I can’t really remember how I first met Micheal, but I’m sure it was a twitter’ this or a Facebook-that introduction that led to email chats and the eventual revelation that my new friend was a kick-ass rock star (in the purely classical sense, that is).

I don’t know why his talent surprised me – the world is full of performers and surely, they, too, have friends, but about a minute into his Hallelujah video (released earlier this year) I realized Micheal was the real deal.

The Extravergine album reached #1 on the Amazon sales chart during pre-sells and it is geared to be one of the best Italian-language albums of the season, so add a little Italy to your Christmas season this year and grab a copy.

But don’t just take my word for it – head over to Amazon.com now and listen to some sample songs. My personal favorite – in either English or Italian – is #3, “Battel Nel Cuore, Suona Natale” (Little Drummer Boy) but “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!” runs a close second.

So, seriously, go listen to some of the songs, order a copy and then come back and tell me-either here or on my Facebook Page – which song is your favorite.

Happy Listening and Buon (early) Natale!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Related posts:

1. In Pursuit of the Perfect Parmigiana If there is one thing expats in southern...

Personally I’m a long-time Telecom client, myself. Noooooo …. not because their stellar customer service merits any such loyalty, but rather because they have a kick-ass calling plan that allows me to call unlimited landlines in the US, Canada and across Europe for €10 a month.

But still, I thought, I have to pay when I call cell phones in the US and more and more people are ditching their landlines, so having a fair-priced standby calling card never hurt. Right?

Right.

The guys at Enjoy Prepaid sent me a $20 credit back in May. I usually shy away from calling my family on their cells but with this nifty new card I’ve been able to call them and while I haven’t chatted at length, it’s been nice to be able to easily and inexpensively get in touch. I’ve used it to touch base with clients and for lengthy consultations … and I still have more than half of it left.

However, that’s not the best part.

While their cards do have decent rates-currently between $0.01-$0.03 per minute to call landlines in the US from Italy (currently $0.025 to call cells!), what I am really enjoying about the card is the ability to send text messages world-wide.

Depending on your plan (I have the Emerald Plan) it is free to send 160-character text messages to any cell phone-anywhere in the world.

Your friend on the other end won’t see your name or number as the sender (unless you purchase a virtual number with them) but just tell them “Intl Calls” is really you and you’ll be set. I’m also still trying to determine if you can receive texts from them – but I don’t think you can.

With all of their fun, Skype-like features, though, I found Enjoy Prepaid a little hard to follow. Yes, the calling card feature is fool-proof but to be able to call or text from your PC you have to download their software and there is a lot of activity and clutter on their homepage, which could make it difficult to quickly find what you need.

I’m not sure what overwhelming needs Enjoy Prepaid can meet that aren’t currently being met by online chat and Skype but I hope the best for them.

All in all, I’m *very* happy with the plan they sent me and if you’d like to try it – they are giving away free 15 minute trials to all new customers.

Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July, Americani!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Oh yes, discerning readers, you’ve heard of Mamma Agata before. Last year my good friend Laura of Ciao Amalfi! reviewed Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine here on My Bella Vita and she, too, loved the book.

Rather than rehash everything Laura said about how much fun the cookbook is to read, how simple and genuine the recipes are, how much you’ll truly like the author, Chiara and her family, I’m gonna tell you how this cookbook got me over a culinary hump.

You see, one of the first southern Italian dishes I fell in love with was Parmigiana di Melanzane, or eggplant parmesan. My father-in-law makes a great version and I often ask him to make it when friends or family come to visit. But I just couldn’t do it myself.

Oh, I tried.

And I tried.

And I tried some more.

But my parmigiana was always too soggy or too oily or too tasteless.

Until now.

I knew it was fate when I received my review copy of Mamma Agata’s cookbook and flipped it open to the parmigiana recipe. It spans three pages in the cookbook, making it one of the most time-consuming, if not most difficult, recipes in the book. But I was up for the challenge.

I read the recipe from top to bottom … a couple of times … and prepped for the big occasion. About half-way through my husband came in to offer a hand.

“Oh no, you don’t!” I told him.

“This is my dish … all mine. And I want all of the credit for it.”

And Mamma Agata did I deserve some credit!

For the first time in almost a decade of trying to perfect a parmigiana, my dish held tightly together. The layers were distinct and precise. The flavors harmonized and the colors sang.

Ok-maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But suffice it to say, that parmigiana was g-o-o-d.

So good, in fact, that we had it again the next day. I heated mine first … my husband ate it straight from the fridge.

So what are you waiting for? Stop droolin’ over my parmigiana and go make your own. You can get your copy of Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine here. If you make some of the dishes, please come back and tell me. I’d love to celebrate your culinary successes with you, as well.

Want a private lesson on southern Italian cooking from Mamma Agata? Click here to see how I can incorporate that into your southern Italy itinerary.

Welcome, Laura!

***

I fell in love with southern Italian cooking on my first trip to the Amalfi Coast three years ago. The simple and quick pasta sauces, grilled fish served with just a drizzle of olive oil, fresh mozzarella di bufala with sun-ripened tomatoes and basil – everything was down-to-earth and emphasized the individual flavors and fresh ingredients. Since moving to the Amalfi Coast, this love affair has continued as I have learned about and experimented with traditional dishes. I’ve picked up a few tips here and there from cookbooks and, more often, from the kitchens of family and friends.

Yet, the greatest insight I’ve had into the regional cooking of the Amalfi Coast is from the cookbook Mamma Agata – Simple and Genuine Italian Family Recipes. This gorgeous cookbook is by Chiara Lima, the Director of the Mamma Agata Cooking School on the Amalfi Coast. Chiara has gathered not only her mother Agata’s recipes, but also the history of her beautiful family.

