Tag Archives: northern italy

A Great Lunch in Italy with Coffee as Good as I Get Back Home (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2014-03-30 by tikichris

Towards the end of 2013, I hit the road for a gourmand adventure across the north of Italy. One of the trip’s many highlights was the day I spent in Modena taking in the sights and sounds … and delectable … Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Italy, Shopping, Travel | Tagged albenilli market, bar schiavoni, bottega storica, bottega storica di modena, coffee, coffee blog, Drink, emilia romagna, espresso, espresso crazy, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, illy, Italy, lunch, mercato albinelli, Modena, modenese, northern italy, panini, restaurant, restaurants, sandwich, Shopping, street markets, tortellini en brodo, Travel, travel blog, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Turin: City of Foodie Firsts (CheapOair)

Posted on 2014-01-16 by tikichris

Turin is a city of firsts in many ways. The northern Italian city is home to the country’s first official capital. It’s the birthplace of the Fiat automobile and is essentially the go-to scene for contemporary art in Italy today. And … Continue reading →

Posted in CheapOair, Chocolate, Coffee, Drink, Food, Italy, Restaurants, Travelbag, Wine | Tagged aperativo, barney's bar, BARS, bicerin, cheapoair, chocolate, Cinzano, coctails, coffee, Drink, Food, Ganci, gelateria pepino, gelato, hot chocolate, ice cream, Italy, lavazza, Martini Rosso, northern italy, pepino, piedmont, Piemonte, pinguino, red wine, restaurants, Shopping, Torino, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, turin, vermouth, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 1 Comment

Spaghetti Bolowhatta? The Real Bolognese Revealed (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2013-12-18 by tikichris

Let’s get to the meat of the matter. There’s no such thing as spaghetti Bolognese. Or, at least, there isn’t in the actual city of Bologna. You would do well to seek Bolognese inspiration for its rich tradition in pasta making. It’s a deliciously saucy city too and one which rightly lays claim as the original home of a large variety of food products – just not spag bol. Bologna and the region of Emilia-Romagna have as prominent a cuisine and as celebrated a food culture as anywhere in the world. Even among Italians from other parts of the country, the gastronomic sensibilities of the Bolognese are held in the highest esteem. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Chefs, Italy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged bologna, deli, Drink, emilia romagna, Food, GBC, gelato, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, ice cream, Italy, Mercato delle Erbe, Mercato di Mezzo, northern italy, pasta, polpette con piselli, ragù alla Bolognese, recipes, restaurant, restaurants, salumeria, Shopping, street markets, tortellini, tortelloni, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Via Drapperie, wine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

How to Manga like the Modenese (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-12-17 by tikichris

With a population of fewer than 200,000 people, the list of icons associated with the northern Italian city of Modena is impressive. Pavarotti, Ferrari, Maserati, Balsamico, tortellini … whatever floats your proverbial boat, odds are you’ve been inspired by someone … Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Italy, OneTravel, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged Acetaia Pedroni, aceto balsamico tradizionale, albenilli market, balsamic, balsamic vinegar, Balsamico, balsamico tradizionale, bar schiavoni, bottega storica, bottega storica di modena, Drink, emilia romagna, farm, Food, gavioli, Gavioli Cantinieri, gavioli winery, Italy, lambrusco, lambrusco di modena, mercato albinelli, Modena, modenese, Nonantola, northern italy, OneTravel, panini, pasta, pedroni, province of modena, restaurant, restaurants, sandwich, Shopping, sparking wine, street markets, tortellini, tradizionale di Modena, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, trebbiano, vinegar, vineyard, wine, winery, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Arrivederci and Grazie Mille!

Posted on 2013-12-15 by tikichris

Over the past several days I’ve been sharing highlights from my recent Ham Highway adventure across northern Italy in a special 14-part miniseries. The series features entries about the following destinations – Forni di Sopra, Sauris, San Daniele, Udine, Collio Goriziano, Trento, Torino, Parma, Modena, Nonantola, and Bologna – along with tips and suggestions to help you plan your own delectable Italian itinerary. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beer, Cars, Chocolate, Coffee, Design, Food, Italy, Parma, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged 7th chamber, bologna, Collio, Drink, emilia romagna, Food, Forni di Sopra, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, ham, hotels, Italy, Modena, northern italy, parma, Piemonte, proscuitto, restaurants, San Daniele di Friuli, sauris, Shopping, speck, SPONSORED POST, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, the 7th chamber, Torino, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Trentino, Trento, Udine, wine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Bounteous Bologna

