On a gloomy weekday night, under the less than romantic market stalls and bus stops of central Parma, is Osteria dei Servi. A strange location, and greeting with a rather large grill (that I knew The Husband would love), this restaurant quickly became a favorite of the weeklong tasting of the Emilia-Romagna region. We were…
Author: Lauren
Travel. Dining. Hotels. Photos. Guides. Reviews. Recipes. A Taste for Travel.
A Dingy Stay at Hotel Sina Maria Luigia in Parma
Passing through Parma for a quick overnight on the way to a tradeshow brought us to the Sina Maria Luigia hotel, part of a small group of hotels near and dear to our heart. Despite the mixed reviews online, we persisted with a reservation for romantic reasons. However, had this have been our first experience…
Delicious Venetian Rolled Pizza Recipe
After discovering the elegantly named and plated, ‘dick pizza,’ in Moncalvo a few years ago, we’ve been chasing it down menus ever since. That said, it’s not a lot of places, save for Al Profeta, tucked away on a side street in Venice. In a half romantic gesture, half clean out the fridge pre-move, I…
Quick NYT Top 50 Hoisin Noodles with Shredded Chicken and Veggies
I discovered this New York Time’s 2025 Top 50 recipe just weeks before Lunar New Year and my household has been lucky enough to enjoy it several times since: an instant classic. The Husband declared it better than Chinese takeaway (he forgets we don’t have that in Switzerland, I suppose). The recipe is a simple…
Taste of Syria: An Exquisite Dining Experience at Al Dar
In search of a new cuisine, yet not so far from the hotel, as the weather was abominably cold, we found ourselves at Al Dar. I was pleasantly surprised at just how lovely the interior was with its moody lighting, starched white tablecloths, and lovely clusters of orchids adorning all of the tables. We opted…
Top Burgers in Hannover: Jo’s Food & Craft Beer
After hearing that Jo’s was one of the top burgers in town, it seemed like an easy choice to test drive it on a rainy, cold January night where you can’t feel your feet walking to or from the restaurant. On a Monday, with no reservation, the place was packed! Glad to have gotten there…
Incredible Pizza Experience at Bestia
Recently I enjoyed my second visit to Bestia Pizza and really, the name just says it all. This pizza is incredible! I never ever ever finish a pizza and this gorgeous pistachio-obsessed concoction was no trouble. The crust is so light and fluffy, and the toppings are interesting twists on classics like this (not at…
Panu Pizza Review: A Unique Dining Experience in Hannover
After a long day of meetings capped with a long drive to Hannover, we sought a quick and easy dinner near our hotel and landed on Panu Pizza. I’ve been impressed with just how consistently good the pizza is in Europe, outside of Italy, so I’m always happy to land on a spot for cozy,…
The Ultimate Hanover Beef & Reef Experience: What to Order
Beef & Reef has to be the best/worst restaurant name ever, yet I was intrigued enough to try it, especially after the rave reviews. We were after a steak out on the town, something that is virtually unaffordable in Switzerland, so this felt like a lucky date night. Here for the beef, skip the reef….
Doubletree Hanover: A Home Away from Home
I have NEVER been much for chain hotels as they strike me as completely soulless. However, when spending a week in Hanover (once or twice), the Doubletree made for the perfect homebase. The rooms were large, newly renovated and very clean. The gym is state-of-the-art, and someone not much for breakfast, well that was a…
Chuy’s Copycat Jalapeno Dip Recipe: A Spicy Delight
After a real need for some Chuy’s jalapeno dip/dressing, I took to the corners of the internet to cobble together a version of the recipe to feed my craving. The result was very favorable and I’m only remiss that I can’t buy jalapenos in Switzerland, making this dip a true luxury! Oh, la, la! Chuy’s…
Make Devonshire’s Sticky Toffee Pudding at Home
If you can’t get to The Devonshire in Soho, bring it to yours, precisely what we did on New Year’s Eve. After scouring the internet for Devonshire recipes or dupes, without much luck, I managed to find their sticky toffee pudding recipe, an absolute treasure! Ina, I love you, but this ensures that I’ll never…