This book is a pleasure to read, and along the way you meet Mamma Agata, her husband Salvatore, their daughter Chiara and her husband, Gennaro, and their lovely children Mario and Paola. The beautiful photographs throughout the book exude a warmth and love that carries over into the recipes. Chiara writes, “We believe deeply that cooking is love,” and this passion is evident on each and every page of her cookbook.

The recipes shared in Mamma Agata – Simple and Genuine can truly be called home cooking from the Amalfi Coast. But not just any home cooking – Mamma Agata’s famous home cooking! Opening this cookbook—illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs—feels like you’ve just stepped into the kitchen with Mamma Agata and her delightful daughter Chiara. They walk you through the preparation of each recipe with step by step directions and photographs.

For me to love a cookbook it has to be more than a list of recipes to follow. There has to be passion and a story, and Mamma Agata – Simple and Genuine tells a story of love and one family’s way of life on the Amalfi Coast. It’s a testament to their desire to share the simple and genuine cooking from this beautiful part of Italy with others through their cooking school and this beautiful cookbook. If you love Italian cooking, especially southern Italian, this book is a must for your pantry library.

Laura Thayer is an art historian and freelance writer living on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy. She is the Amalfi Coast Local Expert for NileGuide and blogs about life on the Amalfi Coast at her own site Ciao Amalfi.

Traveling to southern Italy? Why not get coached on when and where to go by someone who lives there?

Photos: Mamma Agata Cooking School

I can’t remember how I first met Rosetta Costantino, the Calabrian-born chef responsible for the My Calabria cookbook, but I remember reading about her years before in an article called Calabria from Scratch, written by Janet Fletcher, the acclaimed food writer who would become an important ingredient in Rosetta’s success.

The two joined forces and as of Monday, November 8, you, too, can have a little piece of Calabria in your kitchen. My Calabria: Rustic Family Cooking from Italy’s Undiscovered South is almost 400 pages of Calabria’s history, customs and culinary traditions intermingled with recipes-and some of the most delicious food photos I’ve ever seen-for homemade, authentic Calabrian cooking.

I received my final copy of the cookbook about a week ago and my husband and father-in-law watched as I flipped through the pages. There was an excited jolt on my right and I looked up to see my husband peering across the table at the book.

“Oooh,” he said, “Pitta con Verdura. That’s a good one. We’ll make that one for sure.”

“So, it’s an authentic cookbook, then?” I grinned at him, knowing how proud the Calabresi are of their regional recipes.

“If it has pitta con verdura in it, it is. That was one of my old favorites,” he added, a tad bit wistful and no doubt thinking of the recipes his late mother, a native of San Fili in the province of Cosenza, prepared throughout his childhood.

In addition to the pitta recipe, I’m also eager to try some new antipasto recipes, particularly the eggplant meatballs and crostini with bottarga butter, vegetable dishes, like ricotta-stuffed zucchini and potatoes with artichokes and breadcrumbs and Mamma Mia …. those Christmas desserts, especially chinule, grispelle and the flourless walnut cake.

To complete the book, there is a glossary of pasta shapes, details on stocking a Calabrian pantry and a section on Calabria’s DOC wines.

My Calabria is more than you’d expect of a cookbook and reads as much like a travel guide or (interesting!) history book as a recipe list. As the jacket cover says, “it is a cookbook for our time,” but more than that, the book is a treasured testament to our Calabria.

***

Norton Publishing is offering three My Bella Vita readers a chance to win My Calabria: Rustic Family Cooking from Italy’s Undiscovered South before they can buy it!

Here are the details.

** Two cookbooks will be given away by random drawing. To be eligible-and to sign up for bonus entries-readers should:

1. Comment on this post by noon (Italian time) on Friday, November 5. (Simple, eh?)

2. For additional entries, “Like” both My Calabria and My Bella Vita on Facebook and leave a separate message in the comments telling me you did.

3. Follow My Calabria and My Bella Vita on Twitter for a third entry (and leave another comment telling us.)

4. All My Bella Vita newsletter subscribers will receive a bonus entry, so if you aren’t receiving either newsletter, you can sign up here.

** The third cookbook will be given away to a My Bella Vita “Liker” on Facebook.

Entries must be received by noon (Italian time) on Friday, November 5. Winners will be notified that day and will be announced on Monday, November 8 (the same day you can buy the cookbook). The contest is open to anyone with an address in North America.

In bocca al lupo!

Want to try Calabrian cuisine in Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

All Photos: Cooking with Rosetta

The first time I traveled to Naples, I had “EAT A SFOGLIATELLA” written in big letters on my Must See and Do list. If your travels haven’t taken you to Naples or the Campania region in southern Italy, then you’re in for a sweet treat when you arrive. In Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, she came to Naples to eat the town’s world famous pizza. When I read the book, I hoped she got also got a sfogliatella while she was there. This wonderful pastry is worth the trip alone!

So, how was my first sfogliatella? Well, it wasn’t love at first bite. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!) This little pastry turned out to be quite the challenge to eat. I’ve even caught a few Neapolitans making a powdered sugar mess of themselves without seeming to notice. And it’s oh so worth it! Unless you were blessed with an unusual amount of grace, you can expect a little white shower as you bite into the crunchy pastry shell dusted lightly with powdered sugar. The reward, however, is the first taste of the luscious, cinnamon scented ricotta cheese filling dotted with tiny bits of candied fruit.

While each recipe varies slightly, my favorite sfogliatelle have the perfect balance of spices and the scent of orange, and must not be too crunchy on the outside. It’s a delicate balance. It wasn’t a pretty sight the first time I tried a sfogliatella. The crunchy outer shell poked the top of my mouth when I bit in and, unfortunately, I was wearing black that day. The second time around I began to notice the subtlety of the flavors. And it wasn’t long before the sfogliatella became my favorite Neapolitan dessert!

