Last week my friend and expat-in-southern-Italy counterpart, Tina of Tina Tangos wrote about three things to love about living in Italy.

And yes, it is all about the food.

The thing is, Tina and I are both lucky not only to live in Italy, but to live in southern Italy, where the food is apparently that much better. So in addition to Tina’s three things to love, I’d like to add a few of my own.

1. Say Cheese

My husband got quite offended earlier this week when I was near tears at the local Lidl’s British Week when I discovered there was no more Cheddar Cheese.

“You are in Calabria, Cherrye,” he told me. “We have the best cheese in the world.”

Well, since I am yet to sample all of the world’s cheeses and have a few French friends who’d defriend me if I agreed, I’ll just say that yes, Calabria has great cheese.

In fact, Calabrian cheese, especially Provola di Sila and Pecorino Calabrese are some of my favorite things about Calabria, so if you see them when you are out and about, be sure to give them a try.

2. Peperoncino, Per Favore

Oh, I’ve written of my passion for the peperoncino many times over the years, still it is one of my favorite things about southern Italy and thus, merits another mention.

I love how Calabrians use the ever-popular pepper in most of their plates, then offer it freely for those (of us) who’d like to add a little more power to our pranzo. I love how they don’t look at you strangely if you add it to your pasta and how oftentimes you get your choice-fresh, dried or oil-for your pizza.

3. Melanzane Mania

Even in Texas I loved to top my dishes with a pretty pepper or a chunk of cheese, but it is the mighty melanzane-or eggplant, if you please, that has taken me by surprise. This pretty purple produce is great sliced and grilled, fried, rolled into a ball or baked. Unfortunately, perfection has alluded me and most of the time my melanzane ends up either old-soaked or dry. However, my father-in-law is the melanzane master, so luckily for me, I can still get my fill on this Calabrian specialty.

Ok, if you had to choose-what ONE food-related item do you love most about southern Italy?

This post was written on behalf of Affordable Calling Cards.net, the company that sells-you guessed it-affordable calling cards to Italy. You can either check out their calling cards or read posts written by other expats in the ACC community.

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

Photos: Academia Barilla, Gusti di Calabria, Netturbe, Dolci e Non Solo (also a great source of Italian-language recipes).

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You see, I’m convinced there really is something to that Aria Calabra that changes a once innocent, well-meaning, pooch-petting boy into a hormone-ranging mostro.

And it all started in Pizzo.

Auntie Adventures: Italian Beach Bums

Pizzo is one of my favorite little villages in Calabria and since it is only 45-minutes or so from Catanzaro, it made for a sensible day trip. We headed out-on the train … more on that later-to check out the Murat Castle, go swimming in the Tyhennian Sea and taste-test tartufo in Pizzo’s main piazza.

And all went according to plan.

We toured the castle, I forced a picture of Cole and a statue, we had tartufo.

Then we went to the beach. In fact, we found an ideal cove of tan sand and rocks, just large enough for a few people and their beach towels, and plopped down to enjoy a few hours of private beach bummin’,

The boys had a great time and just before I called “time’s up,” they swam around the big boulder to my right-to another hidden bay of private beach bliss and had the surprise of their young lives.

A topless sunbather.

I looked up and saw Cole, stumbling towards me in a drunken stupor, wide eyes, goofy grin.

“Cici!” He said. (See, he is still a kid-he calls me by a special name.) “You’ll never guess what we saw. A woman without her bra!”

I jumped up. “Ok, boys. Time to go. We’ll miss the train … Come on. Andiamo!”

They reluctantly joined me and immediately started sizing her up.

“They were so big,” Cole said. “I gotta call Uncle Peppe!”

“They weren’t that big,” the older and wiser 14 year old, Jake told him. “She was probably a ‘C’.”

“They were big,” Cole insisted. “And there were like, nipples or something.”

“Enough, boys! Basta.” I had to stop it. I flashed back to October 17, 2000-just seconds after he was born-it was too soon to be hearing about nipples.

We hopped on the train and an hour or so later we were back in Catanzaro-the boys wearing a bit more pride on their upturned chests, Cole, with a glimmer of knowledge that shouldn’t be there, shining in his deep green eyes and me, with all of the stress and worry of an aunt who’d just allowed her sister’s nine year old child to grow up a bit too soon.

But all’s well that ends well. My sister laughed and forgave me, Cole thinks I’m the coolest aunt in the country and I’ve learned there is a lot more to beach bums than should ever meet the eye.

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

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My friend Lisa over at Wanderlust Women’s Travel Dreams urged me to share some of my Auntie Adventures with you on the blog, so with Lisa’s urging and my sister’s insistence for details of our day-to-day activities, I’ve decided to chronicle some of our adventures here.

Boardwalk Surprises

Our first adventure takes place on a Sunday evening on the Catanzaro Lido lungomare. We have plans-the two boys, my husband and I-to meet up with friends for pizza, gelato and a night of people-watching on the lungmare.

Like many other seaside towns in Italy, Catanzaro Lido’s lungomare is bursting with people of all ages, walking their dogs, meeting their friends, gathering to play in the arcade or just checking out who on the lungomare is checking them out.

As we parked our car into one of too-tight spaces we’d managed to wrangle, our friends call and tell us they’ll be an hour late.

“No problem,” we thought. “We’ll just hang out here with the boys.”

As we were approaching the beach, a middle-aged man with a beagle passes us.

“Look!” Cole said. “A doggie! How do you say, ‘Can I pet your dog in Italian?’”

Knowing “accarezzare” would be too difficult for him to remember in Italian, we told him to just point to the dog and say “Posso?”

And so he did. (Except he said “Cosso?” and the guy had a hard time figuring out what this nine year old American kid was trying to tell him about his pooch.)

My husband came to the rescue, corrected Cole’s pronunciation and on we went.

However, anyone with kids will know that if you do something once, you’re going to get asked again. And again. And yet again.

Not content sitting on the lungomare waiting for dog-walkers to approach us, Cole began stalking them -searching for them, chasing them down the boardwalk, dashing to get ahead of them so he could accidentally bump into them in passing.

“Posso?”

They were all charmed and every one of those Calabrians freely offered up their pooch for his petting.

A few minutes before our friends scheduled arrival, we grabbed a seat on one of the orange-slice benches that faces the Ionian.

