Il Comm. Ensale

D&B LOCANDA DEL FIUME

vincenzod — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:26:30 +0000

Those who think to Campania and its magnificent places and views, think also to Amalfi Coast, Penisola Sorrentina and Naples.
Only the happy few know, and therefore, enjoy the hidden jewel of the Southern part of Campania, il Cilento.
To describe the Cilento is very hard for me.
Which words should I use to transmit the limitless charm of this territory, its origin and history which is closer to Greek than to Romans and the coast with the unbelieveble colors of the sea. The sea which, by the way, impressed also Hemingway.
And its sweet hills where olive trees hug rich vineyards and the small hilltowns, even cuter and surely more genuine of the small town along the coast.
A smart basis point to explore and discover the small hidden treasures of Cilento is Pisciotta and the magical D&B is the D&B LA LOCANDA DEL FIUME.
The structure is the result of a perfect renewal of an ancient flour mill of four centuries ago.
The soul of this D&B is Lady Sonia, ready in every moment to take care of you and to satisfy your requests.
The sea is not so far, about five minutes by car.
The dinner is the most delicious moment of your stay.
The cucina cilentana is unique and surely not similar to the Neapolitan cooking.
Here the secret is the high quality of every ingredient coming from the sea and from the orchards.
First of all, the excellent olive oil, one of the best in the whole world and Lady Sonia makes her olive oil and I suggest that you buy several bottles so that you carry home a bit of Cilento.
But, anyway, you carry home a bit of Cilento because it will be forever with you in your memory and in your eyes. I am sure you will come back here soon.
D&B LA LOCANDA DEL FIUME
Via Fiori
PISCIOTTA (SA)
Tel 0974 973876
www.amachina.it
Bed price 100 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 26 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B LA BUSSOLA

vincenzod — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:23:34 +0000

Tropea is the Queen of the Tirrenian Sea of Calabria and therefore it deserves a calm visit: don’t be in a hurry when you stay there, because it is possible that though, you had planned to stay only one day, you will change that plan and stay longer and longer . .
Tropea is unique and the best period to be there is May, also June (less than May), but surely you must avoid the full summer. Oh, another good time is September and October (less than September).
The right place is the D&B LA BUSSOLA
Its location is not Tropea, but very close to it: Capo Vaticano, one of the prettiest sea places in all of Italy, where the nature is gorgeous and, it seems, that we have not eyes large enough to absorb all the beauty of this gorgeous place.
The small and pretty hamlet is called San Nicolò.
The Bed part has a main palace and an annex.

Depending on your desires (and availability) you will choose between these two choices.
The breakfast is very wide and rich.
The dinner part is one of the best restaurants of Calabria.
Seafood is its main characteristic and, once a week there is a special dinner focused on the meals of the true ancient tradition of Calabria.
Even pizza is available, cooked in the wood oven, and it is very good, to be a pizza far from Naples !
To be a temporary citizen of Capo Vaticano is a gorgeous experience and it is sad to leave from there.

D&B LA BUSSOLA
Capo Vaticano di Ricadi (VV)
Tel +39 0963 663226
www.albergolabussola.com

Bed price 50 € in double room, breakfast including
Dinner price 28 € per person, not including wine

