Rue La La » italy

Five-Minute Pow-Wow: Chef Tony Mantuano Talks Tastes, Tours, and Italian Soul

ruelalablog — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:11:28 +0000

WORLD-RENOWNED CHEF AND HOST OF OUR AUTHENTIC FOODS OF ITALY: TOUR THE ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE BOUTIQUE SHARES HIS INSIGHT INTO THE FAVORED CUISINE

A culinary tour through Italy is all about the senses – the tastes (first and foremost), the smells, the scenery. And of course, the people who make it all so delicious. Chef Tony Mantuano (maybe you recall him as one of the most revered and beloved contestants of Top Chef Masters) hosts the tour with his wife and culinary partner, Cathy. The expedition departs Rome and journeys through Molise, giving guests “insight into a little-known region’s food, wine, and history.” We sat down with Chef Mantuano for his take on all things Italian.

Rue La La: The itinerary takes Members through several villages and home-style restaurants. What’s your one favorite meal?
Chef Mantuano: The specialty of the region is called Pampanella – delicious and unforgettable. [Editor's note: Pampanella is a pork dish, marinated overnight with garlic and ground sweet pepper.]

Rue La La: When we think Italian, we think hearty pastas, rich sauces, and creamy cheeses. How do you keep it light and healthy?
Chef Mantuano: It’s all about dining Italian-style with sensible portions, vegetables, and wine.

Rue La La: What’s an ingredient we should never compromise on when preparing Italian food?
Chef Mantuano: Aceto balsamico (balsamic vinegar). There is no substitute for the real thing. Also, extra virgin olive oil – it’s the one food I can’t live without. One of the best comes from Molise-Il Traturello, which we will be visiting on this trip.

Rue La La: What’s your ultimate Italian meal?
Chef Mantuano: Insalata di puntarelle (puntarelle chicory salad with anchovy sauce), linguine con vongole (linguine with clams), and abbacchio al Romano (Roman-style roast lamb), all paired with rarified Italian wines (Pigato from Liguria and Brunello di Montalcino, to be specific), an assortment of cheeses, and a good espresso.

Rue La La: What’s one ingredient a chef should always keep on hand?
Chef Mantuano: Capers. They give a distinctive flavor to many dishes, but they are often overlooked when stocking the pantry. Plus, they have a good shelf life.

Rue La La: Describe the power of Italian cuisine in three words.
Chef Mantuano: Satisfying. Healthy. Soulful.

Our Authentic Foods of Italy: Tour the Italian Countryside Boutique opens Wednesday, January 26 at 11AM.

Five-Minute Pow-Wow: A Stylish Bike Trip

ruelalablog — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:01:14 +0000

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSH WILSON, RUE LA LA PROJECT MANAGER

We always prefer the scenic route. So in preparation for our upcoming Experience from Ciclismo Classico, purveyors of bike tour vacations in foreign locales, we sat down with our very own Josh Wilson, who recently toured Tuscany with the company, to get a taste of his experience.

Rue La La: How is traveling on a bike different from, say, a bus tour or cruise?
Josh: This is a much more personal and hands-on experience. You are slowly riding through the countryside so you take in the smells, sights, sounds, and people in a way that you can’t in a bus.

Rue La La: We love getting around on our bikes, but… what kind of intensity are we talking about?
Josh: The average route for our tour was about 40 miles per day and included one or two challenging climbs. There’s flexibility built in each day – those who want to do more miles and see more of Tuscany can break off from the main pack and do an extra loop. It’s a great opportunity to ride faster and climb harder and I looked forward to them each day.

Rue La La: How about people who aren’t avid bikers?
Josh: There are cooking demonstrations, history and language lessons, walking tours of ancient cities, great restaurants, and some really wonderful shopping. The tour we did switched hotels every couple of days. If you didn’t want to ride every day you could only ride on the days when you were switching hotels and spend the day shopping instead.

