Shopping for Fresh Pasta in Rome !

[gallery] While on tour in Rome, our chef, Daniela, took us shopping for our fresh pasta at Pasta Fresca Mea, across the street from the Testaccio market in Rome.  This store has been in existence since 1947.  While we were there they were busy making fresh lasagna, spinach and cheese stuffed cannelloni, and tortellini stuffed with pumpkin, which is very popular in Rome during the fall.

Their display case was full of fresh ravioli, tagliatelle, gnocchi di patate, Roman rice balls and more!  Daniela ordered fresh fettuccini, which was cut to order.  This was a necessary ingredient for the fettuccini with artichokes and pancetta.

 If you are ever in the Testaccio area of Rome you must stop by, but do it early in the morning when they are busy creating their pastas!  While you are there don’t forget to visit Volpetti, a specialty food store at Via Marmorata 47.

Cooking Roman Dishes in Rome!

[gallery] While on my tour of Italy this fall I took my group for a cooking lesson in Rome.  Our chef, Daniela, met us for a tour of the Testaccio Markets.  First we went into a pasta store and watched as they made all the pastas by hand.  They were busy filling cannelloni, making lasagna and tortellini.  Then we crossed the street and entered the market area, which was filled with fresh vegetables, fish, meats, fresh breads and fruits. We finished purchasing all our fresh ingredients and then we walked to her apartment in the Aventine hill section of Rome. 

We were quite excited to get started. We gathered around her kitchen and reviewed the recipes while we sipped our cup of espresso. The lesson consisted of:  fettuccini with artichokes (in season of course), veal saltimboca (using only the freshest of sage, which was picked from her herb garden), and a delicious dessert made with ricotta cheese and chocolate.  Some of us participated and others watched!  This is the advantage of a small intimate group.  Now we were ready to taste the fruits of our labor!  We sat at a beautiful table set with fresh flowers and beautiful linens, which only enhanced Daniela’s hospitality. Our meal began with fresh ricotta cheese and bruschetta topped with red ripe tomatoes, which you can only find in Rome.  The fettuccini with the artichokes and pancetta was out of this world. The hand made fettuccini was so light and tender.  The veal Saltimboca was better than any restaurant could have prepared.  The chocolate ricotta dessert was so light and delicious.  It was presented with chocolate gelato topped with candied orange pieces. Let us not forget the after dinner drinks. Is your mouth watering yet? Daniela is the perfect host and chef.   We had a most enjoyable lesson and now we were ready to walk back to the center of Rome. 

If you are at all interested in taking a cooking lesson allow Gourmet Getaways to make the connection for you.  It is quite the experience!  And should not be missed

Great Gelato here in New Jersey!

[gallery] Attention all you ice cream lovers!  When I go to Italy I must indulge my cravings for gelato and have been known for having it more than once in one day!  Ice cream does not come close to the creaminess and light texture of gelato.  Now I will say that all gelato, in Italy, is not equal.

 The other day I was going to a meeting in Florham Park, NJ and a sign caught my attention:  Angelato’s Heavenly Ice Cream (Florham Park, NJ).  Needless to say after the meeting I had to investigate this new ice cream store.  Ice cream?  It offered every imaginable flavor of gelato !  Upon entering, I thought I was in Italy between the display of gelato to the ambiance of the place.  So of course I tasted a few flavors.  It was heavenly !  The next evening my son, who is equally crazy over gelato, and I took the ride to Angelato’s.  I kept saying, ’It is worth the ride’.

As we entered our taste buds were in over drive.  They kept offering us tastings and then finally we settled upon our favorite flavor, noccello, which is made from hazelnuts. We were in heaven !  This is a well worth the visit.

The Best Pizza in New Jersey!

[gallery columns="2"] Recently I had a pizza at AMANO, a pizzeria in Bergen County N.J. I must tell you that it was the best pizza this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Having been to Italy in November 2008 with my family we made an effort to eat pizza at a very old pizzeria in Naples, Da Michele. The pizza at Amano comes very very close to an authentic Neapolitan pizza. The pizzas are cooked in wood burning ovens, which were built by Neapolitan Artisans and will reach temperatures of 1000 degrees. Everything from the flour to the cheese is imported from Naples. It had a think crust and the dough was very tender. They will create your own personal size pizza, which you will not have trouble finishing. Bring a good bottle of wine and buon appetito! Don’t forget to have some gelato to finish off your meal. Again all the ingredients are from Italy. By the way, A Mano means by hand in Italian.

The Best of the Sorrento Hotels!

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During my last trip with my family to Italy, I combined business with pleasure and chose to visit the Amalfi Coast, Rome and Orvieto.  I thought it was best to revisit Sorrento, one of my favorite towns, and stay at the Excelsior Victoria Hotel located in the heart of Sorrento. Although I have stayed here before, its excellent accomdationg staff and charm continue to exceed my expectations.  Truly it is deserving of its five star rating and membership in ‘The Leading Small Hotels of the World’.  Each room is beautifully appointed each with its own unique character.  This time we enjoyed a seaview room, which included a breath taking view.  Each morning we were able to sit on the balcony and watch the local fisherman in the Bay of Naples with Mt. Vesuvius in the far background.  It was very relaxing and peaceful.

There are spectacular suites at this hotel which are attractively decorated, as well as garden view rooms, and classic and deluxe sea view rooms.  All bathrooms are luxurious with lush towels and robes.

Each evening you can sit in the lobby and enjoy the pianist while sipping your evening aperitif.  You may be fortunate enough one evening to enjoy the delicious and mouth-watering chocolates prepared by the chef.  I am a self- professed  chocoholic.  I have tasted many different chocolates prepared by different chocolatiers, and I have never tasted anything that compares to these delectable chocolates!  Ever!

The breakfast buffet is amazing.  The selection of breakfast foods will satisfy the most finicky eater.  Don’t leave the hotel without having dinner.  Chef Vincenzo is very talented!

The Excelsior Victoria is a luxury hotel with gracious charm.  It is surrounded by lemon and lime trees, beautiful gardens, and is situated on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean.  There is a holistic spa, where you may feel compelled to indulge yourself, as well as a large swimming pool.  The manager, Nicolino Grigio, vigilantly manages this hotel with utmost care

Gourmet Getaways highly recommends this hotel and if you book through its services and stay three nights, you will certainly be taken care of and will be entitled to an exclusive offer, which in today’s economy is a definite bonus.  Spoil yourself and create those  recession proof memories which will only appreciate in value and yield dividends for years to come!