D&B POVERO DIAVOLO

vincenzod — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:37:26 +0000

We are on le prime colline of Romagna in the area called Valmarecchia.
Marecchia is the river which though small, pretends to be a huge river and in a quiet way arrives in Rimini to make its meeting with the Adriatic Sea.
And Rimini is not so far, but surely far enough to be sure we are in the kingdom of the peace and serenity: no noises, never crowded.
The small and cute hill town is Torriana. Its past name was Scorticata, to mean the opposite of a soft surface, to mean that here the rocks of the hills are big and evident.
And Scorticata is also the name of the festival that every July makes Torriana a lovely meeting point (though still not crowded) of gourmet.
By the way of gourmet during the whole year, Torriana is the right place for it (quorum ego) thanks to the D&B POVERO DIAVOLO.
Torriana is a good place for day trips: two are the mandatory, in my opinion: Ravenna and Urbino.
The location of the D&B POVERO DIAVOLO is in the center of the small town (pop, less than 1,200).
The souls of this sweet D&B are Fausto and Stefania, who are always ready to satisfy your needs and your desires.
The Bed part consists of five rooms, each one very elegantly furnished and with its corner for reading and thinking.
Your morning begins with breakfast and it will help you to begin a new day.
The breakfast is very rich and the passion in its preparation is evident. Fausto and Stefania will very often be in attendence at breakfast and they can suggest how to spend your day.
The Dinner part is the kingdom of the young and very clever chef Pier Giorgio Parini.
Let’s pick up from the memory to suggest several courses.
To begin, La mazzola nel fiore di zucca.
To go on with a delicious and particolar first course: Cappelletti del Povero Diavolo al pecorino di fossa.
As a second course, Tonno scottato, melanzane, pesca e menta.
As dessert, Tortina tiepida d’ albicocche, mandorle e pistacchi.
About the wines, the choice can be among several hundreds labels, therefore ask to accompany Fausto to visit the cellar and come back from there hugging one bottle (or two!).
A walk along the street to the small square with its belvedere to appreciate the valley and the opposite hill town named Verucchio.
Thanks, Torriana. Many thanks to Fausto and Stefania; we’ll see you tomorrow and good night.

D&B POVERO DIAVOLO

Via Roma, 30
TORRIANA (RN)
Tel +39 0541 675060
www.ristorantepoverodiavolo.com

Bed price 80 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 60 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B LA ROSA NEL BICCHIERE in Soveria Mannelli

vincenzod — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:37:42 +0000

We are far enough from the Tirrenian Coast and so, in the middle of the fabulous mountains whose trees are giants, good giants with their magical silver color.
The altitude is high enough so that we will never suffer from the hot summer, but anyway the swimming pool is awaiting us in this delicious D&B located in the hidden Calabria, close to the small hill town of Soveria Mannelli.
What to do here ? Relax, relax, still relax. How ? Walking along the paths of the gorgeous woods, admiring the beautiful scenery and the deep silence of this sweet and wild land.
Our D&B is D&B LA ROSA NEL BICCHIERE.
The Bed part consists of two 2-room flats and two normal double rooms, all of which are very charming and well furnished.
The Dinner part is a discovery of the true local cooking to be enjoyed very much.
If the season allows, do not miss mushrooms, the best kind being…..porcini !
We enjoyed very much a flan of potatoes and provola with porcini. Then a gorgeous first course is gnocchi di patate con brodetto di trota e broccoli. Also all the desserts are very delicious, it is difficult to choose so go with your mood.
The wine list contains many labels, anyway the best choices are among the local wines of Calabria.
Most excellent is too look forward to the morning and enjoy your nice breakfast.

D&B LA ROSA NEL BICCHIERE
Località Polso
Soveria Mannelli (CZ)
Tel +39 0968 666668
Mobile +39 349 6886589
www.larosanelbicchiere.it

Bed price 63 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 30 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B VICOLO SANTA LUCIA in Cattolica

vincenzod — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:21:11 +0000

We are on the Southern edge of the Adriatic Coast of Romagna; in fact if you cross a little bridge you’re in Gabicce Mare which is the region of Marche.
So, here in Cattolica, coming from the South, with the Adriatic Sea on your right, you have arrived in Romagna.
Cattolica, let’s be brutally honest, is a very cute town for 10 months per year. In fact, as it is a famous and very traditional beach town, in the months of July and August . . . oh, better for you stay far from here.
In the center of Cattolica, on one of its main streets, Via Carducci, there is this very unusual, charming and luxurious D&B: D&B Vicolo Santa Lucia.
The Bed part consists of several very large and beautifully furnished rooms.
The Dinner part is the kingdom of the very clever chef Stefano Ciotti.
His training was based on two fundamental experiences: Lido Lido in Cesenatico with the great Vincenzo Cammerucci and Don Alfonso in Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi with the great Alfonso Jaccarino.
The team is young; in fact the chef Stefano Ciotti, the sommelier Alan Mancini and the pastry chef Tomas Morazzini are each under forty.
The dining room is very elegant and also so elegant is the mise en place.
The name of the antipasto that we chose is self-explanatory : SOLOCRUDO. It consists of tartare of branzino alla cannella e neve al limone and carpaccio of ricciola ai ricci of mare e pomodori secchi of Pantelleria. You cannot miss it !
The first course was spaghetti Mancini with cozze, sardoncini and fagiolini.
The bread, by the way, is home made as are the little cassoni and the little piadine.
The second course was branzino alla griglia con salsa anconetana.
As dessert we were delighted with a masterpiece: the summer version of tortino al cioccolato colante.
The wines were excellent. We enjoyed Verdicchio Classico.
Then, we swam on the street and, believe me, even more and more we appreciated to cross again the gate and be immersed in the elegance of this charming D&B enjoying the deep night relax in so wonderful room.
The breakfast in the morning, how possibly not, was excellent and outstanding.

