You might be surprised to learn about one particular flip side of Firenze. Different to what many people would think, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, this open-air museum where realness, visual arts and aesthetic beauty mesmerize our senses has, sadly, little shady zones where personal belongings – specifically related to means of transport – are an easy target.
I think we can all agree on something: to have a gelato goes far beyond a culinary delight. It also means to preserve and nourish interaction, conviviality, cultural and social exchange as well as bringing joy, comfort to the soul and freshness to the palate. I vividly remember when my Dad used to take me to the shopping mall’s ice cream parlor during wintertime just because, according to him, a good gelato is meant to be tasted regardless of the weather.
The huge amount of flower shops in Amsterdam epitomises not only the life-time relationship between the Netherlands and flora but also how keen Dutch people are to nurture a close relationship with the greens. But one shop, in my opinion, certainly stands out the most: Mooi Anders, an urban jungle that caught my attention since the very first time I passed by its doors.
"I must help place Brazil on the world's cocktail industry map", says Brazilian bartender, Neli Pereira, whose mission is to preserve her home country's native ingredients and put them in the spotlight. Actually, this isn't a motivation we manage to see that often in Brazil, which is why Neli can be considered one of the few who is still enduring this challenging path.
Throughout Sicily, not only in shops and ateliers, but on verandas and terraces of many houses, we find the colorful and unmistakable pinecones and the adorned heads that carry a lot of symbolism beyond its decorative character. These heads, called "Teste di Moro" or "Moorish Heads", originated in the 11th century.
Long before any of us could ever have imagined living under such socially restricted conditions, I've had the idea to ask some dear bartenders that I admire the most: what would the Last Drink of your life be? Coincidentally or not, Covid-19 made its unpleasant appearance right after my first inquiries and the subject of this interview has made more sense than ever.
Petra: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even though only 13% of what it originally was is standing today - almost all of Petra was destroyed by wars and earthquakes - its beauty is as impressive as the energy emanating from its rocks, ruins and tombs. I suggest arriving early to make the most of it, as the walk is quite long.
When we are not looking for a particular spot and unpretentiously go to places when we are traveling, perhaps the most incredible and unusual venues appear out of nowhere. That's how I met Botanical Affairs, that surpassed any expectation of a drink bar that I could ever visit.
Eins 44 was one of the highlights of all of Berlin's culinary discoveries. It is absolutely amazing. It is so hidden (in a courtyard) that whoever passes by it in the street, will never imagine that it is one of the best restaurants in town. Oddly, the place operated years and years ago as a major gin distillery.
In 1316 Johannes von Steren founded Bürgerspital, which is still recognized as a center for social assistance for the needy elderly. Because many of these socially originated and business-backed businesses must create ways of subsisting, Bürgerspital has found a very smart and prosperous way to do so: producing wine.