My top choice for sfogliatelle in Naples is the historic Gran Caffè Gambrinus located right off the Piazza Plebiscito in the center of the city. I always stop by there for a sfogliatella and one of theirdelicious espressos with hazelnut cream when I’m in Naples. But you don’t have to visit Naples to find great sfogliatella. You’ll also find them at cafés and the local pasticcerie (pastry shops)
throughout the region of Campania. Where I live in Amalfi, my favorite spots for enjoying this special treat are the small and welcoming Pasticceria Leone or at the elegant Pasticceria Pansa located right in Amalfi’s main piazza.

While the sfogliatella is considered a signature Neapolitan pastry, the birthplace of this tasty treat was in Conca dei Marini, a tiny village located in the mountains of the Amalfi Coast. In the 1600s the precursor to today’s sfogliatella was created by nuns at the Monastery of Santa Rosa. You’ll still find this variety of sfogliatella, called santarosa after the monastery, in pasticcerie throughout the region. It differs in that it’s filled with a crema pasticcera instead of ricotta and is topped with a dab of crema di amarene (sour black cherry).

While I prefer the traditional Neapolitan variety, you’ll have to do some taste testing during your travels to find your favorite spot for enjoying the best sfogliatelle. That’s your Campania travel challenge, should you choose to accept!

Gran Caffè Gambrinus
Via Chiaia, 1/2
(Piazza Trieste e Trento)
Naples 80132
Tel. 081 417582 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              081 417582      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              081 417582      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Pasticceria and Bar Leone
Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi, 47
Amalfi 84011
Tel. 089 871127

Pasticceria Pansa
Piazza Duomo, 40
Amalfi 84011
Tel. 089 871065

Prefer to make your own? Check out this recipe for Sfogliatella from Mangia Bene Pasta or watch the video demonstration below.

Laura Thayer is an art historian and freelance writer living on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy.
She writes about travel for MNUI travel insurance and blogs about life on the Amalfi Coast at her own site Ciao Amalfi.

Traveling to Calabria? Then check out my Calabria travel tips e-guide “Don’t Get Caught with Dirty Drawers.”

Photos: MSWine and Ciao Amalfi!. YouTube video: LucianaDTT

Continental Airlines has long been my carrier of choice. They were there for my first flight-which I still have the cocktail napkin to prove, carried me safely to and from my local airport in Beaumont, Texas and have allowed me cash in a *free* international flight-when I most needed it-with my frequent flyer miles.

Overall, it’s been a good run.

So …

I was surprised earlier this year when I had trouble booking my nephew’s flight from Texas. No, It wasn’t a simple shop and select purchase. He was flying with me from Texas, then returning to Texas with friends a month later. We’d already purchased our tickets, thus, it looked like poor Cole was an unattended minor, flying solo.

It was a tough booking.

Since you’ve heard tale of lungomare love and bare boobs on the beach, you know we eventually made a purchase, thus ensuring young Cole a summer he’d never forget.

Here’s a quick recap of how that happened.

Sunday, May 2: I looked on Continental.com and found a round-trip ticket for Cole for $850. I tried to purchase the ticket, but since it appeared he was unaccompanied, the system tried to charge me additional fees. I emailed customer service using their online form.

Tuesday, May 4: When I hadn’t received a response from Continental, I rechecked their site, found the price was slightly higher and resent a message via their contact form.

Thursday, May 6: I woke up Thursday morning to an empty Inbox, checked Continental’s website and found that the price for Cole’s ticket had skyrocketed to $3,103.00, plus tax.

I immediately began searching for a “real, live, breathing person” … as I was almost certain that even in the airline industry, they do exist and quickly found that Traveler’s Best Friend, Christopher Elliott, had it covered. I discovered a cheat sheet, of sorts, with a snippet about Continental, some important email addresses and tips on who and how to approach them.

Using all of my freelance writing know-how, I drafted the sweetest, kindest email possible, addressed it to both the Director and Staff VP of Customer Care, told them about my difficulties booking the ticket, how I’d tried to reach them for several days and about the prohibitively-expensive price increase.

I told them I understood how busy they were-they’d just announced the United merger a few days earlier-and stressed how much I enjoyed flying with Continental. I included my OnePass number and confirmation numbers from my previous contact form attempts.

A couple of hours later, I received a response from the Staff VP, indicating he had read my email and telling me a Sr. Customer Service Manager would contact me that day.

That afternoon-Italy time-I received an email from Diane, a customer service manager, saying she’d used my OnePass contact information to reach me and had left a message at my home in Texas. She listed times when she was available and implied we’d be able to resolve the issue.

I immediately returned her call.

She was friendly, understanding and interested in my unique situation … in short, she was everything an airline’s customer service manager should be. She even allowed me a “grace period” to book Cole’s connecting flights (on a different airline) so I could ensure all of our tickets would match up accordingly.

A few days later we booked his flight and a day or two after that, she sent a follow-up message confirming receipt of his e-ticket.

I was impressed.

Lately, air travelers are met with increased fees, decreased services, intolerance, impatience, unkindness … a blatant lack of appreciation. Continental’s actions set the tone for my nephew’s sun-kissed summer and without them, he would have had the same ‘ole southeast Texas experience he’s had every year. So, Diane, Martin and the rest of Continental’s customer service team … thank you.

Or, as Cole would say … grascia mille!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

There are many places you can go when you are traveling in Calabria near Catanzaro … you could see Le Castella, visit the ruins in Roccelletta or spend a morning driving through Sila Piccola in La Sila National Park.

And that, my friends, is what I want to talk about today.

If you’ve spent much time on this site, you know one of my favorite destinations in Calabria is La Sila. Maybe it is because I grew up in flat-land, Texas and love the idea of driving through winding mountain roads. Maybe it is the clean, fresh air-99.9% pure, or so they say … or maybe it is the view, from every little corner, of a glistening lake, a canopy of pine trees or a village, with bright Italian roofs dotting the landscape.

Or maybe it is because *the best restaurant I’ve been to in Italy* is located there.

Yes, I said it. The best restaurant in Italy.

… or at least, the best one I’ve been to … Villa Marinella.

Last fall my husband and I accidentally discovered this place when our old-faithful Silan restaurant of choice was booked. We drove the kilometer or so to Villaggio Racise and pulled in front of Villa Marinella.

They were busy-hustling and bustling, serving diners, smiling at each other, ensuring a positive pranzo experience for everyone they saw … even us.

“Do you have a reservation?” They asked.

Blushing, we looked down at the floor … “No, we don’t.”

“That’s ok!” The handsome, if I can say so, server told us. “We’ll find something for you. Just give us a few minutes.”

And they did.

I can’t remember all of the details, only dish after dish (after dish after dish after dish) being plopped in front of us-grilled eggplant and zucchini, stuffed eggplant, homemade sausage, cheese and prosciutto, five-count ‘em … five!-different samples of primi plates, including porcini crepes and spinach cannoloni … and homemade wine-direct from their personal vineyard near Lamezia-all for, get this, €18 a person.

We’ve returned to Villa Marinella several times since that day, usually for special occasions-like my birthday in January or a beautiful spring day in May and we love to take our friends there when they are visiting.

Just last week, we went again. This time, the restaurant was bare-just one other family in the corner and Luigi, the same cute, friendly server, grinning at the door.

“Is it too late?” We asked, since it was well after 2:00 and we knew the family-only staff might want to rest before the dinner rush.

“No,” he insisted. “Not at all. Choose your seat.”

We did and he immediately came over to offer suggestions.

“Our friend is here from Spain,” my husband told him. “So let’s just do a small antipasto-only with homemade stuff.”

“It’s all ours,” Luigi told us. “How about some prosciutto, salami, cheese and a mixed hot antipasto plate to share?”

“Ok,” my husband said. “But not too much and really, only bring the stuff you make yourselves.”

“But we make it all ourselves,” Luigi repeated proudly. “Even the prosciutto, it is ours, too.”

We ok’d the antipasto order and moved on to first and second plates.

“We have gnocchi alla crema di zucca,” he said, and listed a few other pasta dishes made with mushrooms and meat.

Luckily for me, I misunderstood “all zucca,” thought he said “alla zucchine” and ordered a sampler primi plate with half of the gnocchi dish and half pasta with pancetta and mushrooms.

And it was the best lingual mistake I’ve ever made.

Luigi and one of his cousins brought out the primi plates and both boys dove head first into my plate of gnocchi.

“They are fabulous.”
“Delicious.”
“Best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

“His mom made them,” his cousin said, as she dropped off a few more plates and bounced back to the kitchen.

“Your mom?” I asked Luigi. “Mamma mia-che brava!”

“Yes,” he nodded, the same proud, patience smile fixed on us. “She makes all of the primi plates.

“My aunt makes all of the second dishes, my uncle and cousins do the cold antipasto, my sister does the hot antipasto and together my uncle and sister make desserts and “command” the kitchen. My dad organizes the main dining room and works the bar and my brother and I seat people, serve them their meals and work at the register.”

His eyes twinkled. “We all work here together. From the time we are about seven we start carrying water to people, offering them coffee, talking to our guests. We are so lucky.”

He turned toward the kitchen.

“Oh, by the way,” he told the boys, as he turned back to look at us. “The sausage you are eating is from our final pig last winter.”

He pointed out the window, “We have all of our gardens over there-and when we aren’t here, we are all together over there working in the land.”

He let out a long, happy sigh. “There is always something to do.”

He smiled, shrugged and walked away.

I continued to work on my gnocchi mountain, my head spinning in a drunken stupor, as the soft potato dumplings and light cream sauce danced on my tongue. The boys, already digging into their sausage and Silan potatoes, were quiet. There was nothing else to be said.

We all felt we had been let in on a family secret-a little slice of the Bianco family’s life-a tale that made us love them-and their homemade everything-even more.

Villa Marinella
88050 Villaggio Racise
Taverna (CZ)

I think the pillars of a great restaurant are fresh ingredients, consistency and service-and Villa Marinella has all three. What do you think is the most important thing to look for in a restaurant?

Traveling south? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

Yea … that’s four. I never was good wit da math.

In an interesting twist, Tripbase contacted many of the bloggers who participated in this meme and with permission, compiled our posts into a series of free travel ebooks.

And the books are now available.

You can download your FREE copies of the Best Kept Travel Secrets Ebooks here and start learning about secret places all over the world in posts written by some of the most-traveled bloggers on the Internet.

Possibly the best part of this is that for every book that is downloaded, Tripbase will donate $1.00 to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization that delivers clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

In fact, Charity: Water is a pretty dynamic organization. Did you know that nearly one billion people in the world-that is one in eight of us-don’t have access to clean drinking water and that just $20 will provide one person clean water for 20 years?

Think of how much we can do with these books.

Here’s how you can help!

1. Tripbase is donating $1.00 per downloaded ebook, so click this link and download your books.

2. Instead of forwarding the books to your friends, send them this link and ask them to download the books themselves so their downloads will be counted in the total.

3. Share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and any other social networking methods you know.

Enjoy your free travel secrets ebooks and thank you for helping me help Tripbase help Charity: Water.

Be sure to see what travel tips Robin has today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

It came at a perfect time too, since in less than two weeks, I’ll be packing up and heading back across the great wide pond we call the Atlantic to visit my family in Texas.

Yes, loyal readers, it does seem like I just got back, I agree with you on that one. But spring will soon turn to summer and the calendar doesn’t lie.

It is time.

But back to the review.

I actually get to choose which suitcase I’d like to review and I’d love to hear what you think. I’ve narrowed it down to these four carry-ons.