Happy breaking news !!!

On July 28, Monday, starting from 9pm, a charming beer tasting. The beers are home made by Giuseppe Collesi. The clever and unique Giuseppe Collesi is already very famous for his excellent grappe .
The buffet offers what the chef Stefano Ciotti will want to prepare to make the best match with the two beers by Collesi.
Live music, also !
The cost is only 15 €.
Call to reserve.

D&B VICOLO SANTA LUCIA
Viale Carducci, 76
Cattolica (RN)
Tel +39 0541 954677
www.carducci76.it

Bed price 190 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 120 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B I TRE RE in Poggio Berni

vincenzod — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:20:19 +0000

In one of the smallest hill towns of Romagna, Poggio Berni, there is one of the cutest D&Bs in Romagna: D&B I TRE RE.
Where are we ? OK, we are in Romagna, far enough from the crowded beach, in the full immersion of silence. We are ready for excellent food and excellent wine.
The surrounding area is beautiful: garden hills and little jewels such as San Leo and San Marino, ideal destinations for day trip. Urbino and Ravenna are just a bit further away.
The Bed part consists of several very charming rooms, especially the few located into the ancient tower of the thirteenth century, with its internal fireplace.
The Dinner part is the kingdom of the clever and very famous chef Silver Succi.
His style of cooking allows us to be delighted with the true typical food of Romagna prepared using every ingredient at the top of its quality.
Pasta and bread are daily homemade.
The wine list is the mirror at the table of what the ancient and characteristic cellar contains in its brick and stone walls.
Probably the choice will be some of the best wines of Romagna, an Albana if white and a Sangiovese if red.
A short walk in the yard, then . . . good night !
Rich and excellent the breakfast, the following morning.

D&B I TRE RE
Via F.lli Cervi, 1
POGGIO BERNI (RN)
Tel +39 0541 629760
www.itrere.com

Bed price 95 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 45 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B POVERO DIAVOLO in Torriana

vincenzod — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:38:47 +0000

We are on le prime colline of Romagna in the area called Valmarecchia.
Marecchia is the river which though small, pretends to be a huge river and in a quiet way arrives in Rimini to make its meeting with the Adriatic Sea.
And Rimini is not so far, but surely far enough to be sure we are in the kingdom of the peace and serenity: no noises, never crowded.
The small and cute hill town is Torriana. Its past name was Scorticata, to mean the opposite of a soft surface, to mean that here the rocks of the hills are big and evident.
And Scorticata is also the name of the festival that every July makes Torriana a lovely meeting point (though still not crowded) of gourmet.
By the way of gourmet during the whole year, Torriana is the right place for it (quorum ego) thanks to the D&B POVERO DIAVOLO.
Torriana is a good place for day trips: two are the mandatory, in my opinion: Ravenna and Urbino.
The location of the D&B POVERO DIAVOLO is in the center of the small town (pop, less than 1,200).
The souls of this sweet D&B are Fausto and Stefania, who are always ready to satisfy your needs and your desires.
The Bed part consists of five rooms, each one very elegantly furnished and with its corner for reading and thinking.
Your morning begins with breakfast and it will help you to begin a new day.
The breakfast is very rich and the passion in its preparation is evident. Fausto and Stefania will very often be in attendence at breakfast and they can suggest how to spend your day.
The Dinner part is the kingdom of the young and very clever chef Pier Giorgio Parini.
Let’s pick up from the memory to suggest several courses.
To begin, La mazzola nel fiore di zucca.
To go on with a delicious and particolar first course: Cappelletti del Povero Diavolo al pecorino di fossa.
As a second course, Tonno scottato, melanzane, pesca e menta.
As dessert, Tortina tiepida d’ albicocche, mandorle e pistacchi.
About the wines, the choice can be among several hundreds labels, therefore ask to accompany Fausto to visit the cellar and come back from there hugging one bottle (or two!).
A walk along the street to the small square with its belvedere to appreciate the valley and the opposite hill town named Verucchio.
Thanks, Torriana. Many thanks to Fausto and Stefania; we’ll see you tomorrow and good night.

