Tag Archives: Exclusive Pictures

Italy, Viganella: Dinner at the Casa Vanni’s Restaurant, La Cucina

Posted on December 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

This post that may inspire you

if you miss idea for the dinner. I’ve never eaten as much as during this short stay in Piedmont! Fortunately there is hiking to compensate! Food is excellent.

And our dinner at La Cucina, cooked by the manager of the beautiful Casa Vanni, is just spectacular (photo above)! now I understand why the Slow Food is an Italian concept. Freshness of the ingredients of the valley, fine flavors and generosity.

We feel that our hostess wants to make us happy. The meal is orgiastic with a great presentation and eight dishes! Yes! Hence many giggles, because all three of us feel out just lunch (few hours before in Antrona!). Mamma mia!

For Gourmets, Here Is The Detailed Menu

1. Primosale alla piastra con melassa / Primosale to the plate with melass. 2. Tartina di segale con lardo di Antrona / Rye sandwich with the bacon of Antrona. 3. Fritelle di verdure con passatelli di ricotta Ossolona / Vegetable pancakes with Ossalona ricotta passatelli (not on the pictures). 4. Insalata di farro con ratatouille / Farro salad with ratatouille. 5. Crespelle con ricotta ed erbette di campo / Crepes with ricotta and herbs of the field. 6. Filetto di trota salmonata con peperoni friggitelli / Salmon trout fillet with friggitelli peppers. 7. Tagliere di formaggi nostrani / Platter of local cheeses (not on the pictures). 8. Tortino di cioccolato fondente con cuore morbido / Dark chocolate tart with soft heart. Last picture (below) : the amazing breakfast the next morning! But impossible for me to eat or drink more than a cup of tea (LOL!).

Informations

CASA VANNI

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

Meeting Sandra Gato, the Editor in Chief of ELLE Portugal

Posted on December 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

If you’ve never opened it, you will soon become addicted! It is bubbling, colorful and happy! Yes, happy because it just turned 25 years (picture above) : – ELLE Portugal is trying to uplift women’s life and to keep the dream alive! So if like me, you need positive vibes and to escape with beautiful images and punchy fashion shoots, check out the fresh breeze blowing across the magazine thanks to Sandra Gato, the new Editor in Chief.

– Words are my passion. Communication too. When you work as an Editor in Chief, you have to accessorize words with editing. After studies of journalism and a training in Cosmopolitan, Sandra’s worked for the ELLE Portugal for 21 years : – The magazine changed a lot and I changed with it. I wrote about so many interesting things, it’s always new. We want to anticipate the trends and cheer the change with Portugese women to give them the choice. We don’t want to dictate anything.

Talking about the change, have Portugese women changed a lot? – Yes, they are so different than they used to be. They are educated, career wise and much more trendy aware. They take more care about themselves. And they are enjoying life. Smiling, Sandra adds : – We’re not doing crazy fashion shoots. We always mix high fashion with other brands like H&M for exemple. We are close to our readers, the real women. We just want to inspire them.

What about the new generation of Portugese Fashion Designers? – For us Nuno Baltazar is one of the best : trendy clothes easy to wear, with great details. Very feminine dresses well cut in really good material. He’s been successfull for 6-8 years. And of course there is Felipe Oliveira Baptista, but he’s based in Paris. It’s difficult for young talents here, but crisis brings more creativity. We’ve still had to believe more in our talents to promote them. We are very good professional when we are outside the country. We need to have more self esteem. But every decade, we are growing and getting better.

Last October “to expend ELLE world“, ELLE.pt was launched : – It’s a complement of the magazine. There are two different things, with a different language : we are closer to readers on the site. The communication is more immediate. It’s the future. And in the magazine we want to be a luxury product.

As Sandra used to be a lifestyle editor, I asked her about some of her favourite spots in Portugal :

1. In Lisbon, they are always new small restaurants, like Taberna da Rua das Flores in Chiado. For a luxury shopping, check out Avenida da Liberdad and Fashion Clinic. For trendy spots, LX Factory and Embaxiada.

2. O’Porto is blooming. There are a lot of new shops with a vintage vibe. They have a new way to look at our past. And you have to go to Douro to see the beauty of the landscapes.

3. For me, Alentejo it’s like peace : very friendly people and the food is beautiful. Visit Evora, a beautiful town and the Alentejo coast!

Many thanks Sandra and happy birthday to the ELLE Portugal!

Portugal: Comporta, Miles of Pristine Beaches

Caussette, Paris: The Interview of Berangere Portalier

INTERVIEWS, FASHION & DESTINATIONS

Areias do Seixo: A Room With A Small Fireplace

Posted on December 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Superb design hotel with a unique service and entirely nature oriented

I was invited by the Areias do Seixo to spend the weekend with a friend. This eco-luxury hotel is 1h drive from Lisbon! An unforgettable experience : I’m more and more sensitive to innovative initiatives that put the environment at the center of their concerns. The subject fascinates both owners Marta Fonseca and Gonçalvo Alves I had the opportunity to meet !

What a great surprise to discover our spacious room, bathed in natural light! Concrete walls and floor, a mini glass fire place with black metal, placed on a concrete table (picture 10). Excellent homemade crackers on a metal tray. Very few elements, two chaises (picture 4), hints of colors, beautiful handmade mirrors, wicker baskets, wooden lamp and input tagged with chalk (last photo) door. Two comfortable twin beds (picture 1) facing the bay window overlooking the garden, the vegetable garden and path leading to the dunes, miles of beaches and cliffs in the wild part of the Costa de Prata (pictures 2 & 7).

Plus an amazing giant bathroom extremely comfortable, length mirrors on pebble walls and a large shower in the center of the room (pictures 6 & 9). Unfortunately I didn’t have time to try the deep tub in concrete dug into the ground. Another great detail that I liked very much : no TV in the room. Falling asleep flipping Attitude, the excellent Portugese design magazine, or watching the fire to crackle!