“Cole,” I told him, trying to give the dogs and their owners a piccolo break. “Most people don’t come to the lungomare to look at pets. They come to look at girls like the one your Uncle Peppe is pretending not to look at now.”

“Oh yea,” his face lit up. “Like her.”

I followed his gaze and it was, indeed, the same leggy blond Uncle Peppe was pretending he hadn’t seen.

“Yes,” I told him. “Like her.”

He glanced around the lungomare and as our friends arrived we began our stroll towards the pizzeria. The previous conversation forgotten by everyone but Cole, he blurted out, “That one! That’s the one I like.”

We looked over to a 30something blond, with a turquoise blue tank and tight blue jeans (“And black boots,” says Cole, as he reads this over my shoulder, “Don’t forget her black boots!”)

A pretty girl woman, indeed.

Everyone laughed at his choice and we continued on our way.

Ten minutes later, we enter the pizzeria and who do we see sitting at the bar? Blue Tank Top, herself.

A quick restroom break, hand-wash and scan around the pizzeria later (since he now knows that is what expected of men in Calabria), Cole and Uncle Peppe pass the bar.

To everyone’s surprise-and to Uncle Peppe’s astonishment, embarrassment, discomfort-Cole walks past Blue Tank Top, turns to look at her and her brunette friend and says, “Ciao bella!”

The table bursts into laughter and shy Uncle Peppe crawls into the hole he mentally blazed into the floor.

It is soon over, though.

Blue Tank Top leaves the pizzeria with her stack of to-go boxes and bag of arancini and walks my nephew’s nine-year-old heart out the door.

But all is well. In just a few days he’ll go to Pizzo and there will be another-albeit just as unattainable surprise waiting for him there.

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

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Laura, an avid tea drinker and fellow expat in southern Italy was interested-and I do believe a tad jealous-and wanted to explore the bella bergamot.

So, let’s welcome her, shall we?

—

Those of you who have traveled to Italy will understand when I say that Italy is a coffee country. The morning traditionally starts with a cappuccino and the rest of the day punctuated with short, strong shots of espresso often served standing up at a bar. While this is a fine way to stay caffeinated, I’ve always preferred a nice cup of tea.

Yet, ordering a cup of tea in Italy makes me feel, well, like a tourist. And since enjoying a cup of tea also requires much more time than the average 30 seconds an Italian needs to enjoy a cup of espresso, I usually keep my tea preferences between myself and my large stockpile of tea at home.

So imagine my surprise when I discovered recently that bergamot, the distinctive scent that flavors Earl Grey tea (one of my favorites!), comes from bergamot oranges. And where, you might ask, are bergamot oranges grown? Just down south! South, that is, from where I live on the Amalfi Coast in Campania. I’ve never associated tea and Italy in any way, but, as it turns out, Calabria is the only place in the world where the climate is just right for bergamot oranges to grow naturally.

You’ll find groves of bergamot oranges growing along a stretch of the Calabrian coastline from Villa San Giovanni to Gioiosa Ionica, wrapping around the toe of Italy’s boot from the Tyrrhenian to the Ionian Seas. These very particular citrus trees sure have a good taste when it comes to location!

But before you go peeling and biting into a bergamot orange, you should know that these pear-shaped, yellow fruits are thought to be a natural cross between a lime and a sour orange. This makes them quite sour to eat fresh. The juice and zest of the skin are often used in candies, liqueurs and pastries. The essential oil extracted from the skin of the bergamot is also used for perfumes, cosmetics and, of course, Earl Grey tea!

Calabria is a region of Italy I’ve longed to travel to and discover since I moved to Italy, and now I have just one more reason to lure me south. Next time as I sip my cup of Earl Grey tea, instead of feeling out of place in Italy’s coffee culture, I’ll be wondering instead if the bergamot in my cup of tea came from the beautiful coastline of Calabria.

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

Photo: Laura Padgett and Jen Maiser

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You can listen to the full podcast, but I’d also like to share some of that information with you today. Here are five Calabrian food items you should try when you visit Calabria.

1. ‘Nduja

I’ve written quite a bit about Calabria’s famous ‘nduja, the spreadable spicy sausage you can eat with pasta, gnocchi or bruschetta, so you can read more about it here and here.

I’ll warn you, this stuff can be so hot it’ll singe the skin on the roof of your mouth. Still … you should try it. (Convinced yet?)

If you aren’t sure about eating ‘nduja in a restaurant, then pick some up at a local store, dab a bit on a piece a bread and slowly add to it until it is hot. It won’t take long.

2. Provola di Sila

This special type of provola cheese is made in the mountains of La Sila National Park and is sometimes called Caciocavallo Silano. Calabrians keep it in their homes and add it to sandwiches or eat it is as a snack-or sometimes offer it as a snack, like my father in law does.

3. Melanzane

I wouldn’t say I wasn’t an eggplant kind of girl before I came to Calabria, but I can definitely say I am one now. I *heart* this big purple produce, whether it is grilled, sott’olio, stuffed or baked.

If you see it in restaurants as either part of an antipasto or as melanzane ripiene then try it.

4. Anything Spicy

Yes, we technically hit this with the ‘nduja entry, but if spicy sausage isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy Calabria’s famous natural viagra. You can ask for it to be added to your pizza or request a piccante antipasto or pasta dish.

I was actually trying to think of a dish where you shouldn’t add peperoncini … and I couldn’t think of one. Can you?

5. Brasilena

Unless you’ve spent time in Calabria, you might not know that Brasilena is a cold espresso beverage made with Calabrian mineral water taken from the source at Monte Covello in the province of Catanzaro. These drinks are especially enjoyable on hot summer days … like the ones that are approaching.

Is your favorite Calabrian food item not on the list? What would you add?

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

Photo: About Italian Food and Steffen’s Dinners

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***

Marianna Giuditta reminds me of mothers I grew up around in my New Jersey neighborhood. It makes sense, since so many of them were descendants of folks from Calabria, this region in the toe of Italy’s boot. Marianna even moves around the kitchen like they did—a tigress going in for the kill.

“The pig is the meat of Calabria,” she tells me, hacking away at a chunk of pork and tossing big fatty pieces of it into a pot to start off her sugo Calabrese.