- Delsey Helium Zip Carry-on Suiter Trolley

- International Traveller Melbourne 21″ Carry-On

- Samsonite Winfield 20″ Spinner

- Heys USA XCASE World’s Lightest Carry-on

I’m literally weighing my options here, as having a light bag is essential for a carry-on only traveler like myself … but the World’s Lightest Carry-on doesn’t have side pockets, and I like a good side pocket in a suitcase. I also like the spinner quality of the Samsonite but the Delsey Helium also comes in raspberry red … and that’s just cute.

So won’t you help me decide?

In the meantime, be sure to enter the drawing for four Italy travel books to be given away next week.

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

Like many travelers, I agonize over finding the perfect hotel-the ideal resting spot that strikes the balance between making me feel at home … and making me feel pampered.

And friends, I’ve found my home away home … in Rome.

My husband and I first met Paola, the perky, bright-eyed owner of Roma Axa 27 on that fateful February night when we rushed from our home in Catanzaro to join my family in Texas.

Not only did she open her home to us, but she welcomed us with open arms-and an open heart-and I’ll always be thankful for her graciousness.

In the last seven months, I’ve visited Paola and Roma Axa 27 on several more occasions-in fact, when traveling to or through the Rome airport, I wouldn’t stay anywhere else.

This B&B is everything a small, family-run hotel should be-it is spotlessly clean, the owner is generous and friendly and the extras-such as complimentary in-room bottled water, tea and crackers make it the perfect place to stop-over when traveling through Rome.

Both of the rooms have a private bath-one with en-suite bath-and transfers to and from the airport are included in the price-which ranges from €35-€40 per person.

There is a piazza located about 300 meters from Roma Axa 27, where travelers can venture to the heart of Rome via a 30-minute bus ride or choose to shop, have dinner or enjoy an evening passeggiata.

You can read more about Roma Axa 27 at RomeAirportAccommodations.com. To make a reservation or to check availability, email Paola at roma.axa.27 (at) gmail (dot) com or call (39) 340 3586057.

Be sure to tell her Cherrye sent you!

Happy Labor Day everyone and a very Happy Birthday to my little sister who is set to enjoy the last year in her current decade! Auguri, Charlee.

 
Last week I was surprised-and honored-to be named one of the 15 great new travel blogs over at Inside the Travel Lab. Besides being  flattered that other travel bloggers read My Bella Vita, I’m happy to know that all of my hard work, research and writing is going to good use.
 
So today, I’m passing the torch … here are 15 of my favorite travel blogs, in no particular order, that you are guaranteed to love!
 
- Killing Batteries – Possibly the funniest travel blog I read, Killing Batteries is written by professional travel writer, Leif Pettersen who has penned three guidebooks for Lonely Planet. Read more about him here. I promise. The guy is funny.
 
- Everything Everywhere - Fabulous photos and text by Gary Arndt, who has been traveling the world-and blogging about it-since 2007. But, I’m not the only one who thinks Gary rocks. He has been nominated and/or won more than two dozen travel blog awards in the last two years. Check it out.
 
- Cool Travel Guide – You’ve heard me talk about Lara Dunston’s Cool Travel Guide, but with over 60 countries and 40 guide books (including the newly released Travellers Calabria) to her name, it is well worth the repeat. She is also good for some inside information into less-visited areas around the globe.
 
- Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site – Written by, you guessed it, Matt, this site features weekly photos, travel tips and videos and is a good place to procrastinate your day away … if you are so inclined.
 
- Europe a la Carte – A collaborate blog featuring everything Europe. A fun site to visit if you want to learn about a lot of different places across Europe.
 
- 52 Perfect Days – This site features travel writing, photos and videos from states across the US while helping readers uncover the secret to, you guessed it, a perfect day.
 
- Delicious Baby – As if name wasn’t cute enough, this award-winning blog about traveling with children has spawned two undercover investigations and been featured in Conde Nast Traveler and Frommers. Even if you aren’t a traveling parent, this site is worth a look.
 
- 1002 Things Before I Kick the Bucket – Follow the life of a 20-something dreamer as she sets out to create and tackle her personal bucket list. But I warn you, you’ll want to steal her list …
 
- Europe UpClose – Yet another fabulous blog about traveling in Europe.
 
- Nerd’s Eye View – Fun blog from an eclectic freelance writer and blogger-and ukulele player-who you are guaranteed to fall in love with. This self-proclaimed nerd just finished her second guide book and has been published in a variety of magazines and online outlets.
 
- Fevered Mutterings – Freelance writer and blogger Mike Sowden is boldly going fourth and sharing it all with us.
 
- Indie Travel Podcast – Hosted by Craig and Linda Martin, this site features audio and video podcasts and was awarded first place in Lonely Planet’s Best Podcast category in 2009.
 
- TravelPod – Fun place to go where travelers share stories, write posts and upload videos and photos from recent journeys. This is the perfect site for an armchair traveler.
 
- Almost Fearless – Kick-ass site written by corporate dropout-turned digital vagabond who has traveled to over a dozen countries in the last year. The site is full of articles and tips, as well as a job board for freelance writers.
 
***
 
In addition to these 14 blogs, I always recommend Why Go Italy to my friends and family members who are planning trips to the bel paese and of course, my Travel Tip Tuesday counterpart, My Melange.
 
What are some of your favorite travel blogs? Please share them in the comments
 
Until next time … Buon Viaggio!
 
** Update: I was remiss in forgetting to link to all of my favorite Italy bloggers-they are a wealth of information on the bel paese and I should have known better than to take them granted … hope they’ll forgive me! **
 

 
Some of you might remember last fall when Michelle of Bleeding Espresso and I kicked off a blog tour for Calabrian-American journalist and book author, Justin Catanoso. Justin’s debut book, My Cousin the Saint had just hit the shelves and my newly-found Calabria pride encouraged me to share this book-and the story of Calabria’s newest saint-with my little corner of the blogosphere.
 
