Roma, Italy

If you’re lucky enough to have visited the romantic city of Rome, you’ve probably wandered the streets and passed hundreds of restaurants which are difficult to distinguish. Here are 3 of my favorites from our trip in August which are slightly off the tourist trail, but close enough to still be convenient during your next Roman holiday-tion.

Eat / Drink

Aroma

We passed by Aroma on our way to the Spanish Steps. We casually stopped to ask for directions and the owner coerced us to come back for lunch. Good thing we did, because it was a delicious!

Via della Mercede, 32

Cul de Sac

Right around the corner from Piazza Navora is the cute, non-touristy Cul de Sac serving Italian style tapas, delectable home-made pastas, and 1,500 different wines. On our 5-day visit to Rome, we ate here twice!

Piazza di Pasquino, 73

http://www.enotecaculdesac.com/

Grano

I choose Grano as my number 3 because it is on a secluded corner and has a lovely candle-lit terrace where you can dine al fresco in the summer. The menu is a mix of traditional and modern and the bread basket is one of the best I've had!

Piazza Rondanini, 53

http://www.ristorantegrano.it/

Huge congratulations to my brother and his fiancee who got engaged during our Holiday-tion! We are so happy for you and can't wait to celebrate this summer.

Holiday-tion style tip

• When in Rome...maybe I was inspired by the location or maybe I'm just obsessed with the gladiator trend but I stocked up on Steve Madden bronze sandals and beaded dresses from my favorite home-town boutique, Knuth's. Landerwood Plaza, 30619 Pinetree Rd, Pepper Pike, OH 44124 / 216.831.1116

Holiday-tion lit pick

• Jamie Oliver's Summer/Fall magazine. If this guy can teach ME to cook...it's worth a read. jamieoliver.com/magazine

Up next: Christmas in Cheshire, England!

Casperia, Italy

I always aim to bring you Holiday-tion destinations that are off the beaten path and Caperia fits the bill perfectly. If you don't want to see a single tourist bus, souvenir shop or menu in English, this is your ideal hideaway.



Located one hour north of Rome by train, Casperia is a tiny thousand year old medieval hilltop village.

Stay / Play

Casperia is home to 2 bed and breakfasts, one grocery store, a bank, a patisserie/gelataria, Friends Cafe and...that's pretty much it. We stayed at the 7-room La Torretta owned and run by a Welsh/Italian couple and their 2 daughters. The rooms are basic but full of charm, as is the rest of the house. Breakfast is served on the patio where you enjoy beautiful views of the Sabine Hills. If there is enough demand, daughter Jennifer gives Italian cooking lessons. And you can also go hiking and hill-climbing to explore the country side.


http://www.latorrettabandb.com/

Visit

Englishman Johnny Madge is Casperia's olive oil expert. He sniffs and drinks it like wine, he has oil stains on his shirt, and he's full of character and stories from his olive oil escapades. He also runs a wine club which is essentially an underground bar open only to the lucky ones who know to look for the gecko on the door. Johnny's private olive oil tour is a full day of gastonomical delight. We started with olive oil and wine tasting at his wine club. He then drove through the Sabine Hills to some olive tree groves where we learned about the process. And eventually we ended up at a fabulous agritourismo for a 7 course lunch (see below).
http://www.johnnymadge.com/

Eat / Drink
Other than Friends Cafe, there aren't many restaurants near by, so we dined at 2 agriturismo (farm restaurants) and trust me, you will not be disappointed. We had 2 of the best meals of our lives washed down with locally produced wine and a beautiful sunset. At the agriturismo, there is daily set menu with whatever is fresh and available and meals range from 5-9 courses of pure local goodness.

Johnny Madge took to la Trattoria Sabina for lunch
Via Conventi 1 (Via Mirtense km 10)
Casperia
tel: 0765.36346

And we went to Gusto al Borgo, which also is a cooking school, for dinner the following night.

http://www.gustoalborgo.it/main_en.htm

Holiday-tion Style Tip

• Thousand year old cobblestone streets require comfy shoes. Brazilian cult flip flops, Havaianas, saved me from breaking an ankle. www.havaianas.com/

Holiday-tion Lit Pick

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson - because who didn't read it last summer!?

Up Next: Roma!

Avoriaz, France

Avoriaz is a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Geneva airport. The car-free ski village is far enough up the mountain that you tend to get beautiful blue skies and great snow consistently. The pistes offer a wide range of difficulty making it an ideal spot for groups of various expertise, skiers and boarders. We stayed in ski-in/ski-out Chalet Marie with 10 friends and enjoyed gourmet hearty dinners, daily afternoon cakes, and comfortable accommodation.

http://www.avoriaz.com/ski-holidays/

Eat/Drink

Le Bistro

We dined here on our chalet chef's night off. You've never seen cheese fondue like this before!

