Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Italy is home to lots of unique culinary delicacies and specialities. Many are familiar to most people around the world and are readily available abroad but there are some that are somewhat lesser-known gems yet to be discovered by a wider international audience. One such item is bottarga, known as “Mediterranean caviar,” or as the “truffle of the sea”, which is made of salted, cured fish roe, typically of the grey mullet or the bluefin tuna. While similar products are actually made in Japan, Korea, and Egypt, the Italian iteration, with which we are concerned today comes from Sardinia but is also made in Sicily and Calabria. It is rather expensive and harder to source abroad so it is best to try as a treat during your travels if you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia, a holiday rental in Sicily, or a rental in Calabria.

The world is full of food markets but one of the headiest and most appealing to foodies has to be Palermo's incredible Mercato di Ballarò or Ballarò Market. If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are looking for somewhere to get the freshest and best-quality food products, to sample local street foods, and to immerse yourself in Sicilian food culture, then the Mercato di Ballarò is absolutely and undoubtedly a must. Pencil it into your travel itinerary and make sure to leave plenty of space in your stomach before heading out to experience it all for yourself.

According to a 10th -century Arab writer's travel diary, Ballarò Market is the oldest food market in Palermo and the very fact that it was being noted as being a fixture of the city all the way back in the 10th century is astounding and showcases just how steeped in local history and culture it is. Held in Albergheria, one of the four Norman quarters of the capital city of Sicily, it is one of four traditional markets, with each quarter having one of its own. The markets of Ballarò, Vucciria, and Capo are the most famous and popular among both locals and tourists, with the Mercato di Ballarò being the most popular and well-known of all.

The historic markets in Palermo feel a lot like the medinas of Marrakech or Cairo, which makes sense as Sicily was once under Arab rule and many remainders and reminders of this time still flavour the island and Palermo, in particular, from the architecture to the food to the language. This is one of the aspects of Sicilian life in which Arab traditions and culture feel the most alive and best-preserved in the Italy of today. As such, they also offer a rather unique cultural and culinary experience in Italy and really are a must-see.

Milan is one of the most impressive fashion capitals in Italy and in the world with a long and lauded sartorial history, plenty of incredible boutiques, headquarters and flagship stores of many of the world’s most famous designer labels, designer cafés, restaurants, and bars, fashion museums, ample opportunity for stylish people-watching, and so much more besides. However, as more and more of the clothing market turns to vintage and resale in a bid to make the industry much more sustainable, savvy and stylish travellers who have found a vacation rental in Milan might be looking for some of the best places to shop for clothes in search of a new home. As such, we have compiled a list of just five of the must-see vintage stores in Milan in order to kick off your trip to this fashion fanatics’ dream holiday destination. Read on, get shopping, and go green.

Italy is known as a gourmet country and foodie destination and there are lots of different dining experiences that one can enjoy while holidaying in Italy. Some are conventional but elevated and delicious and others are more unique and unusual. If you have found a vacation rental in Veneto and are planning on enjoying some culinary experiences and adventures while in the area, then you should definitely pencil in a visit to the rather special Osteria senz’Oste.

This restaurant offers a very unique dining experience as it famously does not have any chefs or waiters present! The name literally means, “restaurant without hosts” and they aren’t kidding. Located in a picture-perfect and exceptionally pretty 19th century farmhouse, set amongst vineyards on the hills of Cartizze in Veneto, it boasts the most amazing views over the lush landscape that unfolds beautifully below.

In the last post, we noted that while great coffee is readily available all over Italy, Trieste is the coffee capital and, for coffee lovers, a must-see destination. To try the great variety of incredible types of coffee available and learn all about the rich history of the city, you simply need to find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and spend some time in her coffee shops. These establishments include the Caffè San Marco, where James Joyce penned The Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man or Caffè Tommaseo, the city's oldest surviving establishment which was opened in 1830 or the beautiful Caffè degli Specchi. However, if you are planning on visiting Trieste and ordering coffee, you'll need to take note of some very special terms and phrases. The city has its own coffee language that even Italian speakers and Italians from other parts of the country sometimes struggle with. So, if you're planning on ordering coffee in Trieste, keep these phrases at hand: