I have a confession to make. Before traveling, my geographical knowledge of Italy was limited to four cities: Rome, Florence,Venice and Milan, and one region: Tuscany. I knew these cities and region thanks to Hollywood movies, fashion or art, but had no idea of the paradise :: paradiso waiting for me in other areas of Italy…like Umbria.
Umbria? Where is Umbria?, you may be asking yourself. It is a region in central Italy bordered by Tuscany to the west, Marche to the East and Lazio to the South. Still to this day, the most famous city, Assisi, often times gets more press then the actual region of Umbria as a whole, which has countless historic sites, great gastronomy and wine and infinite options for nature lovers.
I discovered thiscuore verde d’italia, or “green heart of Italy” as it’s often called, last week when I was invited by La Strada dei Vini del Cantico and Terre dei Bulgarelli, along with six other wine/food/travel bloggers on an educational tour based on sustainable tourism and food and wine.
Photo Credit: Giusi Carai
We were picked up at the train stations in electric cars from Umbria Green Card.I’ve never been in an electric car :: macchina electric, but I’ve always appreciated the idea of traveling without polluting the air. The first thing I noticed when we took off was the silence. In the backseat I lost myself in a trance watching the forests, valleys, rolling hills, meadows, vineyards and castles pass me by. The silence made everything much more intense and all of the vibrant colors melded together like a Claude Monet painting.
Just as the panorama flew by while driving in the car, our weekend as well passed in a hurry. What is the phrase? Oh, yes. “Time flies when you are having fun.” So true. Yet, the magic thing about traveling is that you can always bring with you the memorable moments and emotions you experienced. I will always remember my first sip of Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG del 2007 that was tannic and intense with a rich bouquet of red fruits, cinnamon and soil. I won’t ever forget our trip in an electric jeep on a day that was almost 80°F; sunshine kissed our faces as we drove through the vineyards and olive groves :: oliveti that were over 400 years old! The first bite of “scafata”, a traditional stew made with fava beans, left such an impression that I couldn’t help but make the recipe when I returned. Then, of course, there were all the wonderful conversations with the other bloggers and event organizers who I connected with and shared the same thoughts and values.
Exploring the lands, getting to know the locals, discovering their traditions and history :: storia and enjoying yourself during every moment is what traveling is all about. Umbria left me with great emotions and I invite you to go there to understand why!
Here’s a few websites that can help you organize your next trip to Umbria and a few places not to miss!
Highlight: Fantastic farm-to-table food or as they say in Italy “Kilometer 0.” A typical dish from Umbria that is not to be missed is “La Scafata” made with fava beans.
Highlight: Electric jeep tour through the vineyards and olive groves with a wine and olive oil tasting on their eco-friendly terrace, which is made from recycled woods and unused corks.
Highlight: Their “Vero Amore Sangiovese Passito”, or “True Love Sangiovese Passito”, which is a sweet wine made from Sangiovese grapes and is perfect to pair with chocolate or other desserts.
Highlight: The tour in the vineyard and winery with a detailed description of their sustainable practices. Not to miss: a bottle of their “Freccia degli Scacchi”.
If you want to explore Paris by mouth, you won’t have any trouble. In every neighborhood you’ll find pastry shops (pâstisserie), tea houses (salon de thé), restaurants and traditional brasseries, which are restaurants with simple fixed menus and are usually open every day. You won’t ever have problems finding food in Paris; you will have problems choosing just what to eat—don’t worry, I’m here to help.
A trip to Paris would not be complete without a true tastings of French pastries.
3 Pastries You Have to Eat in Paris
Croissant
Macaron
Èclair
Not all croissants, macarons and éclairs are the same. Trust me; in Paris, quality counts. You’ve probably spent a lot of money to get to Paris, spend that extra few euros for an euphoric gastronomical experience, and not some frozen pastry found in the nearest cafe to your hotel that will leave you unsatisfied.
The king of macarons. I could ramble on for hours about the melt-in-your-mouth texture, exotic and harmonic blend of flavors, or that “ah hah” moment you experience when you take your first bite of a true French macaron. Important note: do not try to buy macarons and bring them home for family as presents. Macarons should be bought and eaten. At the maximum you can eat them after 1 day. They told me they would last for up to 4 days, but I can’t repeat this enough: the texture changes and it simply isn’t the same experience when you eat them fresh.