Cooking by Marianna’s side is taking the straight shot into the rustic, generous spirit of the region.

Her classroom is a hilltop cottage, what around here is called a casetta. It’s surrounded by lemon and fig trees, a chicken coop, tiny gardens where Tropea’s famous red onions, herbs, chard, fava beans, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and melons grow.

There’s an outdoor woodburning stove. It’s a typical Calabrese set-up: a slapped-together country getaway townies build to have a place to grow their own food and cook great fresh meals.

Marianna’s evening class is a whirlwind of picking vegetables from the garden and then working on a huge outside table, doing everything from chopping onions to making meatballs that go into pasta al forno. Her husband Franco pours prosecco and adds fresh-picked strawberries to our glasses.

We nibble on pecorino paired with the garden’s fava beans—a divine combo.

While the tomato sauce bubbles along, Marianna teaches me how to make fileja, Calabria’s signature pasta. It looks a little like what back in Jersey was called cavatelli, pronounced gava-deels by those moms of my past.

The sunset turns the sky pink and orange. It’s dark out by the time class is finished. Loads of stars. We dine outside by candlelight, and when Marianna breaks out the limoncello, we realize it’s two in the morning.

The Cooking in Tropea school is the creation of Tania Pascuzzi, an Australian-Italian whose parents were born in Calabria and then emigrated to Melbourne. Tania, who grew up around delicious Calabrian food, came to live in Tropea after fourteen years of high-pressure work as a New York stylist. She’s a sophisticated woman in her forties, the type who looks chic even when she’s wearing faded jeans.

The cooking program includes a food tour of Tropea, where with Tania by my side, everyone treats me like I’m part of la famiglia. This is hot red pepper territory. They’re dried and tied up in garlands all over the place. They’re minced up and made into n’duja, a spread that sizzles on the tongue or has me choking and gasping, depending on intensity.

And now for the giveaways!

Susan’s publisher, Travelers’ Tales has offered My Bella Vita readers, Facebook Fans and newsletter subscribers four Italian titles to help them prepare for their vacations to Italy.

Here are the details:

- Leave a comment on **THIS** post between today, Monday May 10 and Thursday, May 20 at 5:00 PM Italy time for a chance to win a copy of Susan’s book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go.

- Retweet, repost on Facebook or otherwise show social networking love to this post by Thursday, May 20 at 5:00 PM Italy time and tell me you did so either in the comments, via Facebook or Twitter and you’ll be entered into a separate drawing for Travelers’ Tales Tuscany: True Stories.

- 30 Days in Italy: True Stories of Escape to the Good Life and Travelers’ Tales  Italy: True Stories of Life on the Road will each be given away to fans and subscribers. One book will go to a random Facebook Fan and the other to a random newsletter subscriber. If you aren’t a fan or a newsletter subscriber, you should quietly take care of that here and here before next Thursday, May 20.

Books will be shipped anywhere in the world, so get going and in bocca al lupo!

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

Photo: Agnese Sanvito and Tania Pascuzzi

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Well never fear.

Here is a list-or three-to help you prepare your beach bag for a Calabrian summer.

Many women in Calabria use an over-sized beach bag, oftentimes choosing one that accents their swimsuit or cover up. It’s not necessarily an expensive bag-but it is functional.

Some things to put in your bag if you are single include:
- Creams, lotions and oils for your face, body and hair
- A hat
- Big sunglasses
- Lip balm
- A big towel
- Book or magazine
- iPod or MP3
- Bottled water
- Tissues, because you just never know
- Your cell phone
- Small wallet

If you are packing a beach bag for you and your family, also include:
- Fruit
- A knife to peel your fruit, since Italians never eat the skin
- Extra hand towels for the kids
- A Frisbee
- A volleyball or other kind of bouncy ball
- Pencils and paper
- Pail and shovel and other assorted beach toys

Other things I’ve noticed that men and women carry to the beaches in Calabria are:
- Snorkel gear
- Earplugs
- Eye drops

If you are planning to spend the day at the beach, consider packing sandwiches in addition to your fruit and water or plan on having lunch at one of the beach kiosks that are found on busier beaches.

What other items do you suggest travelers pack in their beach bags?

This post is written on behalf of affordablecallingcards.net. Click here to read posts written by other expats in the ACC expat community.

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

Photo: Bella Bags

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If you think Calabria’s other three provinces are lacking in such charming mountain towns, think again. Here are six more Medieval Villages in Calabria from the provinces of Cosenza, my home province of Catanzaro and nearby Vibo Valentia.

1. Rocca Imperiale (CS)
Clinging to a hill in the province of Cosenza near Basilicata, Rocca Imperiale forms a pyramid of houses-a literal translation from their website!-and features a massive Swabian stone castle.

The castle was built under the order of Frederick II in the 13th Century and has a deep ravine and cylindrical towers. Other interesting things to see include the 16th Century Byzantine Convent of St. Antonio and the wax museum.

2. Altomonte (CS)
Altomonte is the self-proclaimed “Island of the ‘300 Tuscan Calabria,” and no, I have no idea what that means.

I do know this charming village has some of Calabria’s best-preserved examples of medieval architecture, particularly the Lady of Consolation Church, one of the best examples of Gothic-Angevin architecture in Calabria, the Norman Tower of Pallotta, the 12th Century Norman castle and civic museum.

3. Oriolo (CS)
This small village in the province of Cosenza sits at the base of a cliff and was established during the High Middle Ages when residents fled the coastal areas to avoid Saracen attacks.

The castle was built for the Sanseverino family, while the San Giorgio Church, with its wood and marble statues, is listed among the national monuments by the Ministry of Culture.

4. Squillace (CZ)
A Norman castle towers over the Medieval center of Squillace and commands the small piazza where it stands.

Panoramic views from the town overlook the Gulf of Squillace and Ionian Sea and it is easy to get lost meandering through the tiny alleys and walkways. The Diocesan Museum is located inside the 18th Century Bishop’s Palace and contains artifacts from the 14th-19th centuries.

5. Badolato (CZ)
Badolato is another well-preserved Medieval town in the province of Catanzaro that offers visitors optimum views of the Ionian Sea.