Posted on 2013-12-14 by tikichris

That I’ve been to Bologna four times (twice just this year) should speak volumes about how much I love this city. It and the region of Emilia-Romagna have as prominent a cuisine and as celebrated a food culture as anywhere in the world. Even among Italians from other parts of the country, the gastronomic sensibilities of the Bolognese are held in the highest esteem. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Street Markets, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged A F Tamburini, Al Cappello, Al Cappello Rosso, atti, bakery, bologna, deli, Drink, Drogheria Gilberto, eatly, emilia romagna, Food, gelato, hotel, Hotel Al Cappello Rosso, hotels, ice cream, italian deli, Italy, Mercato delle Erbe, Mercato di Mezzo, northern italy, osteria, osteria del cappello, paolo atti & figli, pasta, polpette con piselli, restaurant, restaurants, salumeria, Shopping, street markets, tamara venturi, tamburini, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, tortellini, tortelloni, TOUR GUIDE, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, vecchia malga, wine, wine bar, wine shop, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 5 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Balsamico and Lambrusco

Posted on 2013-12-13 by tikichris

During my day in Modena, I made a postprandial excursion to the nearby village of Nonantola (still within the provincial boundaries of Modena) where I visited a balsamic producer and a winery. Finding out what makes aceto balsamico tradizionale such a prized delicacy and why local quaff Lambrusco is a lot better than many wine snobs seem willing to realise added up to a wonderful way to spent an afternoon. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel | Tagged Acetaia Pedroni, aceto balsamico tradizionale, balsamic, balsamic vinegar, Balsamico, balsamico tradizionale, cars, DOP, Drink, emilia, emilia romagna, Extravecchio, farm, ferarri, ferrari, Food, gavioli, Gavioli Cantinieri, gavioli winery, ham highway, Italy, lambrusco, Lambrusco Ancestrale, lambrusco di modena, Maserati, Modena, modenese, museum, Nonantola, northern italy, osteria, pedroni, po river, province of modena, restaurant, restaurants, Shopping, sorbara, sparking wine, sports cars, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, tradizionale di Modena, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, trebbiano, vinegar, vineyard, wine, winery | 2 Comments

Top 5 Sights to See in Turin (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-12-12 by tikichris

Probably the nicest thing about any visit to Turin, Italy is simply having the opportunity to wander round the narrow lanes of the old city and happening upon its majestic galleries and long covered walkways. From elegant and antiquated cafes … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged egyptian museum, Italy, museo egizio, museum, museums, northern italy, OneTravel, Palazzo Madama, piedmont, Piemonte, Torino, Travel, turin, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Modena: Fast Cars and Slow Food

Posted on 2013-12-12 by tikichris

For a town with a population of fewer than 200,000 people, the list of icons associated with Modena is impressive. Pavarotti, Ferrari, Maserati, Balsamico, tortellini … whatever floats your proverbial boat, odds are you’ve been inspired by someone or something Modenese at some point in your life. Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Street Markets, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged albenilli market, Balsamico, bar schiavoni, best western, bottega storica, bottega storica di modena, cars, chef, chef massimiliano telloli, chef max telloli, Drink, emilia, emilia romagna, enzo ferrari, ferarri, ferrari, Food, francesca stradi, ham highway, hotel, hotel liberta, hotel liberta modena, hotels, Italy, Maserati, massimiliano telloli, max telloli, mercato albinelli, Modena, modenatur, modenese, museo casa enzo ferrari, northern italy, osteria, osteria stallo del pomodoro, panini, pasta, restaurant, restaurants, sandwich, Shopping, sports cars, street markets, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, tortellini, tortellini en brodo, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, wine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 4 Comments

Ancient Frescos and Fresh Mountain Air in Trento, Italy (CheapOair)

Posted on 2013-12-12 by tikichris

With a newly opened museum designed by star architect Renzo Piano; a distinctive sparkling wine with a rich tradition behind it; an exquisite regional gastronomy that’s big on flavour; and of course a stunning backdrop of snowcapped mountains, the lively … Continue reading →

Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, Italy, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged alpine, alps, Castello del Buonconsiglio, design, dolomites, Drink, Food, Italy, methodo classico, MuSe, MuSe Science Museum, museum, northern italy, Palazzo Roccabruna, renzo piano, restaurants, science museum, Shopping, sparkling wine, spumante, Travel, Trentino, Trento, trentodoc, wine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Antica Corte Pallavicina

Posted on 2013-12-11 by tikichris

Just outside the blink-and-miss-it village of Polesine Parmense, Antica Corte Pallavicina is a gorgeously restored 14th century castle situated on the banks of the Po that’s been transformed into a six room boutique hotel with Michelin starred restaurant. As refined as it is rustic, the venue is the result nearly two decades of dedication by local chef Massimo Spigaroli (whose other Michelin starred restaurant, Al Cavallino Bianco is located in the same village). Dining at Pallavicina was a sumptuous affair, yielding one of the loveliest meals I’ve had this year. Knowing that practically everything I put in my mouth came from here and was made onsite made all the more tasty. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Parma, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged Al Cavallino Bianco, antica corte pallavicina, Antico Corte Pallavicina, boutique hotel, chef, Chef Massimo Spigaroli, culatello, culatello di zibello, Drink, farm, Food, ham, ham highway, hotels, Italy, Massimo Spigaroli, michelin, northern italy, parma, po river, Polesine Parmense, province of parma, restaurant, restaurants, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, vineyard, wine, zibello, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 3 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: November Porc