D&B POVERO DIAVOLO
Via Roma, 30
TORRIANA (RN)
Tel +39 0541 675060
www.ristorantepoverodiavolo.com

Bed price 80 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 60 € per person, exclusive of wine

D&B GAMBRINUS in San Polo di Piave

vincenzod — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:08:45 +0000

Do you know where we are now ?
We are in the area surrounding Treviso, the beautiful and unique town in Veneto, headquarters of the territory named Marca Trevigiana.
Yes, we are in San Polo di Piave. Piave is the river dear to the recent history of Italy as along this river there was the most important battle of the first world war.
And San Polo di Piave is a very cute location for interesting day trips as you’re close enough to Conegliano, the center for Prosecco and Treviso and you are also not far from Venice.
Our D&B is D&B GAMBRINUS, whose patron is the very famous Adriano Zanotto, with whom it is easy and normal become friends. Fundamental to the D&B is the help of his wife Lady Rosa, with her sweet smile.
The ancient palace is in a lovely park. It is very romantic to walk along the paths of the park and spend some relaxing hours.
In the park the little river Lia flows; its waters are rich of the local shrimp which, thanks to the expertise of the chef Adriano, become the most typical dish of the restaurant.
The Bed part consists of six wonderful rooms. No, I cannot ! Do not ask me which I prefer, because, really, in this case I am not able to tell you which is, in my opinion, the best because all six are very fine.
The Dinner part allows a choice between the classic restaurant and the Osteria Enoteca.
At least once you cannot miss the delicious experience of the Osteria where the focal point is the wine and then, to support it, several typical dishes from the tradition of the local cooking. It will happen that after several sips you’re talking with the other customers and a joyful atmosphere is the fun of the evening.
Among the rich offerings of wine, please, do not miss the most typical local red wine, the Raboso Piave, ready to drink after three years from harvest. It is an excellent wine which is not yet well known.
By the same grapes of Raboso Piave, the clever Adriano makes a very particular Elisir, the Elisir Gambrinus, taste it, appreciate it, walk in the park, then . . . . good night !

D&B GAMBRINUS
Via Roma, 20
SAN POLO DI PIAVE (TV)
Tel +39 0422 855043
www.gambrinus.it

Bed price 80 € in double room, breakfast included
Dinner price 30 € per person in Osteria, including most of the wine choices

D&B LAGO LAUX in Usseaux

vincenzod — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:45:15 +0000

Where we are now ?
We are in a wonderful place, very close to the border with France, in the western part of Piemonte, in Val Chisone.
And we are in a sweet and magical hamlet of Usseaux. Borgata del Laux is its name and we will never forget it after we have been here, even for few days.
This little lake of the Alps transfers to us its sweet way and suggests to us to live in a quiet and calm way, enjoying the life, sip by sip, day by day.
What overlooks this small lake is the big rock named Rocca del Laux.
The way to spend the days is very simple and very good for our health: walks along the beautiful paths which fills our eyes with beauty sceneries until they cannot become more fulfilled.
Our D&B is D&B LAGO LAUX.
This D&B could not exist without the enthusiasm and the expertise of a very nice and friendly couple: Marinella and Gianfranco, both always available to help you by suggesting you the best with a true smile on their lovely faces.
The Bed part consists of two rooms.
The Dinner part is very characteristic and cute.
The specialties are the dishes of the local cucina occitana.
As antipasti do not miss peperoni con bagna caoda.
As first course do not miss polenta con bagna d’infern. This breed of polenta is very particular; it is named ottofile.
As second course my suggestion is lingua al giardino.
The wine is local, its name is Ramie.
You cannot finish your dinner without the local dessert called bonnet.
A delicious walk along the sweet lake, and then . . . . good night !