The village is jam-packed with churches that house a number of interesting artifacts and artwork, although rumor has it only one of the churches still opens for Mass on a regular basis. For more on Badolato, visit Bleeding Espresso.com, a blog written by a fellow American in Calabria and personal friend of mine, Michelle Fabio.

6. Nicotera (VV)
Like most of the other Medieval villages on the list, Nicotera is popular for its panoramic views over its little part of Calabria. In Nicotera’s case, it overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and the province of Vibo Valentia.

The Ruffo Castle was originally built in the 11th Century, was destroyed by earthquakes and invasions and was later reconstructed in the 1700s near the ruins of a Norman palace. The Baroque Cathedral of the Assumption-also built on Norman ruins, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art and the Bishop’s Palace are also worth a look.

There you have it. Twelve well-preserved Medieval villages in Calabria. What is your favorite Medieval village in Italy?

(Photo credits:bollita, borgochianura, altomonte.asmenet, ilbaccanale-oriolo, wikimedia, stolaf.edu, rete.comuni-italiani)

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help with your Calabria travel plans.

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Today’s travelers are interested in experiencing Italy’s rural south and it won’t be long before a Calabria is more than a stopping point between the Amalfi Coast and Sicily.

If you are planning a tour of Calabria-either with your family or as part of a group, then act like a Calabrian. Here are five things you can do to get into character. After all, you know what they say-when in … Calabria?

1. Eat Something New
Last week I wrote about Calabrian food and listed some of my favorite ingredients … most notably, the red chili pepper. I’ve talked about the famous ‘nduja sausage a few times, written about Catanzaro’s morzello and told you about how much Calabrians love their homemade sausage.

If you are traveling in Calabria, you should climb out of that safe-food shell and try something new. If mystery meat isn’t your thing, then consider a new seafood dish-swordfish is popular here-or even porcini mushrooms. Whatever you do, just try something new.

2. Swim in the Ionian Sea
Calabria is surrounded on both sides by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas, so if you are visiting the area, make it a point to get to Ionian side-that’s my side, by the way-and take a dip. Some of my favorite beaches on the Ionian side include Pietragrande, Caminia and Giovino at Catanzaro Lido.

3. Then head across the peninsula and Swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea
Since you are sooo close, you might as well head across Calabria-only 30 kilometers if you are in Catanzaro-and explore those waters, too. Popular beaches on the Tyrrhenian side include Tropea, Diamante and Scilla. If you want to stay a little closer to Catanzaro but still swim in the Tyrrhenian, then Falerna is a good choice.

4. Get Lost in a Medieval Village
In case you missed the overview last week, Calabria is brimming with medieval villages of all shapes and sizes, so finding a village to get lost in won’t be tough. There are guided tours available for many of the more popular medieval villages in Calabria, but plan a little time after your tour and just walk.

Your private walking tour will likely lead you up steep hills, down narrow, winding alleyways and around abrupt turns that open into panoramic views of the valleys-and oftentimes the ocean-below.

5. Enjoy a Traditional Calabrian Sunday
Sundays are still a celebrated family day for many Calabrians and on springtime and summertime Sundays, they like to head into the mountains for a big family lunch. Popular places include Villaggio Mancuso in Sila Piccola, Camigliatella in Sila Grande and Monte Covello near Cortale.

Have you been to Calabria yet? What would you add to this list?

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help with your Calabria travel plans.

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Travelers and expats alike are mesmerized by these towns, monuments of Calabria’s tormented past whose varied architecture represents the changing times.

If you are planning on visiting Calabria, here is a quick rundown on some of the most popular medieval villages in the region.

1. Gerace (RC)
Gerace is to medieval villages what Rome is roman ruins … in other words, it is the bomb diggity of cool mountain villages.

Located in the Aspromonte mountains in the province of Reggio Calabria, Gerace is considered to be the best preserved medieval village in Italy. The Assunta Cathedral, built in 1045, is the largest religious structure in Calabria and features cylindrical apses, arches and three naves. Other interesting sites in the village include the Norman Castle, the Byzantine Church of San Giovannello and the San Francesco Convent and Church.

2. Stilo (RC)
Stilo is a small mountain village just 30 miles north of Gerace at the foot of Mount Consolino and is home to one of Calabria’s most beloved icons, La Cattolica.

Stilo was one of the most important Byzantine centers in Calabria and housed Basilian monks and hermits who fled from persecution in the 10th Century. The five-domed church, La Cattolica, is the main attraction, but the Gothic-Swabian Duomo, Church of San Francesco and the Convent Church of San Domenico are also worth a look.

3. Monasterace (RC)
Ruins of a Byzantine castle are the focal point of this tiny village that overlooks the Ionian coast in the province of Reggio Calabria.

In addition to the castle that once housed the royal Caracciolo, Conclubet and Monaco families, visitors can visit the S. Croce Parochial and see a canvas that dates back to the early 700s or visit the remains of a Greek hill at nearby Kaulonia.

4. Pentidattilo (RC)
Pentidattilo, or five fingers, is not only a interesting village because of the Medieval churches and countryside views, but because of its formidable history that lead the city to be named one of Italy’s Città Morte.

The five fingers of Pentidattilo loom above the village, an ominous reminder of the decades of earthquake destruction and mandatory evacuations that cleared the village, as well as of the notorious Alberti family Massacre on Easter, 1686.

Interesting things to see include The Church of Saint Peter and Paul with its massive bell tower, numerous statues and the tomb of Don Giuseppe Alberti and the Chiesa della Candelora.

5. Santa Severina (KR)
Santa Severina hangs on a rock-filled ledge in the province of Crotone overlooking the Neto River valley.

The town is a testament to the groups who conquered this part of Italy and many of the architectural elements of the medieval times remain. The 11th Century Norman Castle overpowers the Byzantine ruins on which it was built and is referred to as “the stone ship,” for the strong walls that guard the castle’s entrance. The Baptistery, a circular building with four appendages with 10th and 11th Century frescos is the only Byzantine baptistery in Calabria still intact.

6. Cutro (KR)
Cutro is not only interesting for its Medieval city center and abandoned tower that dates back to the early 400s, but it is also well-known for its bread-pane di Cutro-that is made with durum wheat and has a signature thick crust.

A visit to the city should include a stop in a local bakery, as well as the Monachelle Church, with its Renaissance portal, the Santa Maria della Pietà Church and the Frati Minori Convent with its bell tower and 17th Century wooden crucifix.

