On a beautifully, unseasonably warm Friday afternoon, we stumbled across the adorable Question di Gusto, a wine bar and bistro on a side street in Iseo. We took a table outside with a lovely view of the lake and struck up a conversation with the owner who had a real passion for wine. After the…
Category: Italy
Iseolago Hotel Review: Vintage Charm by the Lake
On the return journey from the trip to Bologna, we decided to stop in the Franciacorta region to taste some favorite bubbles in their home region. What a better way to celebrate a first anniversary than with a celebratory glass. We opted to stay at the budget-friendly, yet old school Italian charming, Iseolago Hotel, right…
Solo Dining Delight: La Trattoria del Tempo Buono in Bologna
On my “fancy lady day” in Bologna I needed a break between Renaissance art and gift shopping for the family, I stumbled on La Trattoria del Tempo Buono. After a quick glimpse of the menu posted outside, I thought I’d try my luck with a table. Luckily, the crowded restaurant had one for and all…
Osteria Broccaindosso Bologna: Homey Italian Dining
After reading lots of local reviews, without wanting to walk into the city center, we landed on Osteria Broccaindosso on the outskirts of the university area. The small rustic room was about half full when we entered at it’s 7:30pm opening time. Throughout our meal, a number of walk-ins in addition to plenty of reservations,…
Il Portico di San Donato: A Hidden Gem in Bologna
In the need for a cheap and cheerful, but generously caloric meal after the long trek to Santuario Madonna di San Luca, we found the wonderful Il Portico di San Donato in our neighborhood. The hospitality was lovely and the main owner/manager of the restaurant didn’t speak English, but his warmth was felt during our…
Exploring Bologna: Aemilia Hotel Experience
For my first trip to Bologna, with the need to be in close(ish) proximity to the conference center, we selected the Aemilia Hotel. The hotel seemed to be full of pilots and flight crew as well as equipped with many meeting rooms and a lively bar that was well conducive for work. The common spaces…
Discovering Osteria dei Servi: A Parma Culinary Gem
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…
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…
Dining at Al Covo: A Romantic Venice Experience
After finishing our 10K stretch of the Venice marathon, we decided that we more than earned a very lovely lunch. Al Covo, conveniently located between Castello and the Grand Canal, served just that. While the long run had us both wishing for a big plate of cheesy pasta, the Michelin-guide touted Al Covo served up…
Taste of Local Flavors: Dining at Osteria Ai Do Pozzi
While we were enjoying exploring our new neighborhood of Castello, on a leisurely stroll one evening, a waitress popped out of a restaurant and handed us a card for the establishment. Not thinking much of it, it certainly did help us remember the osteria buried among the meandering dark alleyways on the backside of Castello….
Best Dishes at Hosteria Castello: An Honest Experience
The neighborhood spot for us happened to be absolutely excellent- Hosteria Castello. Vibes, food, service, were all impeccable though came with a hefty +10% cover charge! Usually this is 3,4,5,6 EUR per, but wow they really rack that up. I’m not sure it would prohibit me from visiting in the future, but it would definitely…
Dining by the Canal: Ristorante Riviera Experience
This is the third review of Ristorante Riviera and it still racks up as one of my top favorite Venetian restaurants. We scored a canal-front table on an unseasonable warm October afternoon and started with a glass of Franciacorta. Why does wine always taste better on the water? The first course is my absolute favorite…