The Best of Italy: Milan & Venice at Salone Del Mobile & Eurocucina
My Top Nine Favorite Everything
(Design, Food & Lifestyle)
In
Milan and Venice
a trip to remember- Milan & Venice!
The magic of this trip convinced me to write a story and share some wonderful, insider tips here on the blog. My recent Milan trip combined with a jaunt to Venice was incredible. I realize I'm gushing, but it was truly a awe-inspiring experience from start to finish including a private tour of a historic Venetian villa and garden, a visit to two incredible international interior design shows, many great meals and a lovely, world-class hotel. I am sharing these sources in the hopes you embark on these for your next trip to Italy.
1). My Favorite Stove/Oven spotted in Milan- the Chateau 150 from La Cornue (Yes, this is French not Italian). This is worthy of cooking the Italian masterpieces on. My first stop when in Milan was the Salone Del Mobile & Eurocucina interior design and kitchen tradeshows. I loved it all but the most beautiful cooking stove and ovens are worthy of sharing. I am a sucker for large, French ovens and when it also has a colored enamel finish, stick a fork in it because I am done. La Cornue's kitchen display was simply my favorite at the show in Milan because it stood out amongst the oodles of kitchens with this pedigree look. Maybe not the most practical oven for a NYC dweller, but I am dreaming. The new range, the Chateau 150 in over sized proportions and made of Stainless Steel. It sat front in center in their show space, offering many cooking options: it's two-vaulted, one gas and the other electric, with many cooking possibilities for different foods, and two, giant warming drawers. The oven is customizable to provide varying organizational possibilities. And, quite frankly, it's damn gorgeous in the white finish they showed.
a small museum tucked into a side street in Venice, but a wonder to behold from large mixed medium installations, to unique pieces by Pablo Picasso the museum does a tremendous job of stylizing in the museum in a way I have not seen before and makes you feel like your visiting a wealthy but quirky friend, and it's all so cozy and intimate.
3. favorite restaurants:
this is a tough one because, well, it's Italy
but there are standout moments I cherish
maybe because it was our first night in Venice,
but this restaurant was special.
A. the best dinner in Venice: Trattoria AI Caccia
An accommodating staff who served us an aperitif as we were ready to leave, so we sat back down and enjoyed more time, Italian style!
design: love the local vibe, small but quaint. A casual atmosphere favorite local spot & added bonus it was walking distance to hotel. rate: 8 1/2
service: familial, accommodating and prompt rate: 8 1/2
food: delicious, some rustic dishes and some not typical and unusual as well rate: 9
b). the Best lunch in Venice
the Al Fresco dining was perfect, plus the food was divine and set in the gorgeous, Sant Angelo square. design: simple, Italian style Al Fresco dining under a tent with open, airy long tables in a row overlooking the square and people watching-- perfect way to end our busy, walking day. rate: 8 1/2
service: very nice staff and took special orders
no problem rate: 8
food: the simple pasta dish with tomato sauce was the best I had on the trip, however, the frozen Lemoncello served in small little cups at the end of the meal, put the experience over the edge! rate: 8 1/2
c). the best pizza in Milan
design: just across the little foot bridge from our Hotel Navigli in Milan, this is a casual, crowded, raucous, and festive place to dine with a large group. We may have been one of the loudest groups since it was our last night (sorry Italy), but people barely noticed rate: 7
service: our server was nice enough but kept forgetting our orders and little details, but, hey, it was pizza and beer!
rate: 6 1/2
food: So many choices of pizza from caramelized onion to vegetable, and loved all the beer options as well. The pizza was delicious. rate: 7 1/2
a great group of ladies
4. Favorite Hotel in Venice with rooftop views
The Hilton Hotel Stucky in Venice was outstanding. From the welcome at the desk, to the breakfast each morning, the staff was extremely polite and accommodating. The rooftop happy hour overlooking the canals was dream-like. The rooms are well-appointed with a five-star quality to them including marble baths, great linens, comfortable beds and plenty of room to move about. The lobby is marble, expansive and the hotel is perfectly located in a quiet spot. I would most definitely stay there again on my next trip to Venice. And, they even offer an iphone app of the hotel! the beautiful facade of the
Hotel Stucky, and our very stylish pier just outside the front door where the water taxi picked us up daily.
design: gorgeous lobby, with marble bath and lovely roof top bar with exquisite views
rate: 9 1/2
service: helpful, polite staff and accommodating
rate, only drawback was the internet was spotty.
rate: 8 1/2
food: delicious buffet breakfast each morning with lots of fruit and croissant
rate: 8 1/2
gorgeous, luxurious rooms
with a stunning rooftop pool and bar
5. The prettiest Architectural Detail in Venice- this unbelievable door knocker at the Countess' Villa in Venice.
6. The Most Gorgeous Tabletop Collection- the Meissen porcelain collection in Countess' home. After given a thorough tour of this private villa by the Countess herself, we were allowed to photograph her gorgeous collection displayed in her dining room in Venice, and it was a highlight for me. To see this much beautiful, antique porcelain together and without chips, preserved and still together in a collection (outside of a museum) was a sight to behold. I loved the delicate pattern.
**Meissen porcelain is the first European hard-paste porcelain developed from Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirhaus in 1708 (Wikipedia).
7. The most lovely painting in Milan- opera singer, Maria Callas at
Teatro A la Scala theatre. Enough said and it is gorgeous
8. And, the most Stunning Kitchens seen in Milan:
Many of the kitchen displays showed stand-alone casement pieces, some antique-looking, others contemporary but looking artisan made (and not matching the rest of the kitchen cabinetry) and showcased a mix of worn, patina looks with industrial -- refreshing!
XO Tamara
Happy Nesting