Was your favorite medieval village left off of the list? Come back next week to see my pick of villages from the provinces of Catanzaro, Cosenza and Vibo Valentia.

(Photo credits: Comune di Stilo, Italiaabc, Natura Mediterranea, Wikipedia, Foto Community, Panoramio, Wikipedia)

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help with your Calabria travel plans.

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I honestly don’t know.

What I do know is that southern Italy is open and warm, loving, generous and forgiving … and I’m not just talking about her inhabitants.

For this Travel Tip Tuesday, I’d like to share five reasons you should visit southern Italy.

1. The “Old Italy” Experience

and no, I’m talking authenticity here. I’d be rightly offended if someone suggested my experience in Italy was anything less than the real deal, so I refuse to think you can’t experience “Italy” in the tourist hotspots.

It’s just a bit more difficult.

That being said, southern Italy is overflowing with medieval villages and seaside towns that exude our idea of old Italy. Throughout the south, shops still close at lunch, people nap in the afternoons and you can’t find a decent place to eat until after 8:00 (if you are an early bird).

2. Slower Lifestyle

Long lunches and afternoon naps might be part of that slower lifestyle, but the mentality of slowing down and enjoying life don’t stop there. While it could be frustrating to travelers who are accustomed to opening and closing hours being posted-and followed- on a museum’s door, there is something enlightening about waiting 20 minutes while the cashier is on coffee break.

It is something we experience all of the time in southern Italy and it offers you, the traveler, a glimpse into what a southern Italian lifestyle would look like for you.

3. Shhh … It’s a Secret

Everyone likes to feel like they’ve been let in on a little secret … that’s why middle-school girls gossip and men, of all ages, chat it up in the locker room. Travelers are no different.

When you visit southern Italy, you’ll feel like you’ve been let it on a little secret. You won’t find an overflow of tourists in many places and when you get back home, you’ll be the one with all of the cool, new Italy stories from the south.

4. No inglese?

Continuing on with that little secret, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that many people in southern Italy do not speak English. When you travel to southern Italy you can immerse yourself into the language of the country because, well, really you won’t have a choice.

… and for me, that’s part of the fun

5. Genuine Interest

Unlike the citizens in Rome and Florence, most of southern Italy isn’t accustomed to seeing tourists-so when you are here, you are loved. If you have even a basic level of Italian and try to hold a conversation with the locals, you’ll discover more about the region than you ever imagined.

They know the south is a great place to be-and they’re thrilled someone else finally realized it.

What did I leave off? Why else do you think people should head to the bottom of the boot?

Don’t forget to check out Robin’s travel tips today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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It’s an easy day trip from Calabria and since most non Italian-Americans hear more about Sicily than Calabria, it might be interesting to my readers.

And then, a light went off.

We have one of our most loyal guests-a pharmaceutical sales rep named Maria-who is from Messina and who is staying at our B&B right now. I’ll chat with her over breakfast, run my list of Messina travel attractions by her and ask for recommendations on bars and rusticherie.

And so I did.

Located just three kilometers from the toe of the mainland through the Straits, Messina is the gateway to la Sicilia and is the first stop for travelers who reach the island via Calabria.

Its unsettling past of plague and earthquakes does little to help this port town and most travelers rush through Messina en-route to more enticing (read: popular) tourist destinations.

But they might be missing out.

Messina’s Norman Duomo was built around 1150, but was consecrated under the Swabians at the end of the century. The Catalan-Gothic portal and marble inlay inside the Cathedral were reconstructed after centuries of destruction from earthquakes and fires using original material, while the treasury contains religious artifacts, including a monstrance and host from the 1600s.

The pre-Baroque Orion Fountain, built in 1547 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli sits in the piazza outside the church. The highlight of the day, however, is the bell tower’s literal show and dance, where the lion roars, the rooster squawks and the processional of saints reenact a historical event-all inside the largest astronomical clock in the world. You can read details of the event here.

The 12th Century Church of Annunziata dei Catalani isn’t far from the Duomo and features architectural work from the late Norman period alongside powerful Arab designs-reflective of the many cultures that occupied this seaside city.

Messina’s municipio-or city hall-is one of the prettiest buildings in the city and the Fountain of Neptune and church of Santa Maria degli Alemanni are also worth a look.

For the best rustici in town-at least according to Maria-head to Famulari on Via Cesare Battisti or Bar Irrera on Viale Boccetta.

Perhaps one of the most enticing things about Messina, at least for those of us in Calabria, is the ease at which we can get there. It is just an easy hour and a half train ride from Lamezia and most of the city’s highlights are centered in the downtown area, making it easy to visit the sights, fill up on rustici and get back to Calabria before dusk.

Have you been to Messina? What are some of your favorite things to see or do?

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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Here is my idea of a how to spend a perfect Spring day in my adopted hometown-Catanzaro.

Calabria’s capital seat is home to 100,000 people and spreads across three hills between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. It was originally settled in the 9th century by the Byzantines, but was soon conquered by the Normans and later fell under Angevin, Argonese and French control. Often referred to as the “City of Three Vs,” Catanzaro is famous for its impressive Byzantine Velvet, San Vitaliano-Catanzaro’s patron saint-and for the seemingly non-stop Vento, or wind, that blows through the city.

Catanzaro’s centro is often overlooked by travelers who use the city as a base for their Calabrian vacations, however, it is chock-full of southern Italian culture, charm and traditions and is the perfect place to spend a quiet morning in Calabria.

La Chiesa di San Giovanni sits on top of the tallest of Catanzaro’s three hills and overlooks the downtown area. The Norman church, originally built in 1070 was a convent, the barracks for the Amy Corp of Engineers and a prison before being converted into its modern-day glory. There is a museum attached that houses special exhibitions and an extensive balcony that leads to the castle’s old tower and offers panoramic views of the valley below.

Walking down Corso Mazzini, the town’s main street, from la Chiesa di San Giovanni, you’ll pass a plethora of boutique shops and bars, but some of the city’s real treasures are found on the winding side streets. The Baroque Monte dei Morti church, the Church of Omobono and the Chiesa d’Osservanza, that features 16th Century frescoes and paintings, as well as one of Gagini’s Madonnas, are all worth a stop.