Lunch on the piste

La Marmotte

Les Brochaux

A welcome break from the cafeteria style restaurants we frequented before finding this hidden gem in Les Brochaux.

La Paika

+33 (0)4 50 92 85 22 just off La Terche run in Les Gets, France.

Exquisite bbq cruisine on the side of the mountain. I would happily ski down many steep red runs just to get to eat here again.

Holiday-tion Style Tip:

• Japanese brand Uniqlo's Heattech base layers kept us warm on the slopes (only available in ski season). http://www.uniqlo.co.uk

Holiday-tion Lit Pick:

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I first read this in high school but recently revisited it during this Holiday-tion and fell in love with Francie Nolan's insightful, heart-breaking, and inspiring character and story all over again.

Up Next: It's a surprise!

Paris, France

It's an oldie but goodie...but still remains my favorite city.

Manger/Boire

George V is amazing. Just walk in the lobby to see the gorgeous flowers or go for a €20 drink. Or if you can afford it, stay here!

http://www.fourseasons.com/paris/

Hotel Costes tres cool scene and music, interesting menu, and celeb sightings likely.

http://www.hotelcostes.com/index2.php?index=2&langue=anglais

Buddha Bar

http://www.buddha-bar.com/

Restaurant Georges on the top of the Centre Pompidou - chic and good views

http://www.centrepompidou.fr/pompidou/Communication.nsf/0/C802434866E91C8CC1256D9800513026?OpenDocument&sessionM=3.8&L=2

Les Deux Magots and Cafe Du Flore (similar and next to each other) - popular for breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon cafe. Hemingway spent a lot of time here.

http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/index.php
http://www.cafedeflore.fr/

Brasserie Lipp across the street from Magots and Flore and good for a casual dinner.

Voir

My suggestion is to skip the Louvre, go straight to the Musee D'Orsay. But don't miss the Jardin de Tuileries outside the Lourve. The Ferris Wheel is better than going up the Eiffel Tower in moi opinion. If you love Monet, the L'Orangerie has an amazing display of his water lilies.

Holiday-tion Style Tip:

• I try to hit Herve Chapelier for bags, Bon Marche or Printemps for a wide variety of French fashion, and Petit Bateau for perfectly fitted t-shirts whenever I go to Paris.

Up next: Avoriaz, France

Devon, England

In January, we had the honor of attending our very good friends, Ben & Sophie's beautiful wedding in Devon, England. Here some other highlights...

Stay/Play

The Buckland Tout Saints hotel is a secluded William and Mary Manor house tucked away on the lanes of Devon and it was the venue for Ben and Sophie's stunning reception. The rooms are luxurious and modern and the food is delicious, especially the breakfast which will power you up for a day of walking and sightseeing.

http://www.tout-saints.co.uk/

Visit

Bantham Beach

I was sceptical, at first, of finding a beautiful sandy beach in England. But I was proven wrong as we approached the breath-taking and expansive Bantham Beach. I can imagine it is packed in the summer with beach goers and surfers alike.

Dartmouth

Dartmouth is a cute sea side village with spectacular scenery, many restaurants and shops, and possibly the best fish and chips I've had in England!

Eat/Drink

The Sloop Inn

Around the corner from Bantham Beach is the fantastic Sloop Inn pub. Yes, you're arguably in the middle of nowhere but the inventive cuisine will make you think otherwise.

http://thesloop.co.uk/?page=news

Holiday-tion Style Tip:

• Hunter wellies keep your feet dry and comfortable while exploring the Devon countryside.

Holiday-tion Lit Pick:

• The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer (yes, I read them!)

Up next: Paris

Naples and Miami, Florida

Naples

Eat/Drink

SeaSalt

Naples is known for its plentiful, trendy, nouveau cuisine restaurants, but this year SeaSalt takes the cake. The menu ranges from fresh whole branzino, to an elaborate European cheese selection, all with a splendid Italian twist (The friendly chef, Fabrizio Aielli, is originally from Venice). To top it off, visit the cupcake counter for a delightful display of bite-size delicacies. I had my eye on the chef's table - a large table right next to the kitchen that can seat 8-10 of your closest friends and family. Fabrizio will select a custom 10-course menu (available with wine pairing) for your exclusive party. Bellissimo!

http://www.seasaltnaples.com/

Miami
Stay/Play
Canyon Ranch Miami

The newest outpost of the old spa favorite, Canyon Ranch Miami opened in November 2008. Beautiful turquoise ocean views, infinity pools, an impressive gym and rock climbing wall, spa cuisine, and a class and treatment list that will definitely keep you occupied, Canyon Ranch is the perfect place for a short Holiday-tion break from the stressful city life. We booked through RueLaLa.com and got a fantastic deal.

http://www.canyonranchmiamibeach.com/

Up next: Devon, England