Posted on 2013-12-10 by tikichris

Celebrating a decade since its inception, November Porc is a month long foodie festival held every weekend during (yep you guessed it) November with each weekend seeing the party move to a different village in the Province of Parma. If the idea of visiting Torino was the impetus to planning my trip, the possibility of attending one of the November Porc weekends was what led to designing my actual itinerary and coming up with its broad “Ham Highway” theme. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Italy, Parma, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel | Tagged Andrea Aiolfi, cicciolata, Drink, emilia romagna, Food, food valley, Food Valley Travel and Leisure., hotels, Italy, northern italy, november porc, parma, pork, province of parma, restaurants, roccabianca, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 2 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Torino Unshrouded

Posted on 2013-12-09 by tikichris

Initially pursuing an opportunity to visit Torino (perhaps better known to some of my readers by its anglicized name, Turin) was what eventually led to me coming up with my the full blown “Ham Highway” itinerary. The city was (and I assume still is) keen to have bloggers visit to write about the city. There was a chocolate festival scheduled for when I knew I would be able to go, and I was pretty sure I could get a commission to write about it. The more I looked into Torino, the more I of a hunch I had that it would be the sort of “content rich” place that I’d enjoy checking out. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Christmas, Coffee, Drink, Food, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged ancient egypt, barbaresco, barbera d'asti superiore, barney's bar, bicerin, chestnut gnocchi, chocolate, chocolate festival, Cioccolato, coffee, Drink, egyptian museum, Food, gelateria pepino, gelato, hot chocolate, hotel, hotel victoria, hotel victoria torino, hotels, ice cream, Italy, lavazza, museo egizio, museum, museums, northern italy, Palazzo Madama, pepino, piedmont, Piemonte, pinguino, red wine, restaurants, Shopping, spa, swimming poll, swimming pool, Tabernalibraria, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Torino, Torino+Piemonte Card, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, turin, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 2 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: a-MuSe-ing and Bubbly Trento

Posted on 2013-12-08 by tikichris

After an all too short sojourn in Friuli (God, I hope I make it back there before too long), I hit the autostrada heading west to the region of Trentino for an overnight stay to see what sort of wonders its scenic city of Trento had to offer. With a newly opened museum designed by a star architect; a distinctive sparkling wine with a rich tradition behind it; and an exquisite regional gastronomy that’s big on flavour, locally sourced ingredients and seasonality – the answer I soon discovered was A LOT! Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Design, Drink, Food, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged al vo', alpine, alps, antica birreria pedavena, beer, bellaveder, Blanc de Noirs, Bollicine su Trento, brewery, bubbles in Trento, cantine ferrari, Castello del Buonconsiglio, chef alfio ghezzi, design, dolomites, Drink, ferrari, ferrari spumante, ferrari wine, Food, hotel, Hotel America, Hotel America Trento, hotels, Italy, lager, Lager Chiara, locanda margon, mach, methius, methodo classico, michelin star, microbrewery, MuSe, MuSe Science Museum, museum, northern italy, Palazzo Roccabruna, Perlé Nero Pinot Noir, pizza, pizzeria, renzo piano, restaurants, science museum, Shopping, sparkling wine, spumante, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, tavern, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Trentino, Trento, trentodoc, wine, wine festival, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 3 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Delectable Collio Goriziano

Posted on 2013-12-07 by tikichris

With the charming Udine as my base for a couple of days, I spent an afternoon in the nearby wine country of Collio Goriziano visiting a wine producer and cheese maker, both of whom had been recommended to me … along with finding out about a local ham maker whom I wish I’d had the chance to meet. Here’s the scoop on what makes this little nook of northern Italy such a yummy destination. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged agriturismo, Agriturismo Borg da Ocjs, Borg da Ocjs, borgnano, cheese, cjarandon, Collio, Collio Goriziano, Cormòns, d'Osvaldo, d'Osvaldo ham, dairy, dessert wine, Drink, farm, farm stay, Food, Formaggi Zoff, fosarin, friulano, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, hotels, Italy, Lorenzo d'Osvaldo, milk, northern italy, pancetta, Picolit, prosciutto, raw milk cheese, restaurants, Ronco dei Tassi, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Udine, vineyard, white wine, wine, winery, yoghurt, zoff, zoff cheese, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Udine