A large menu of sweet and savory items. This tea house bustles with local Parisians. The winner for me was their caramel éclair and croissant. If you go to their location in Place Des Vosges, you have a small lovely park to stroll through where you will see locals walking their dogs. I also ate a delicious croissant here, but it disappeared in my belly before I could take a photo!
Locations: 25 place des Vosges 75003 – Paris and
Hours: Open daily, 7:30 to midnight
Locations: 4 place du Trocadéro 75016 – Paris
Hours: Open daily, 7am to 11:30pm Monday to Friday and 7:30am to 11:30pm Saturday and Sunday
Paris is extremely easy to get around by metro, but I would highly recommend getting lost meandering the small side streets. You’ll find a plethora of boutiques, art galleries and markets to peruse. Speaking of markets, I would highly suggest that for lunch you grab some French cheese, a baguette and, weather permitting, head to one of the numerous parks to enjoy a picnic. This way you can save money and space for dinner. Check out this guide to food markets in Paris.
France is notorious for their amazing chefs, and now I understand why. These masterminds turn a meal, something we eat by necessity, into an exciting taste adventure. Paris is a true foodie paradise.
This modern French restaurant tests the limits with interesting flavor combinations, textures and presentation. Exquisite gourmet food is served in an exotic, unstuffy and colorful atmosphere. The service is fantastic and most of the waiters speak English.
Location: (Near the Louvre) 12-14 Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001
One of few gourmet historic restaurants that are open at lunch on Sunday. Not only can you say that you’ve eaten in a restaurant where President Obama and Michelle Obama dined, but you will also be greeted and served by the friendliest staff in Paris. Delicious traditional French fare.
Location: (Near the Eiffel Tower) 129 rue Saint-Dominique 75007 Paris
On Tripadvisor the restaurant has almost 4 stars, but if you want to experience an exquisite gastronomical experience, I wouldn’t suggest this place. The food is way overpriced, and the plating is absurd (mashed potatoes served in a cup with a fork…what the…?). The winning element of this restaurant is their large rooftop dining room enclosed by windows. If you don’t mind paying an arm and a leg for mediocre food, the atmosphere is spectacular and it’s a fun one-time experience. This restaurant seemed like a place right out of the book, 50 Shades of Grey. For people who like to dance, it also turns into a club later on at night.
Location: 1 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am Fri – Sat 12:00 pm – 3:00 am
Eating out in Paris is a must, but if you are a true foodie, you probably want to learn how to make some of your favorite pastries, breads and dishes at home. In this case, I definitely recommend signing up for a cooking class at Le Cuisine.
You can learn how to make croissants, macarons, baguettes, èclairs, among many other dishes, or even go on a guidedmarket tour. I took their croissant class and couldn’t have been more satisfied. (Even if I still have yet to make the croissants at home and Mr. Italicano constantly asks me when I will!)
Want more information to help plan your vacation in Paris? Take a look at these websites.
I discovered this cuore verde d’italia, or “green heart of Italy” as it’s often called, last week when I was invited by La Strada dei Vini del Cantico and Terre dei Bulgarelli, along with six other wine/food/travel bloggers on an educational tour based on sustainable tourism and food and wine.
Just as the panorama flew by while driving in the car, our weekend as well passed in a hurry. What is the phrase? Oh, yes. “Time flies when you are having fun.” So true. Yet, the magic thing about traveling is that you can always bring with you the memorable moments and emotions you experienced. I will always remember my first sip of Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG del 2007 that was tannic and intense with a rich bouquet of red fruits, cinnamon and soil. I won’t ever forget our trip in an electric jeep on a day that was almost 80°F; sunshine kissed our faces as we drove through the vineyards and olive groves :: oliveti that were over 400 years old! The first bite of “scafata”, a traditional stew made with fava beans, left such an impression that I couldn’t help but make the recipe when I returned. Then, of course, there were all the wonderful conversations with the other bloggers and event organizers who I connected with and shared the same thoughts and values.
Exploring the lands, getting to know the locals, discovering their traditions and history :: storia and enjoying yourself during every moment is what traveling is all about. Umbria left me with great emotions and I invite you to go there to understand why!
