Local cuisine features Northern Italian specialties, including fresh lake fish, polenta, risotto, and an array of classic pasta dishes. Dining in Como often comes with breathtaking views of the lake. I like to decide on restaurants using multiple sources to book ahead of our trip. I have found that often the concierge at our hotels will have some great recommendations, but on this trip, we were staying in Airbnb's, so while we did not have the benefit of a concierge, our host

While strolling around the charming streets of Bologna, you never have to worry about going hungry, as this vibrant city is a culinary paradise filled with an abundance of markets and eateries that cater to every taste and preference. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes wafts through the air, inviting you to explore the numerous tratorrias, osterias, enotecas, restaurants, and pizza shops that dot the landscape. We were traveling in mid September and the smell of fresh truff

We could not visit Bologna and not take at least one cooking class and there was no question in my mind that it would be making pasta. We found a chef named Leonardo Iacono through the daughter of a friend who spent a semester in college abroad in Bologna and in her free time, he taught her how to make pasta. Leonardo and I first communicated through WhatsApp, and he acknowledged that he did not speak much English, but that turned out not to be a problem as he was able to cle

In our trifecta of food production tour, the third stop was a family owned balsamic vinegar "winery". We got to see how balsamic vinegar is produced and that was a much more enjoyable experience to see and smell than the hanging hams of Parma. We visited a place that has been producing vinegar by he same family for many generations called Boni. To begin the process of making balsamic vinegar, the first step is to press white Trebbiano di Castelvetro grapes. The resulting liq

Next up in our food adventure was a trip to see how prosciutto and other cured meats are prepared. In all fairness, this is not for the squeamish, as it is a bit morose to see thousands of pig hinds and thighs on racks and the hanging from hooks in the factory. I love prosciutto, but even for this retired surgeon, I had moments of vegetarianism thoughts. In medieval times, the legendary salt-cured hams of the Italian peninsula—such as the sweetly bold Prosciutto di Parma in E

We again booked this experience with ToursByLocals and our guide was Sara F. She was absolutely lovely. What a pleasant way to spend a day driving around the countryside and hearing more about her life in Italy and studying in France.  We spend the extra money for private guides because it is an opportunity to hear firsthand from them what life is like where they are living, which is hard to do when you are walking about a city with your own guidebook. I understand that the e

Venice being located at the crossroads of East and West, has a culinary tradition that reflects centuries of maritime commerce, noble feasts, humble fishermen’s fare, and a cosmopolitan spirit that has shaped its cuisine into one of Italy’s most fascinating and unique gastronomic identities. Spices, once prized like gold and silver, arrived in Venice’s port—pepper, cinnamon, saffron, cloves—forever transforming the local palate and inspiring dishes that balance sweet, sour, a

We arrived by water taxi from Venice Airport to the Baglioni Hotel Luna in the early evening hours. Despite exhaustion from our trip, we were happy to enter our home for the next 3 nights. We booked a deluxe standard room which was very comfortable and very Venetian. What do I mean by Venetian? Lots of silk.... silk drapes, wallpaper, bedding with Murano glass fixtures, all elegant and tasteful. Our room did not have much of a view as it was on a courtyard, but we got morni

We traveled by ferry from Crete to Santorini which was a pleasant way to arrive and we were not in a hurry. Santorini was our final destination after a month of travel, so we were spending a few days to simply relax, do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly to enjoy its beauty. The volcanic landscape, shaped by an eruption years ago, is the island's most distinctive feature. The Caldera, with its whitewashed buildings and blue domes, provides a stunning setting that is truly unfo

Food in Budapest was excellent, and we got in our share of chicken paprikash, dumplings, and amazing pastries. We also visited their large Food Marketplace, which is a building and not just an open market with every paprika you can imagine as well as everything else you might need to keep your pantry well stocked.