Rue La La: What do you pack for a tour like this?
Josh: Ciclismo Classico provides a good list. In addition to bike clothes and evening attire you should bring packable rain gear. I also recommend bringing the pedals and saddle from your bike at home. The guides are happy to install these on your bike for the tour and you’ll be more comfortable riding on something that you are used to.

Rue La La: Okay, but you’re someone who happens to have great style. Could you be stylish on this kind of trip?
Josh: I rode in a couple pairs of Ibex wool bike shorts and wool jerseys that I hand-washed at night in the hotel sink. In the evening, I wore leather shoes, khakis, and dress shirts. My wife Cory chose to ride in more modern synthetic bike shorts and colorful cotton T-shirts. She wore dresses and skirts that were lightweight and not wrinkle-prone when she was off the bike. Irons and laundry service aren’t readily available so you need to be smart about what you pack.

Rue La La: We’re talking Italy – the food had to have been amazing.
Josh: We ate a lot of authentic Tuscan foods (boar, white beans, rustic pasta, pecorino Toscano cheese). One of our guides, Sandro, owns a farm where he raises livestock and grows olives for oil and grapes for wine. Sandro made sure we ate well and always had a perfect local wine pairing to go with the food. He also got us into a Sassicaia tasting in Cortona where we got to try some amazing Super Tuscans. The most memorable meal of the tour was at the Fattoria Santa Vittoria vineyard in the Chiana valley. The vineyard owner, Marta, made us the tastiest lasagna that I’ve ever eaten from local mushrooms and cheeses. We sat down to the lasagna, local prosciutto and figs, and some roasted vegetables along with a sampling of the vineyard’s wine – this was a simple, home-cooked meal but by far the best of the tour.

Rue La La: What did the group leaders bring to the experience?
Josh: Our guides were with us from early in the morning til late at night and showed a real interest in sharing their language and culture with us. They loved their country and were very proud of its natural beauty, art, culture, and food but were also very candid and truthful about the problems that face modern Italy. Cory and I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Italy after the tour ended, and it wasn’t the same without our guides. They were able to provide us with a level of access and insight that you can’t get on your own. We’re already planning a reunion trip to one of the guides’ farm in Sienna.

We had more questions for Josh – read his responses on Facebook.

Our Ciclismo Classico – Italy & Vietnam Boutique opens Friday, January 21 at 11AM ET.

5 Telling Tidbits: Salvatore Ferragamo Talks Family Wines

ruelalablog — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 01:00:13 +0000

THE INSIDE SCOOP BEHIND THE STORIED FAMILY VILLA

We caught up with Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the iconic fashion company’s late founder, for some insider insight about their family estate that he describes as “historic, luxurious, and picturesque.” There are so many amazing details about the estate (and our Tuscan adventure as a whole!) but we’ve zeroed in on five little-known facts about the Ferragamo family, wines, and estate that get us dreaming of the dolce vita.

1. When Salvatore said the property was historic – he meant it. The estate once belonged to the world-famous Medici-Tornaquinci noble family, as well as Italian royals throughout history.

2. The estate’s library is chock-filled with the family’s private collection of books and photographs – a treasure-trove of family heirlooms.

3. Although the family is all about style, the estate’s ambiance is all about homey comfort. So no need to stress, guests are encouraged to dress as formally or casually as they wish.

4. The estate restaurant, Osteria del Borro, specializes in ancient Tuscan recipes reinterpreted by renowned Chef Roberto Bendinelli. Salvatore’s pick for a can’t-miss meal: steak florentine paired with the flagship Il Borro wine.

5. The Ferragamo name doesn’t grace any of the bottles of their estate wines. The family wants the wine to stand on its own delicious merits.

The Ferragamo family estate and winery is only one aspect of the incredible Tuscany: Il Palio & The Ferragamo Estate Boutique – other elements include coveted views of the Il Palio horse race, three nights in an eleventh-century castle, and unparalleled wine country experiences.

The Tuscany: Il Palio & The Ferragamo Estate Boutique opens Monday, December 6 at 11AM ET.