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An update from Rome....

The eternal city is eternally evolving, much too often in not such positive ways. The dirty streets getting dirtier, the already annoying abusive street vendors more brazen  and annoying, the homeless population more evident, and so on.

The one bright spot is definitely the food scene.

There are new venues not only offering inventive food offerings, but also innovative cocktails as well.

Here are three of them:

VOS 

www.VOSROMA.com

Opened recently by former employees of La Zanzara,in a great central location right off Via Del Corso,

This bright airy bar with several rooms housing tables including an inner courtyard garden setting is the new "in" place.

The drinks are elevated concoctions of spirits, mixed with great care and infused with herbs, aromatic oils, garnishes all perfectly balanced  and satisfying.

The food is not only good, but presented with a touch of artistry, so that each dish seems camera ready for that ubiquitous spot on Instagram!

Casual, inviting and delicious. A great addition to the legion of emporiums populating the Italian capital.

EMMA.    

www.emmapizzeria.com

If you follow my Facebook entries (Joe Gandolfo's Travel Page)

you are probably aware that Roscioli is one of my go to places every single time I am in Rome. You just can't get food that is more genuine, fresher, elegantly prepared and mouth watering.

The downside is that the venue is small, cramped and difficult to get into, unless yo go off hours or reserve a spot beforehand.

I ate lunch there again just yesterday!

Happy to announce that a new restaurant has opened called EMMA.

Not only is it an attractive new place, but smartly enough, it offers most of its creations using genuine Roscioli products.

Because this is a very large venue, you don't have to worry as much about getting a seat, however......a word of caution. Even here I recommend making a reservation, because when I dined there a couple of nights ago, the main room, which is quite large, was full and bustling with very happy diners. The food is extremely well prepared, the pizzas are as good as you can expect and the wine list is eclectic and varied.

This might just become a new personal favorite!

L'OSTERIA DI BIRRA DEL BORGO

www.osteria.birradelborgo.it

This is the newest addition to the very trendy Prati district of Rome.

Unusual in the fact that there is not a bottle of wine in sight! "Sacrilege", might be your first thought....an Italian restaurant and no wine? I can confirm: no wine!

However, this very modern cavernous space created by the famous pizza chef known simply as Bonci, offers not only dozens of artisanal and seasonal beers, but at the large bar, they make unusual cocktails all with a beer base.

The menu is very limited, mostly pizzas thicker than the very thin Roman style, yet light and airy. There are many variations,  from the usual toppings as well as quite unusual ones....all served cut in square pieces on a stone platter. 

There are also some pastas and even hamburgers.

The daily specials rotate and vary frequently.

The crowd is young, hip and very local.....few tourists here so far.

Since this venue remains open until 2AM, it is the perfect gathering place for hungry night crawlers particularly after the movies, a concert or an evening of dancing.

Not the typical Italian space, it almost looks like it should belong in London, New York or maybe Milan......yet this is the "new" Rome.

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Mt. ETNA

Have you always wanted to see a volcano up close? If reaching the summit of a volcano sounds exciting but at the same time too tiring, the Circumetnea railway might be perfect for you: since 1895 this panoramic train has linked Catania to the top of Mount Etna with its 110 kilometers (70 miles) of tracks circumnavigating and ascending towards the summit. The journey starts down by the shore, then the train climbs through olive and citrus groves, slowly working its way to the top. The higher you get, the more spectacular the views: the raw and untamed beauty of the volcano wows even the most jaded of travelers. Those who love pistachios should definitely plan to disembark in Bronte, where the best pistachios in Sicily come from. 

Windstar cruise

WINDSTAR STAR LEGEND, CARIBBEAN SAILING.
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It was my very fist time on a Windstar product and my expectations may have been a bit deflated after being on the Legend.

The crew onboard was incredibly friendly and solicitous, but the service at the bars and at dinner was many times uneven and lacking.

Many times dirty glasses and ashtrays were left on tables at the outdoor bar deck for hours before being removed and the tables cleaned, as an example.  Often I noticed guests doing the chore themselves.

The food overall was acceptable but I found most seafood  dishes were disappointing.....fish was often overcooked and dry.

Meat dishes were much better. Again waiters quite solicitous and willing to exchange dishes when asked ( something I did not do!)

The cabins were quite large and bathrooms efficient, but seemed a bit outdated and in need of renovation. In particular there was a lack of outlets  not requiring an adaptor, particularly for those like me needing to charge laptop, phones and chargers....one outlet in a large cabin just not enough! Having been made aware one needed adaptors would have been helpful.

The bathroom in my cabin had a bathtub with shower curtain....I am not a fan of shower curtains in hotels or sailing vessels, but that may be just my personal "Psycho" bias! The water pressure was seriously lacking, making it a bit of a chore rinsing soap from one's body.

The public rooms and center stairwell also seemed dated and "retro", not sure if left that way purposely as an homage to the clients who sailed her in her previous incarnation, or just because renovations were not done.

I know the Star Legend is an old vessel, and in desperate need of some tlc, so I am open  to trying one of the newer yachts in the fleet in the near future to experience what Windstar is truly capable of offering my clients!