were intended to keep as much wine as food. 
Here La Fortezza’s grape varieties:
both excellent choice if you are having a local great dish with baccalà (salted codfish) a remarkable specialty of this territory, which I had the pleasure to taste at a typical restaurant Trattoria Nunzia, in Benevento.
Hello non-touristy-tourists friends!
The trademark “Là di Moret” is a real guarantee – also confirmed by the prestigious awards obtained over the years, first of all the numerous Best of Alpe Adria Awards – which it is renewed daily not only in the kitchen of “Il Fogolar” but also means welcoming 360 ° to involve gourmets and all guests, all travelers who want to be pampered by the comfort of 
the 86 rooms and take advantage of the high international standards of services the hotel – at the forefront those dedicated to women and noteworthy for the excellence and flexibility those dedicated to business customers and the world of MICE – and to experience the beauty and wellness paths of the Blu Moret SPA.
The sadness of the devastation of his land – thousands of hectares of destroyed forests, on the ground over a million cubic meters of timber – has also touched this chef who has been leading for years what can be defined as the symbol of history, culture and values of tradition and hospitality of Friuli Venezia Giulia. But it is precisely the strong and poignant link to its territory, which meant that Stefano Basello was immediately activated to preserve, and in a certain sense revive, the beauty of these places and the essence of the trees exterminated by the fury of rain and wind .
After all, the flours obtained from internal bark of trees or roots were produced once, when the farmers used them to feed themselves as they were very nutritious and rich from an organoleptic point of view (which is why they are also called “subsistence”) .For this bread, characterized by a very good and very special aroma, it is also used mother yeast, with the addition of 20% of white or red firs, or lichens.
Have you already been to Abruzzo? No? Well time is due to discover this Italian region, due East from Rome, encompassing part of the Apennine mountains down to the Adriatic Sea where sits its capital: Pescara. But that, you may know already if you’ve had the chance to visit this region that locals like to nickname “Tuscany without the marketing”!
Personally, my first Abruzzian experience dates no further than last July, in spite of many trips to Italy, both for pleasure and for research on my book on the history of Italian pasta (Les Pâtes du Terroir Italien. I knew that one of the most typical shapes of pasta in the region was the long threads resembling square spaghetti obtained by pressing down with a rolling pin a sheet of pasta dough against the strings of an instruments called a Chitarra (as it resembles in some way a guitar)
One would want to also associate the region with the famous penne pasta (meaning pens or feathers) since there is a town by that name sitting less than 20 miles from Pescara. This brings me directly to the occasion of my four-day trip invited, by one of the most respected pasta manufacturers of not only Abruzzo, but the whole of Italy: Rustichella, a family owned mid-size company which origins go back to the 19th century in the town of Penne.
The occasion was the annual celebration nicknamed Primograno (literally “first grain”) by the company in honor of the beginning of the wheat harvest in the area. It is the occasion for the family to host a selected number of importers, chefs and some happy few journalists, and here I am! The generosity displayed was beyond this world… yet, absolutely rooted in Abruzzo! arrived the evening of the big celebration where all guests were united under a tent set in the middle of a field name ? to experience a culinary experience not to be forgotten in the breeze of a warm summer night. 
The magic continued after the dinner with a live band under the stars to shake off on the dancefloor those few extra calories of gastronomic indulgence, but also a firework display like no other. A man in costume at a rather close distance started to dance on a traditional music that was going to stick with our group for the rest of the stay covered with a hat shooting thousands of fiery spurs. Besides the food and the fun, I began to wonder how connected to reality was the celebration.
I was soon to discover that for Rustichella this celebration was “for real”, honoring the actual beginning of local wheat harvest that was going to end-up in form of semolina in their factory. With the development of local sourcing of ingredients and the “farm to table” craze, Rustichella, very smartly, developed indeed a line of pasta made only of local wheat. It is not only a marketing move, it’s an ecologically and socially responsible investment.A specific green packaging has been created for this 100% local pasta. Like a “cru” of wine, you could almost know which parcel of wheat was at the source of the handful of spaghetti you are holding in your hand. An approach very far from the industrial standardization at stake with the giant pasta manufacturers, for which uniqueness boils down to their single named brand not the actual pasta you’re about to drop in your pot!