I’ve actually had the book for some time, sitting on my bookshelf, with Padre Gaetano‘s hand-pained image and haloed face smiling out at me, but between other book reviews, Italian language classes and the non-stop adventures that come with life in Calabria, I hadn’t yet read it.
 
And I’m so glad I waited.
 
I am a strong believer in the power of timing and of the idea that things come to you when you most need them. You see, I wasn’t quite honest in my introduction when I told you it was my Calabria pride that motivated my previous posts. The truth is-I liked Justin. He is a newspaper man, the lone male in a family of women, a writer. He reminded me of my own father and for that, I wanted to see him succeed.
 
I can’t explain why I picked up the book when I did … perhaps it was motivated by my impending trip back to the US and by the fact I’d be returning to a home no longer shared with my father, but it resonated with me in ways I couldn’t have understood a year ago.
 
From Patrizia’s miracle description on page one, through Saint Gaetano’s vision of a better Calabria, to Justin’s personal struggle of coping with the loss of an immediate family member … I was absorbed. And I couldn’t stop reading.
 
I found myself laughing, biting my nails and crying-all on an airplane, thankyouverymuch-as the story of Justin’s American family intertwined with the Italian ancestors his grandfather had left behind. His depiction of southern Italy, both the landscape and its people, were flawless and more than once I recognized my own Italian family members in his descriptions.
 
But I think what resounded with me the most was Justin’s unending search for faith. Although I’ve spent my life as a more-devout-than-not Catholic, these last six months have challenged my faith, and I understood Justin’s doubts-and hopes!-that faith can be restored.
 
I’m not sure if he meant for his book to motivate Catholics or re-inspire the faithful, but I can’t help but think there is a humble, Calabrese parish priest who is happy about it … who is smiling down on us from above as he is hurriedly answers his newly-sainted hot line.
 
Want to learn more about My Cousin the Saint? You can peruse Justin’s photos of Reggio Calabria, the village of Chorio and Saint Gaetano’s canonization, visit Justin’s website or read other reviews. Want to read the book yourself? Click here to buy My Cousin the Saint-now available in paperback!
 
You can thank me later.
 
 
* My Cousin the Saint cover design: Emin Mancheril; photograph: Stefano Stefani / Getty Images
 

 
The best thing about living in a foreign country is the number of great people you meet. Expats abroad tend to form an alliance based on a mutual understanding, or in many cases misunderstanding of the new society and having that network is an invaluable source of comfort for many of us.
 
The second best thing about living in a foreign country is the new food … especially in a country like Italy, where fresh produce and homemade dishes are celebrated and appreciated. And expected!
 
So when you put best thing #1 with best thing #2 and you find a fellow expat who is not only a good listener and helpful friend, but who is also a fantastic chef with mouthwatering recipes … well, you’ve hit the mother load.
 
And so we have.
 
Judy Witts Francini has been a Tuscan chef for 25 years and although we have yet to meet in person, I’m looking forward to the day we can shake hands, or well, we are in Italy, so kiss cheeks, share a glass of wine and she can cook for me. (What? She’s a pro?)
 
Until that day, though I’ll have to get by with her new cookbook “Secrets From my Tuscan Kitchen.” And let me just say, I think I’ll manage just fine.
 

 
The cookbook is a collection of 93 of Judy’s favorite Tuscan recipes and features pasta and risotto dishes, second plate meals, recipes for homemade bread and pasta and an extensive dessert section.
 
I’ve already jumped into the book and prepared a few summer favorites while my husband is planning ahead for the cold-weather months to try some of the heartier Tuscan stews and soups … and he’s been eyeing her homemade gnocchi recipe, as well.
 
The recipes are in American measurements, but the front-of-the-book conversions make it easy to whip up these treats, regardless of which continent you are on.
 
So if you are looking for a new cookbook that won’t gather dust on your shelf, head over to DivinaCucina and order your copy today. Or better yet, buy two and share one with the Tuscan wanna-be chef in your life.
 
Buon Appetito!
 

 
So what do you do if you are in one of Italy’s most picturesque cities and find yourself with a hankering for two, three, or even four scoops of homemade southern Italian gelato?
 
You hit the beach.
 
Just a few blocks down the lungomare from the tiny green kiosk of the Gelateria Cesare is the ultra-modern, uber-trendy Cremeria Sottozero-today’s stop on the Tour del Gelato.
 

 
Sottozero is a full service Italian bar that serves pastries, apertivi, coffee, granita and of course … gelato.
 

 
The soft, fluffy pillows of gelato consumed more than four cases, each offering a new, exciting flavor to tempt our taste buds.
 

 
Licorice? Good. But not for me …
 
Chili pepper? Absolutely! Oh shoot-they are all out.
 
Sapori di Sicilia? A mix of the best flavors of Sicily? Count me in!
 
After agonizing over this life-and-death-type decision, I choose sapori di sicilia and coconut. I was not disappointed.
 
“So what do you think?” our Reggio guide asked as she took another bite from her coppetta. “Who wins? Cesare or Sottozero?”
 
I looked around the group as my new friend’s young Brazilian friend joined us to hear the results.
 

 
“Two votes here for Sottozero,” she said as she pointed to her husband and herself.
 
“Me, too,” one of the Americans said. “I think.”
 
“I can’t decide,” the other American said.
 
They all looked at me.
 
“Well,” I began, as I licked my cone just as the Sicilian pistachio blend started dripping down my hand. “I like the atmosphere at Cesare. It is small and quaint and cozy. Sottozero is too modern.”
 
They all nodded.
 
“I also like the staff at Cesare. They are friendlier and more welcoming.”
 
They all looked at each other. Giggle. Giggle. Laugh.
 
“What?” I asked, obviously missing the joke.
 