For a mid-morning cappuccino or apertivi, stop by Caffé Letterario or Catanzaro’s own Lanzo Bar on the main corso.

Also on the main street, you’ll pass the Basilica dell’ Immacolata the Baroque church that features 6th Century frescos, paintings and wax sculptures and is considered by many to be the most beautiful church in Catanzaro.

Photo: Comune di Catanzaro

In the early afternoon hours-when all of the stores’ shopkeepers have gone home for their daily reposo-and you have finished your typical Calabrese lunch at one of Catanzaro’s finest, you should head to the city’s seafront neighborhood-Catanzaro Lido.

Although you’ll find closed shops there until around 4:00, the bars along the lungomare will be open, and my personal favorite-Marrons Glacès, will be there waiting to serve their award-winning gelato.

Stroll along the lungomare, window-shop on Lido’s main street or sit and watch as the Catanzaresi people sit and watch you.

Before dusk, head the few kilometers to the Parco Archeologico di Scolacium, the Greek-Roman ruins that are buried among olive trees near Roccelletta. The most impressive monument is the Norman-Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria della Roccella, a brick-red castle that beckons visitors to the park.

This was just a sampling, there are obviously many more things to do in Catanzaro. In fact, here is a list of 15 of them … just to keep you busy!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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Some you can enter, walk around and peer outwards from within their hollowed walls, while others are viewable only from the outside. Some are grand. Some are small. But they are all pretty damn remarkable.

Here are five of my favorite castles in Calabria.

Photo: Panoramio by RomanV

Ruffo Castle, Scilla (RC)

Newsletters subscribers might remember the Ruffo Castle from the December, 09 edition of Calabria Close-Up. This mysterious fortress sits on a crag overlooking the Marina Grande and Chianalea bays on Calabria’s west coast. It was once home to Calabria’s noble Ruffo family, and later became a monastery and church of the Basilian Fathers. Like much of Magna Graecia, the castle was conquered by the Normans and then fell under Swabian, Angevin and Argonese control … to name a few. The staircase and entrance hall are some of the most impressive remains of the castle.

Murat Castle, Pizzo (VV)
This imposing fort overlooks the main piazza in Pizzo and was witness to the 1815 execution of the King of Naples, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother-in-law, Jacques Murat.

The castle was built in the 15th Century by Ferdinand I of Aragon. According to 16th Century documentation, the castle held a small courtyard, a prison and a secret footpath that allowed residents to quickly escape the castle, and in fact, the city of Pizzo, in the event of an attack. Today the castle houses a museum dedicated to Murat.

Le Castella, Capo Rizzuto (KR)
One of the most famous icons representing Calabria is Le Castella, the 13th Century Argonese castle at Capo Rizzuto. In 1536, the castle was attacked by the Algerian pirate, Khair ed-Din, also known as “Barbrarossa,” and later by Turkish pirate, Dragut. For years the castle served as a lookout point, protecting inhabitants from sea raids-albeit not always well-given the two aforementioned attacks.

Le Castella is also known as being the mythical hiding place where Ulysses was held hostage in the Odyssey. Today, you can explore the ruins of the castle, swim in the waters that brush her feet or picnic in the shade of her massive tower.

Photo: Panoramio by Barnabe_78830

Torre Talao, Scalea (CS)
This coastal fortress was erected in the 16th Century to defend Scalea and her residents from Turkish invasions. Although today the tower sits on a peninsula overlooking the sea, the land was originally an island that has dried over the years. Interesting, yes, but not quite as fascinating as the fact that the caves near Torre Talao date back 30,000 years and show evidence of prehistoric life. During the last century, Princess Louise of Austria, the former Queen of Saxony, was a guest in the castle.

The Castle of Squillace, Squillace (CZ)
Rounding out my list of five fabulous fortresses-one from each province-is an imposing castle located about 15 minutes from me, right here in the province of Catanzaro.

This Byzantine castle was built on the ruins of the monastery of Cassiodorus, a famous Roman statesman, writer and monk who was born in Squillace. Like the other castles on this list, and in fact, most of the castles in Calabria, it was conquered, added to and renovated by the various forces who occupied the town. However, two of the castle’s most infamous guests were discovered in 1994, bound together in an eternal embrace in the polygonal tower and date back to between 1200 and 1300 AD.

Like I said, there are hundreds of castles in Calabria and southern Italy. Which ones are your favorites?

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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Southern Italy has it all. There are ancient Medieval towns, peaceful fishermen villages, stretching beaches and swooping mountains. There are even Roman and Greek ruins. We learned about some of the most famous places in southern Italy as children and some of us grew up dreaming of the day we’d visit our grandparents’ homeland. But that doesn’t mean we know it all.

My then-boyfriend/now-husband grew up here in southern Italy and I was still surprised at some of the assumptions I made that were downright wrong!

With that in mind, here are three things I wish I’d known before I traveled to southern Italy.

(c) Leanne (pictured above) of From Australia to Italy

1. It Gets Brrr … Cold

Calabria has this fabulous reputation of being a hot, steamy, tropical getaway for northern Italians and other Europeans. Unfortunately, it’s crap. It gets downright cold here in southern Italy and depending on when and where you visit, you might see a lot of snow.

It’s true. Laura at Ciao Amalfi! recently posted some videos of a thunder snowstorm on the Amalfi Coast and Leanne of From Australia to Italy was recently snowed in near Cosenza (Calabria.)

2. All Restaurants/Trattorie/Pizzerie Were Created Equally

Regardless of what you may have heard, you *can* get a bad meal in southern Italy. I know. I’ve done it. Still, it is surprising to me when I hear people proclaim sweeping generalizations like, “It doesn’t matter where you eat-you are in Italy,” or “You can’t get a bad meal there!”

Trust me. You can.

If you are traveling to southern Italy and don’t want to be victim to an overcooked pizza or tasteless ragu, then search the Internet for recommendations made by locals or consider hiring a travel consultant who can help with the details.

3. Don’t Assume Anything

Seriously.

Anything.

For example, many restaurants in the US offer free soda refills, in Italy, you will pay full price. Also, don’t assume that just because opening hours are posted on a museum’s website that they are correct, or that the museum is even open. Oh yea, and don’t assume that your hotel will have washcloths. In fact, they probably won’t. Italians don’t use them.