D&B LAGO LAUX
Borgo Laux
USSEAUX (TO)
Tel 0121 83944
www.hotellaux.it

Bed price 80 € in double room, including breakfast
Dinner price 35 € per person, exclusive of wine

the DOC wines of Breganze

vincenzod — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:40:01 +0000

I know a place where the smooth wind blows sweetly and where my eyes can see the real picture of the Paradise, with its mountains, its hills, its rivers and, everywhere, its vineyards which are eventually realized in several excellent wines.
This magical place does exist and its location is in Veneto, close to the well known art town of Vicenza. Its territory includes the towns of Breganze and the very cute and characteristic Bassano del Grappa, with its famous Ponte degli Alpini, its delicious historical center and the wonderful scenery of the mountain called Grappa.

And, by the way, Bassano del Grappa is also the headquarter of grappa.
You cannot miss to visit the museum of grappa at Poli, a very clever and famous grappa maker and then taste there its delicious grappa (www.poligrappa.com).
In October, from 5 to 12 in Bassano del Grappa there is the event named distillerie aperte meaning that you can visit the grappa makers when they distil the vinacce to make grappa and, perhaps, enjoy the youngest grappa you ever tasted !
In this area the great architect Andrea Palladio is everywhere and, by the way, this current year is the 500th anniversary of his birth.
The delicious town of Marostica is a small jewel of this area and the Altopiano di Asiago is the dear dad that watches and sweetly smiles on everything.
The two holy rivers which hug these places are Astico and Brenta.
Sometimes here the local people, if thirsty, drink water but, believe me, it happens rarely !!!

We are in the kingdom of the wines Breganze DOC.
And, among these wines we’d like to focus on two of them: Vespaiolo and Torcolato, made with the same grape: Vespaiola.
First of all, why this name ? Because the wasps like these grapes very much. And why wasps like these grapes so very much ? Oh, because of the sugar in it !

Vespaiolo has a charming yellow color, almost golden; the nose receives a very nice smell of fruit, agrumi (citrus) especially. The flavour is fresh and full.
There is no doubt that the best match of Vespaiolo is with fish, especially, in my opinion, fish cooked in the salt and, of course, also with baccalà whose headquarter in Italy is this area.
The winemakers of this wine are, more or less, sixteen.
Among the bottles that we tasted, we appreciated particularly the Vespaiolo made by Az. Agr. Vitacchio Guerrino, where the winemakers are the two very nice brothers Vitacchio with their father Guerrino, older then 90 years, still in the winery! Az. Agr. Villa Magna (www.villamagnawines.com) whose soul and brain is the charming Lady Graziella Novello and Vignaioli Contrà Soarda di Mirco Gottardi (www.contrasoarda.it), famous also for their restaurant in Bassano del Grappa, Il Pulierin.

About Torcolato, it is a very elegant wine whose role is at the end of a delicious dinner.
The grapes are also Vespaiolo but they are hung and dried to concentrate the flavour, the added benefit is they also become sweet. The color is aged gold, the smell is strong and elegant with nuances of honey and dried grapes. In the mouth it becomes smooth in a very elegant way and it asks for biscotti.
Among the bottles that we tasted, we enjoyed particularly the Torcolato made by Maculan (www.maculan.net).
Maculan processes the grapes in January, then they are aged in barriques for 12 months, but before they are declared ready, they stay another 6 months in the bottle.
In his opinion, the opinion of Mr. Maculan, the best moment to taste Torcolato is after five years of its harvest.
A further jewel of this wonderful area of Veneto is the famous cheese Asiago DOP and soon we will talk about it.