They pointed to my new friend’s Brazilian friend who was, by the way, not laughing and I noticed his shirt for the first time.
 
There in the upper left corner of his black striped vest was the word “Sottozero.”
 
Gulp.
 
“Uhm … uhm …,” I said, quickly trying to back peddle my way out of this situation. “I meant, uhm … the staff here is great, too … maybe he doesn’t speak English?”
 
“He speaks English.”
 
“Well,” I declared as I pulled my friends away from the bar and towards the beach. “What I was going to say is that Cesare is precious and I loved the people-but the gelato at Sottozero is richer, creamier and well … more sinfully delicious.”
 
So there you have it. Four votes for Sottozero and one undecided. And according to Sottozero’s logo … there is really only one choice.
 

 
But if you are ever on or around the Reggio Calabria lungomare, I think you should do the taste-test yourself because, really, when gelato is this good … who’s to say one is sweeter or which group of people is really friendlier?
 

Cremeria Sottozero

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Number 83

89100 Reggio Calabria (Lido)

Italy

 
* Visitors to Catanzaro no longer have to drive the two hours south to Reggio for Sottozero gelato. A new kiosk recently opened in the new Centro Commerciale Le Fontane and all of their classic tastes, including the mousse-like semifreddo flavors are available there.
 
 

 
Remember last week when I told you all about my day trip to Reggio Calabria? Oh you know … where I found those buns of bronze?
 
Well I have a confession to make. And no, it has nothing to do with those big naked men … but it is just as sinful.
 
Reggio Calabria is famed for not one, but two world-class gelaterie. Everyone in town has their favorite and they’ll venomously defend their gelato maker of choice … or die of insulin overdose trying.
 
You see, I’m a gelato connoisseur myself so I wasn’t content to take the advice of Reggio day-trippers who had come before me. I had to taste them and see how they compared to my longtime favorite, Marron Glacés.
 
So in the name of research-I tried them both.
 
Today’s stop on the Tour del Gelato leads us to Gelateria Cesare, located in a bright green kiosk near the lungomare and just steps away from both the Reggio Calabria Lido train station and the National Museum of Magna Grecia.
 

 
For more than 50 years, Gelateria Cesare has been dishing out what they claim-and what at least 50% of Reggio Calabrians claim-is the best gelato in town and with about three dozen flavors, including hard-to-find low-fat and sugar-free varieties, I can’t say they are wrong.
 

 
Chocolate and cream flavors more your thing? Check these babies out.
 

 
Cesare’s has even had some high-profile taste testers give them the thumbs up.
 

 
Perhaps what was even more impressive to me than the creamy gelato and full, rich flavors was Cesare’s staff and atmosphere. The kiosk is barely large for 10 people and the staff-laughing, joking and smiling-eagerly offer samples while you search their icy glass containers for your favorite flavors.
 
They have four sizes available, including the mini cup (€1.50) which is perfect for a post-pizza dessert or a lazy afternoon.
 

Gelateria Cesare

Piazza Indipendenza

Reggio Calabria (Lido)

Calabria

 
In order to best compare Cesare to Marron Glacés, I chose my two favorite flavors-pistachio and spagnola. They were sweet, cold and refreshing and the black cherry left just a twinge of a bittersweet aftertaste. But how did Cesare hold up against Reggio-famed Sottozero? Come back on Wednesday to find out!
 
* Photo of Berlu at Cesare’s is from GelateriaCesare.It.
 
 

 
Who’d have thought writing a book review could be such a tough thing? On the surface it is simple enough. You read a book, you either like it-or don’t like it, summarize your thoughts and tap ‘em out on your trusty ‘ole laptop.
 
It is not rocket surgery. Or brain science, as might be more the case with my latest read, The Cardboard Universe, by Christopher Miller. I struggled with the book. And with the direction of this review.
 
The dialogue-free Cardboard Universe is written in an encyclopedia format-522 pages!-and spoofs the life of sci-fi writer, Philip K. Dick. The novel chronicles the life of the fictitious author Phoebus K. Dank, who wrote 57 (official) novels, including ”Big Dick,” featuring a character named none other than, Philip K. Dick. It is all very clever.
 

 
The novel starts by introducing the dueling narrators, William “Bill” Boswell, an author, lecturer and ex-roommate of Dank who is widely considered the nation’s leading Dankian and Owen Hirt, a poet and onetime friend of Dank who is the lone suspect in the author’s murder.
 
As Boswell points out early in the encyclopedia’s preface, “Dank’s fiction was a lifelong effort to make sense of his own life …. his fiction was always heartfelt, and even the tales he set in other galaxies were usually provoked by doings in his own backyard.”
 
And I would expect no less. Writer’s often reflect on their lives and search within their inner circles for inspiration, and where I might find material at my local language school or by speaking with my Italian father-in-law, Dank was inspired to create alternative universes-where a woman can transplant her mind and memories to a new, younger, more slender body every two to three years (to deal with her eating disorder), where people agree to battle “Sadiators” (pronounced sad e aters) in a “suicide duel,” where the goal is to kill your opponent with sadness by spitting sharp-tongued comments at them until they kill themselves, or even his novel, “And How Will I Know You?” where a virus called “the Proteu strain” infects the world’s population so everyone’s physical characteristics change each night as they sleep.
 
I hereby proclaim Christopher Miller a creative genius. It is safe to say his imagination isn’t limited to the 57 book summaries he invents in The Cardboard Universe … and as I writer I admire that. I respect that. No, I’m actually in awe of that.
 
But even with my admiration of his talent and creativity, the book didn’t grab me. It didn’t pull me in. It didn’t make me want to miss sleep, skip meals or hide in the bathroom to get through the next entry. It was only when I stopped pushing myself to read each encyclopedia entry in chronological order-like you’d normally read a novel-that I was drawn in. I finally got the humor other book reviewers found and was able to enjoy the book.
 