What other things do you wish you’d have known before you visited Italy?

Don’t forget to check out Robin’s travel tips today at My Melange.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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A few days ago I received an email from a guy who is planning his first trip to southern Italy. He’ll be visiting his grandfather’s homeland in Calabria-just about 50 minutes north of me in Catanzaro-and like any would-be international traveler worth his passport, he’s researching the area.

He bought my Calabria travel tips ebook-thanks, Robert!-and browsed through the travel tips and Calabria travel sections on this site.

But he still had a problem.

“I saw your post on How Not to Look Like a Tourist in Southern Italy,” he told me, “but that seemed more geared towards women. Do you have some tips for guys? I get the sense my Pittsburgh Steelers t-shirts won’t be a good choice!”

Well, Robert. You are right. I’d leave the Steelers t-shirt out of my bag. Of course, I’m a Cowboys fan, so I’d leave the Steelers out of any bag, for any trip, regardless of the destination, culture or climate.

But maybe that’s just me …

With that in mind, here are three more travel tips for men traveling to southern Italy.

1. Follow Robert’s Rules

and by that, I mean the Robert who mentioned the sports shirt. He was right on target with that idea, but in addition to ditching American sports paraphernalia, you guys should also leave out graphic t-shirts that talk about how much beer you can drink, when you went to Hard Rock Cafe and why or why not you voted for “the other guy.”

And really, nobody cares if you are with “stupid,” or if she’s with you.

2. What’s Good for the Goose

also goes for her well-dressed gander. Even though the post about dressing in southern Italy seemed like it targeted women, many of the tips apply to men. They still dress in season-translation: no shorts in winter months, carry bags instead of backpacks and are pretty big on designer sunglasses.

Men in Italy take pride in being well-dressed and rarely go out in slouchy sweats.

3. Think Solid Colors (and long pants)

I knew a guy who came to southern Italy last year who was hell bent on fitting in with the locals. The problem? “I’m American,” was stamped on his forehead (and no amount of over-the-counter bronzers or hours basking in the Calabrian sun would fade it).

Personally, I think that is ok. I love American tourists, remember?

But if you really want to look the part, wear long pants, dark-colored jeans and solid colored t-shirts or polos. (Please forgo the red and purple pants, even they can’t pull them off all of the time!) Add dark socks and dark shoes and you’ll be on the right path to southern Italian style.

What other tips do you have for men who want to blend in with the locals in Italy?

Be sure to check out Robin’s travel tips today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

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Although most people consider Calabria a warm-weather destination, the lakes, mountains, ruins and medieval villages are actually year-round attractions. In fact, many people travel to Calabria in the winter months to meet their long-lost relatives or to save money on low-season flights and accommodations.

While it is true you won’t need to pack your summer trunks and tiny two-piece the following five things could make the difference between your trip-of-a-lifetime and that miserably cold Calabrian vacation you took one year.

Remember, layering is the key to successful winter dressing in Calabria-think long-sleeve t-shirts, sweaters and vests. And just to get you started on your list, here are five things you should always pack for a Calabria vacation in the winter.

photo credit: Maxwell GS

1. Good, warm boots

Despite what you’ll read in some guide books, Calabria is down-right cold in the winter, and you will need a good pair of warm boots. It is likely your journey will entail walking through cobble-stone streets, trekking up steep hills and sloshing through muddy, wet ground.

Carry (or wear) a good pair of warm boots. Your feet will be grateful.

2. Wool socks

Speaking of thankful tootsies, wrap those bad boys up in some wool socks. Be sure to carry an extra pair (or some furry warm slippers) to wear at night. There isn’t a lot of carpet in Calabria and the marble floors are C-O-L-D. If you are planning an extended stay in Calabria, plan to hand-wash your socks every few days and hang them to dry.

3. Umbrella

Sadly, sunny Calabria turns wet in the winter, so be sure to pack a small umbrella or raincoat you can carry with you on your excursions. This is especially important if you are traveling to less-touristy destinations where shop-keepers won’t run outside to sell umbrellas at the first site of rain.

4. Sunglasses

Contradictory to #3?

You might think so, but the sun often precedes (or follows) the rain in Calabria, so make like a Boy Scout and be prepared.

5. Scarves, hats, gloves

These accessories will diversify your winter wardrobe and keep you warm as you scout out family ancestors and explore Calabria’s castles. Additionally, Catanzaro, Calabria’s capital city, is known for its fierce wind. These accessories will protect you for the elements.

What else do you suggest people pack for winter vacations to southern Italy?

Hop on over to Robin’s and see what travel tips she is offering today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

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A couple of months ago Katie at TripBase started a Three Best-Kept Travel Secrets meme and it’s been floating around the blogosphere since then. Robin of My Melange tagged me and well, since I love talking about Calabria so dang much, I thought I’d give it a go.

Calabria is, herself, a well-known travel secret, virtually unknown on the international stage and enjoyed mostly by northern Italians, Germans and Calabrian descendants returning to the land of their grandfathers’ births.

Even Calabrian hotspots Tropea, Sila and Reggio’s touristy status is relative. Our coasts are lined with travel secrets that are buried in caves, hiding in medieval villages and peaking out of hidden nooks.

But still … I have my favorites.

Paola

(c) WindowWeb

Paola is home to Calabria’s patron saint, San Francesco di Paola (Saint Francis of Paola) who founded the Minimi Order in the Roman Catholic Church in the 1400s. For years the village has been a main stop for religious trekkers, who flock to Paola to visit Saint Francis’ birthplace, the monastery and any of the dozens of churches and chiesettas, but this little village really does have it all. In addition to its established place in Calabria’s religious past, Paola has clean, rocky beaches, a Norman castle, fountains and a clock tower.

Pietragrande and Caminia

Ok, so regular readers have heard of Pietragrande and Caminia-and yes, I am kinda cheating here by including them both- but these beaches rival any I’ve seen in the bel paese and thus … are worth mentioning again.

Pietragrande and Caminia are located about 15 minutes from Catanzaro Lido and overlook the Ionian Sea on the Gulf of Squillace. They feature dramatic cliffs and warm blue-green waters that kiss the numerous caves and grottos that dot their coasts. The lack of restaurant options near the beaches adds to their charm and makes visitors feel like they’ve discovered a private slice of Mediterranean. In the summer months, the beaches are filled with locals and nightclubs are open on both beaches.

