Not All Italian Websites Look So Bad
At the risk of being accused of being a pot calling a kettle black (Yep, I know this blog is getting rather cluttered), I have to say that after doing a little web based research for my latest project, my Italy is in Italian contemporary art site, I’ve come across some rather good looking, and, generally, well written English sections of Italian websites. Well, a family of them actually.
These sites form part of a mini-network run by the Ferragamo family, of the fashion house “Salvatore Ferragamo”. WIth the possible exception of the Viesca Estate site, all of the others are very slick.
I know they are at the top end of the market, but even so, it’s good to see what can be done. OK, so these people have money, of that there is no doubt, but, to their credit, they appear to know how to spend it rather wisely.
I hope they won’t mind too much, but I’ve stolen the list of links to each of these sites and popped them below, so you can have a quick gander, if you so desire.
Fashion
Salvatore Ferragamo - Fashionable clothes
www.ferragamo.com
Resort & Hospitality
Lungarno Hotels
www.lungarnohotels.com
Resort and Winery
Il Borro
www.ilborro.com
Marine Industry
Camper & Nicholsons Yachting Ltd - motor cruisers to dream about.
www.cnyachting.com
Nautor’s Swan - Lovely yachts - exploring the boats virtually is a pleasure.
www.nautorswan.com
Prestigious Rental and Villas
Il Borro
www.villailborro.com
Viesca Estate
www.viescaestate.com
As for this here blog, it’s going to get a facelift shortly.
Coda di Rospo in Il Quadrifoglio
We’re pretty lucky really. There are quite a few interesting restaurants dotted around the area of Milan in which we live. Indeed, there is an excellent little place literally two minutes walk from our house.
This place, for it is not big, goes by the name of Il Quadrifoglio, and we’ve been there several times now. In fact, it was my other half’s birthday on Saturday and we went there to celebrate.
What I like about this restaurant, or ‘Trattoria’ as it somewhat confusingly calls itself, is the variety of food on the menu. Part of the fun of going there is trying something new. Well, it is for me.
For example, last night I had ‘Coda di Rospo’ in a sultana and pine nut cream sauce, and served with a black semi-crunchy rice. Oh, and before hitting the main course, a friend and I had the fish antipasto, which consisted of three or four separate dishes each served one after the other. Everything was delicious.
The portions that Il Quadrifoglio serves are generous too, and, alas, I could not finish the lovely pistachio cream I ordered for pudding. Other half had her usual spaghetti and fish combo, and I’m sorry, I can’t remember what the other two who were with us had - but neither complained.
All this gastronomic goodness was washed down with a nice red. Heathen, I know - should have been white - but Italians are not too bothered by the red or white wine with fish thing, and will even recommend good fishy reds.
We finished off with coffee and a grappa for the boys. Very good.
Another nice aspect of Il Quadrifoglio is the decor and the lighting. The walls are a sort of warm orange colour and, unlike some Italian restaurants, the lighting is not overbearing. The service is very good too, and the people that work there are very pleasant. Aside from fish dishes, including the ‘piatti unici’ - ‘main courses’, there is also a great selection of meat dishes too.
I would thoroughly recommend it. Well worth checking out - quite possibly one of Milan’s little secrets. The cost is around €40 -50 a head - although this will depend on the wine you order, as you may imagine.
The only sight downside is that if this spot is descended upon by large party, say 20 or so, it can get a bit on the noisy side. But this is not something which happens every night. It’s open on Sunday evenings, by the way.
Now, in case you were wondering, ‘Coda di Rospo’ is ‘Angler Fish’.
You can find this eatery on my Platial map: Il Quadrifoglio Trattoria, Milan
Eat like a God in the Aligia Restaurant, Vrasi
According to my Italy expert, Gaetano Salvo, ’si mangia da Deo’ - ‘you eat like a God’ (rough translation from Italian), or rather ‘the food is wonderful’ in the Aligia Restaurant (map link), down in Vrasi. Vrasi, by the way, is about half way between Salerno and Catanzaro in south Italy, and a little inland from a place called Diamante, as you will see if you click on the link above.
When someone like Gaetano, who has excellent taste in food and wine I might add, praises a restaurant, then it’s worth checking out.
If you find yourself in that neck of the woods, try it, and do let me know how well you ate - especially if you come out feeling all powerful.
I’ve asked Gaetano for some more information on Aligia Restaurant’s menu, and when he sends it to me, I’ll post it here.
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