The Rustichella team took Primograno as an occasion to have our happy group experience various highlights of Abruzzi from the inland the beauty of rolling hills where wild horses graze the grass to the coastline where one can breathe the salty breeze of the Adriatic while strolling on the beach or eating a fabulously fresh and piping hot fritto misto. Among Abruzzi’s specialties, I really loved those little grilled meat skewers, traditionally made with lamb.
I was also really impressed with different local wines that I had never heard about before. For the whites, I loved the “passarina” that we got to try, made from the grape of the same name yielding an incredible fresh acidity smoothed by a round fruitiness. In several occasions, we got to have fantastic rosés, notably. No doubt about it, Rustichella had it at heart to have us experience the best of their products, but also their region in general. And you should too. You will only regret to have to go back home…
But I have good news for you. First, if you fly back using the airport of Pescara, you will be able to purchase various gastronomic treats at the airport shop and stock up on Rustichella’s 100% Abruzzian green line of pasta. Unlike liquor, no limit there except the size of your luggage! Bring along a pack of traghetti, you will make your landing easier with a little piece of Abruzzi with you. 
Actually, chances are your trip may be prolonged in your home country, as Rustichella has decided to dedicate most of its production to export. In the following piece I’ll show why and how famous chefs around the world decide to use Rustichella as their primary source of pasta. In the meantime, look around because if you can’t make it to Abruzzi, Rustichella has perhaps already come to you!
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Dove Dormire
Il palazzo offre sei suites, dotate di ogni moderno comfort e arricchite da stucchi, stemmi, pavimenti antichi e tutti i beni artistici rinnovati da un accurato restauro per preservare la loro resistenza e la capacità di trasmettere energia. Scoprirete inaspettati elementi artistici, come pavimenti originali, stemmi ottocenteschi, affreschi che ornano i soffitti, oltre a suggestivi saggi di restauro che trapelano dalle pareti.
Le suites propongono allo stesso tempo una esperienza confortevole, frutto di una ristrutturazione e di un design che mescola elementi artistici a un’ assoluta cura dei dettagli tecnologici di ultima generazione. Ho scelto la Suite Exagon, chiamata così per il soffitto dal disegno esagonale, un ambiente antico e nello stesso tempo contemporaneo. Ho apprezzato i tessuti speciali e biancheria rigorosamente di artigianato italiano.
Qui l’eleganza contemporanea si manifesta attraverso materiali nobili come il legno, i marmi e i metalli satinati si alternano in uno stile che accoglie e custodisce. Il servizio, discreto e attento, è sempre disponibile ad ascoltare le esigenze degli ospiti, nel completo rispetto della loro privacy.
Nel cuore della città ho incontrato la deliziosa Maria Ketty, splendida signora di origini venete e ex fotomodella, che da 14 anni gestisce con passione il suo B&B 
Un meraviglioso soggiorno con quadri d’epoca nel quale Mary serve un’ accurata prima colazione personalizzata a secondo delle esigenze del Cliente (ho gustato una dei miei dolci preferiti, la torta di riso, rigorosamente fatta in casa, una bontà…)
Quindi se cercate disponibilità, calore familiare ed un’attenta cura, nel massimo rispetto della privacy, altrechè preziosi spunti per avventurarsi alla scoperta di 
Situato proprio di fronte all’antica torre dell’orologio del Municipio, da cui deriva il suo nome e che l’hotel 
Spaccanapoli, arteria pulsante di vita mondana è la pittoresca strada che ‘spacca’ Napoli in due. Animata da bancarelle, negozi souvenir, ristoranti, taverne. Qui 
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Il Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel è permeato da un’atmosfera di pace e relax, che sa coinvolgere l’ospite e chiunque voglia costruire la propria esperienza esclusiva che, grazie alla disponibilità e ai suggeriementi del gentilissimo staff, lo porterà alla scoperta delle magnificenze, dei luoghi magici e dei segreti di Napoli.
Il breakfast è, per dirlo alla napoletana, “nu babà”! Ho trovato tutte le prelibatezze della pasticceria napoletana, accompagnate da altre squisitezze dolci e salate, 
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