Posted on 2013-12-06 by tikichris

Udine is the hub and historical capital of the small Friuli Veneza Giulia province of the same name. With a sizeable university, it’s a lively setting with an interesting mix of people and pretty decent nightlife. If you’ve been to your share of checklist-y must-see Italian destinations (such as … oh let’s say … Florence) or you simply get a kick out off veering off the beaten path in an attempt to see what real life in a foreign country is like then Udine is a brilliant town to keep in mind. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged ai frati, alps, Ambassador Palace, Ambassador Palace Hotel, collio gorizia, Do the Dolomite Loop, dolomites, Drink, Food, friulano, Friulguide, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Giovanna Stringher, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, ham, hosteria, Hosteria Alla Tavernetta, hotel, hotels, Italy, mortadella, Museo del Duomo di Udine, northern italy, osteria, Osteria Pieri Mortadele, pieri mortadele, restaurants, review, reviews, San Daniele ham, Shopping, St Nicholas, tajut, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Tiepolo, trattoria, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Udine, wine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 4 Comments

Doing Northern Italy’s Dolomite Loop (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-12-04 by tikichris

This post is being written with a rear view perspective of a fantastic week I recently spent traveling across northern Italy. To be sure, I intend to blog plenty about my trip and thought I’d start out sharing a suggestion … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Italy, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged alps, artisanal beer, bar varmost, beer, CRAFT BEER, Do the Dolomite Loop, dolomites, Drink, Foglie d'Erba, Food, Forni di Sopra, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Gino Perissutti, ham, Italy, northern italy, Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane, proscuitto, restaurants, San Daniele, San Daniele di Friuli, sauris, Travel, Udine, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | Leave a comment

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Speck-tacular Views and Smoky Brews in Sauris

Posted on 2013-12-04 by tikichris

Day two of my foodie odyssey had me saying goodbye to the Dolomite gateway town of Forni di Sopra and heading even higher (and deeper) into the Alps to the tiny Germanic enclave of Sauris for a taste of the local delicacies and to take in the sweeping views – all of which elicited some form of audible and involuntary whoa or wow from an overwhelmed me. Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel | Tagged artisanal beer, bacon, beer, CRAFT BEER, Drink, Food, ham, hotels, Italy, northern italy, proscuitto, restaurants, sauris, Shopping, speck, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 2 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Forni di Sopra and the Dolomite Loop

Posted on 2013-12-03 by tikichris

Situated within the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane, Forni serves as excellent base for outdoor adventure with plenty of nearby (and even in-town) opportunities for skiing, climbing and hiking. And as I discovered, It’s a fantastic place to have a drink as well. Here, the stereotypical Italian bella figura yields to a rugged and independent spirit. In Forni, I came across men with beards of mythic proportions and drank some of the finest craft beers I’d ever tasted. Aside from the snowy Alpine surroundings and the absolute quietude of the night, the scene was enough to have me wonder if I was back home in Hackney. Had I stumbled upon a secret hipster heaven? Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel | Tagged al gris, Albergo Taranda, alps, artisanal beer, bar varmost, beer, birreria, bombardino, Coton Hotel., CRAFT BEER, Do the Dolomite Loop, dolomites, Drink, Foglie d'Erba, Food, Forni di Sopra, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Gino Perissutti, hotel, hotels, Italy, northern italy, Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane, restaurants, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Италия, イタリア, 意大利 | 4 Comments

Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Ciao and Grazie!

Posted on 2013-12-02 by tikichris

Over the next several days I will share highlights from my adventure in a Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway miniseries of posts featuring entries about the following phenomenal destinations – Forni di Sopra, Sauris, San Daniele, Udine, Collio, Trento, Torino, Parma, Modena, and Bologna – all with tips and suggestions to help you plan your own delectable itinerary. Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Parma, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine | Tagged 7th chamber, bologna, Collio, Drink, emilia romagna, Food, Forni di Sopra, Friuli, Friuli Venezia Giulia, ham, hotels, Italy, Modena, northern italy, parma, Piemonte, proscuitto, restaurants, San Daniele di Friuli, sauris, Shopping, speck, SPONSORED POST, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, the 7th chamber, Torino, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Trentino, Trento, Udine, wine | 1 Comment

Reminder: Win Seasonal Pasta Christmas Hamper from Carluccio’s Today! #BuonNataleUK

Posted on 2013-11-27 by tikichris

Okay. So I’m just back from a rather epic week-long foodie ramble across the north of Italy. Yes, I had an amazing time. Soon enough, I’ll be writing about all the delectable highlights I experienced and sharing some top tips learned along the way. Keep an eye out for plenty more posts about my trip. Until then though, if you have a craving for some cibo Italiano but can’t getaway before the festive seasonal, don’t forget to enter my latest competition for a pasta hamper from Carluccio’s. Continue reading →