The Cardboard Universe is especially recommend for sci-fi lovers or Philip K. Dick fans or for those of you who are willing to invest a little time and are looking for something different in your next book purchase.
 
Have you read The Cardboard Universe? What did you think of it? You can purchase your own copy here.
 
Buon Weekend!
 
 

 
It is that time of year again … schools are wrapping up, kids are heading to the nearest watering hole and their parents and friends are planning summer BBQs and outdoor picnics.
 
But just in case you don’t have time-or the desire to melt away under the glaring Texas sun-you have another option … especially if you are in southeast Texas.
 

 
Located on Highway 96 between Silsbee and Beaumont in Lumberton, Dippity’s serves up the biggest, freshest, juiciest burgers in southeast Texas … or so says my husband whose sole mission on each of his Texas trips is to find the best burger in town.
 
Like Burger King, you can have it your way-with lettuce, maters, mayo, even jalapenos all stacked on fresh ground beef and sandwiched between homemade buns … Who could ask for more in a burger?
 
Sink your teeth into that baby. Dippity’s famous Texas Tummy Tackler …
 

 
Or this one … for smaller tummies.
 

 
Dippity’s is located in a strip mall with an unassuming facade-neon sign excluded-and no frills interior, but the drastically affordable prices (the standard-sized burger is $3.89) and friendly hometown staff prove that Dippity’s is nothing more than your neighborhood burger joint-with kick ass burgers.
 
But don’t take our word for it-if you are in the area, check it out yourself.
 

Dippity’s

815 S. Main Street

Lumberton, Texas

(409) 755-3632

 
May all of your burgers today be Dippity-good burgers … Happy Memorial Day!
 

 
Although Rome Week is technically finita, I do have a few straggling notes hanging around in my notebook itching to hit the big screen. Or, well, the computer screen.
 
You see, as a B&B owner I gravitate towards other B&Bs and nine times out of 10, prefer them to big hotels. I love the personal service, cozy atmosphere and friendly environment. Plus, I like to support the little people and send out those good Karmic vibes whenever I can.
 
On the other hand, I could also be accused of being overly critical and holding other B&Bs to sky-high standards. And it is true. I’m guilty.
 
Such is the case with the Cesare Balboa Suites in Rome.
 

 
On the surface there is nothing wrong with this B&B. They are located on Via Cesare Balboa, near Via Cavour, about 10 minutes from Termini train station. And as you can see, they are located inside a majestic palazzo on a quiet side street.
 
Just to be fair-and to keep things positive-I’m going to list my cons first so I can end on a positive note.
 
Cons
 
- The information we were given at booking said
* They had 24-hour reception
* They had hairdryers in the rooms
* They were near the Colosseum
* They accept credit cards
 
In reality, we saw them twice after we checked in, they didn’t offer a hairdryer until I asked and we were 15 minutes on foot from the Colosseum.
 
Now, I don’t mind a B&B without 24-hour reception, heck-we don’t have it! But I’m not into false advertisements, either.
 
I also don’t believe their credit card machines were “broken.” I believe they wanted us to pay in cash so they 1) wouldn’t have to report us on their taxes or 2) wouldn’t have to pay the credit card fees. If you don’t want to accept credit cards-don’t say you will.
 
- They deliver breakfast to your room-which is romantic!-but you have to arrange the time in advance and since they don’t really have 24-hour reception, changing your time can be a challenge.

 
Pros
 
- The room was spacious and decorated in antique Roman-style. It was warm and welcoming.
 
- The staff members, a husband and wife team, were friendly and accommodating. He offered us an umbrella when we checked-out, even though he knew we couldn’t return it. They smiled a lot and had maps of the area readily available.
 
- The price. We paid €70 a night for a double in Rome and although they weren’t really by the Colosseum like they advertise, they did have a good location.
 
In the end, I think my disappointment with Cesare Balboa Suites boils down to my expectations-expectations they set by making promises they didn’t keep. Had they not advertised that location, hairdryers, credit card machine and 24-hour reception, I’d have booked them anyway-and that “Con” list would’ve been a lot less imposing.
 
I am, admittedly, a critical customer. But what about you? What expectations do you have for hotels and B&Bs and what could they do to either cement your loyalty or send you running?
 

 
How many of you choose a new travel destination then run right out and purchase a new guide book? Come on … you can tell me.
 
Well then, how many of you choose a new travel destination, then run right to your laptop, plop down with a grande Starbucks caramel latte and Google, “Where to go to in …?”
 
Yea, ok. I’m with you (and that caramel latte is sounding pretty good about now). But is this really the best approach? As social media continues to expand our ever-changing habits what old routines will we keep and which not-so-distant patterns will become a far-flung memory?
 
Travelbooking is a first-of-its-kind site that allows users to search for travel-related content, pull online travel guides from its sister site, So Much World, save that information, create a personalized travel guide and share it all with their friends.
 
So I thought I’d give it a try.
 
I simulated recreating my Central American honeymoon and was disappointed to find there wasn’t information on my first country of choice-Belize.
 
So I thought I’d stick with something bigger. And better. The Bel Paese.
 
You can imagine my thrill at searching “Italy” and finding that the first link on the page was none other than My Bella Vita. But I dug deeper and searched for Rome. Admittedly, I only spent about 15 minutes playing on the site and while they do have some good bookmarks (ahem!), it is possible the site is just too young to have the depth needed to compete with guide books.
 
But I’ll be watching them.
 
And you should, too. In fact, here is a short video-less than two minutes-that describes the site’s interface and usability.
 

 
So what do you think? Is this the future of travel guides or will people keep buying the book? Since I have my heart set on writing a Calabria Guide Book one day … I hope there is room for both.
 
Let’s head over and see what Robin has going on this week at My Melange.
 
Until next time … Buon Viaggio!