Amantea

(c) Salpe

Any town whose name derives from the Greek word “lover,” can’t be too shabby, and Amantea, located in the province of Cosenza, certainly lives up to its name. In addition to its glistening Tyrrhenian Sea beaches and caves, Amantea’s imposing fortress, an ancient Byzantine castle and nearby monastery are worth a visit.

Since many of the travel bloggers I know have already been tagged, I’m going to put this back on you. What is your favorite “secret” place in southern Italy? You can either leave it in the comments or write a post about it and let me know!

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Whoa. Stop right there. Don’t hit that back button or double-check the url.

You are in the right place.

Welcome, friends and blog readers to the new My Bella Vita.

It has been a long road, through logo design, color choices, font options, column width and header size and seriously, it is enough to make a girl wrap herself into a fetal position and moan html, html, html until someone snaps her glazed-over eyes into focus and forces her up again.

I mean, I’m just saying … I didn’t do that. Well, maybe once.

But in the end my friends at Kaiz Agency came through and designed a new template we feel will highlight some of the changes we have in store for this website.

Oh yes, my friends … there are changes.

In addition to the funky new logo and what will soon be a photo slide show-small technical delay, slide show’s a comin’, few tweaks, no worries-I’m expanding products and services offered here.

Custom Itineraries

We all know Calabria can be intimidating and a well-traveled Italophile once said, “Calabria is not for the faint-hearted.” But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come. Calabria has beaches, mountains, ruins and religion, a unique cuisine, good wine and warm people and it is listed as an “Italian favorite” for many people who have visited.

But it is not easy to get around Calabria and researching the area can be tough.

The custom itineraries I offer will help with that.

Based on your preferences, I’ll create a custom itinerary, complete with hotel reservations, transfers, car rental and activities for each day of your trip. You can read more about that here.

Travel Consulting

For travelers who prefer to make their own reservations, but still need recommendations on which areas to visit, what activities to book or which city or location is the best base for their southern Italy vacation, Travel Consulting is the way to go. You can read more about that here.

Tips Booklets

I recently completed my very first tips booklet, “Don’t Get Stuck With Dirty Drawers … and 64 other tips for traveling in Calabria.” More information will be available soon.

—

Prizes and Fun Stuff

In conjunction with this week’s relaunch, I’ve joined forces with other Italophiles around the world to bring you some great prizes.

Check back this week to enter new drawings for prizes such as free nights at a bed and breakfast in Catanzaro, free itinerary planning and free Italy photos!

Today’s prize: A premium subscription to ItalianPod101, the award-winning website that was featured on Newsweek, PC Magazine and right here … at My Bella Vita.

All you have to do is leave a comment on *this* post between Monday, December 7 and Sunday, December 13. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 14.

In bocca al lupo!

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A few weeks ago I asked where all of the good customer service guys had gone? I lamented the lack of a customer-service oriented mentality in south Italy and wondered how businesses could remain open with the attitude they have towards their customers.

Well today, I have that answer.

photo credit: Gudlyf

But before we get to that … I have a back story.

There is a steak house in Beaumont my family frequents as often as possible. They have great steaks, great sides and according to my cousin, Angelique, great fajitas-although I leave my Tex-Mex to the professionals.

One day seven or eight of my family members met there for lunch. Since my husband and I had a lunch date a few hours later with friends, we skipped the meal. We didn’t, however, skip the company and we joined them towards the end of their meal for a chat.

It was about that time my mother noticed a hair (eek!) in her plate. She didn’t complain, just pushed it back and continued talking. The ever-attentive server noticed, asked her about it and immediately apologized and offered to bring her a replacement dish.

She was finished anyway, she said, and insisted she wasn’t upset.

A few minutes later, the manager appeared.

“I’m so sorry, Ma’am (we are in Texas, remember!),” he said.

“Are you sure you don’t want a replacement?”

When she refused, he made another offer.

“We’d like to offer you all desserts-on the house!”

Well my family never met a dessert they didn’t like and they were thrilled with this customer service gesture.

“And what kind would you like?’ He asked, looking at my husband and me.

“Oh no. We didn’t even eat here,” I said apologetically. “We just came in to see them for a few minutes.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You are here now. What can I bring you?”

—

And that dining moment-at The Cattle Company restaurant in Beaumont, Texas-became the standard by which we measured all other customer service experiences.

And no one has ever matched them.

Until now.

Fast-forward three or four years and 6,000 miles to last Tuesday, November 17-the night of our 2nd anniversary.

We chose Carn & Vino in Catanzaro Lido-and if that name sounds familiar to you, it is because I’ve written of them before.

The restaurant has more elegance and class than any restaurant I’ve been to in southern Italy and the chef is among the most creative I’ve seen-anywhere.

But Tuesday night, I did not choose wisely.

Among the list of primi plates was a cocoa pasta dish, made with Gorgonzola cheese and topped with shredded black truffles.

Although I wasn’t sure if I liked truffles, with their strong, earthy scent and matching flavor, I thought I’d give it a try.

Now I know.

I don’t like truffles.

I picked at the plate and with the antipasto we’d shared and the quickly-diminishing bottle of wine, I was fine.

The owner stopped by the table.

“You didn’t like it?” He asked me.

My husband jumped in to help. “It was really just the truffles. They are too strong for her. She just didn’t choose well.”

Thanks, honey … .

The owner took my plate.

A few minutes later he returned.

“The chef is making you something else,” he told me.

“Oh no,” I insisted. “I’m ok. I’m not even hungry anymore.”

About that time, my husband asked him about the dessert options.

He chose homemade tiramisu. I chose panna cotta with frutti di bosco topping.

We finished our desserts and proceeded to the front of the restaurant.

“The desserts were compliments of the chef,” the owner told us.

We chatted briefly with the chef, thanked him profusely and left.

In the car my husband looked at the receipt and noticed that not only had the chef offered dessert, but the owner had removed my plate from the bill.

We were shocked.

We had finally found a restaurant whose customer service rivals our favorite steak house back home in Texas, and we found it in the most unusual place.

In another favorite steak house … in our new backyard.

Have you had any good customer service stories lately? Please share!

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