frankki's Profile
Trendy Restaurant for Foodies
went to corton last week. got a table for the night we called (wed) - a 9:30 sitting. have to say that i wasn't really overcome with joy and satisfaction, even though i was hoping to be. was good, well presented, but i don't leave compelled to come back.
Ideas for early 20's couple looking for Italian in the 50's
Insieme, great food, ambiance and wine list, on 7th and 51st. have been several times and would def recommend.
Turin or Bologna?
i'd visit torino (just came back from first visit there) and bologna (been there several times) .....sorry venice, nothing personal, but it's all about the food!
Torino
we also had a fantastic meal (lunch) at Sotto le mole (picked a restaurant from your slow food listing). will definitely visit again on next trip! great, great stuffed pasta!
Torino
currently in torino on business mixed with pleasure - our hosts, long time residents of torino took us to an absolutely fantastic sicilian fish restaurant last night called Mare Nostrum....website is ristorantemarenostrum.it. was really, really great. enjoy!
Thoughts on Convivio?
we went last night and it was, simply, excellent. food, service, ambiance...did i mention the food? four of us, eagerly tasting each others prix fixe - the pastas were ALL delish as were the secondi - and a great wine list. can't wait to go back. have the tortelli!
Healthy foods you crave
cannellini beans....love them. with tuna and crisp lettuce, even better.
Do all farmers markets in Florida stink?
The only "fresh" produce in the broward area seems to be Josh's on the beach. Two weeks ago, I went to Josh's and it was closed - one of only two weekends of the year. So, in search of fresh produce< I travelled to Batton Farms out west - it was permanently closed. I traveled the Davie corridor, which used to have fresh produce for sale from a number of roadside small farms, and still no fresh lettuce. I eventually ended up at Publix, defeated. I can't believe that void exists in such a huge market!
Emergency -- private dining for 10, 12/10/08, peak hours
we've had several private events in the Blue Ribbon downstairs room. Very good but, as malibu indicates, more cozy than, say, elegant or festive. We just had a fantastic meal at Insieme, quite upscale, but not ridiculous. Excellent, excellent food and wine list. They have a beautiful, elegant private room that I said to myself "that's great party room". The restaurant is adjacent to the Michelangelo Hotel on 7th and.....51st, I think. very elegant all around. goodluck.
Looking for Bistecca alla Florentina in Florence....
Have to agree that Mario's has great food all around. BUT, Il Latini has the BEST bistecca!! Hands down. Wish I could go with you!
NYC Visit - Planned Food
No Chinese? Would def hit NY Noodletown, my personal favorite, or perhaps squeeze in some dim sum.
dinner near joyce theatre 18th and 8th
Omai has great vietnamese, good value and and a nice ambiance. it's on 9th around 19 / 20. one of our favorites in the hood.
Florence, Rome, Sienna suggestions.
our two favorites in siena are il mugolone and da enzo. two really fabulous tuscan restaurants, elegant in a tuscan way, not majorly expensive but def not inexpensive. both have wonderful wine lists. great great food.
What do you love best about your neighborhood, food-wise?
Meatpacking / WV - excellent markets for foodies and great restaurants for straightout eating! chelsea market (with manhattan fruit exch, lobster trap, amy's bread, bowery kitchen, boun italia, etc etc), balducci's (not so economico, but good ingredients) and western beef (for down and dirty) all within a couple block radius. ottomanelli's and florence meat market very close and omai, philip marie, fatty crab close too! hungry just thinking about it!
Picnics in Rome
Hi - one of our favorite outdoor places is the botanical gardens on the testavere side of the river. it's not too far from where you are going to be and is absolutely lovely!! it's in the hills, so there's a great view over roma. it's beautiful! ps - many places en route to pick up lovely supplies for a picnic (you could pass thru campo di fiore before you cross the bridge). buon viaggio!
Rome: Apartment Rental Location
Hi kadaffodil - we've rented thru both vrbo.com and craig's list and those experiences were all very good. i think the apts were owned by the respective mgmt companies. the cost was definitely 50% less than a hotel and more comfortable, imo. great restaurants all around, its very neighborhood like, we like al fontanone for very good, straight forward lunch or dinner. really exceptional and somewhat pricey is trattoria la gensola (or something along those lines...on a street of the same name). great spot, trastevere.
Rome: Apartment Rental Location
for our last three visits (including the one just ended two days ago!!) we've rented in trastevere and prior to that have rented in three or four spots on the "other side". for food, food products, environment, real romans and minimal tourist impact, we think it's the best - very NYC west village. it's also a very short walk to campo di fiore, right across the bridge which has a wonderful outdoor food market (just filled up on wonderful spices), but which can be very loud an night. for renting vs a hotel, imho, there's no question! we now have our favorite "bar" for morning coffee, favorite butcher for beautiful meats and other products and favorite panificio for great bread, hot and fresh every morning - what a wonderful place and culture!. buon viaggio!!
Restaurant Recommendations
great, reasonable places in roma include l'orso 80, da francesco, settimio l'arancia (our personal favorite and very close to the s steps) and al fontanone (this one on the trestevere side of the river - sort of the west village, iop). For Firenze, try casalinga on the oltrarno side, also very well priced and great food. bon viaggio!!
Hollywood recommendations
Definitely get to Fulvio's for dinner. It's pricey, but excellent quality. Sugar Reef, mentioned here already, is also very good for seafood. And, for complete hole in the wall breakfast / lunch, head to Nick's on Hallandale and Dixie.....there's nowhere like Nick's. Two good, but very casual, sushi are Nakorn and Eddie Hill. There you have it! All my favs in Hollyweird!
Vetri
Just have to say that we are going to Vetri next week and I am soooooooo excited to eat there. have heard great things about it, so I have very high expectations!! can it be THAT good?? hope so!
1 or 2 day cooking school in Tuscany
Check out divinacucina.com - Judy Francini is a california transplant since the mid 80's. we've cooked with Judy several times over the past five years and she's great. She has a cooking studio in Florence across from the San Lorenzo market, which you'll tour together and select the fresh ingredients for the meal you plan to cook that day. she's fun! one time we had rented a large villa with 20 family members and we met Judy in Florence then cooked everything back at the villa for a large family dinner. thinking about it....now I want to come!!!!
San Gimignano
Microwaved or not, that soup was good!! Totally agree on Carcere for lunch!
florence
Def visit casalingua (inexpensive) and cavolo nero (expensive), both on the oltrarno side near piazza santo spirito.
mom and pop places in rome...
Try either of the two related settimio l'arancia (close to the pantheon) and piccolo l'arancia (near trevi fountain). both are excellent and a good value (but not totally inexpensive) and are owned and operated by siblings.
