Aielli & Benevento

Starting in March 2007, Aielli & Benevento will offer a wider range of unique, new luxury touring experiences throughout Italy. These custom offerings will include private travel experiences: Venetian Interlude; Barolo Blast; and Italian Lakes Serenade. In addition to our private escorted touring, will we continue to offer our existing touring experiences from the Wine Harvest Escape and Amalfi Adventure to the Roman Holiday, Sicily Sojourn; and Tuscan Summer. To review the details of any of these sample private trips, just******Email: info@aielli-benevento.it.

When one thinks of the Amalfi Coast, one usually focuses on Positano or Amalfi itself. Lesser known but never less, is Ravello, sitting high on a hill off the coast. Arguably, the third jewel in this coastal crown. With views that no place on the earth can rival, Ravello has charm, character and three five star hotels to boot! In addition, this little village’s summer music festival continues to grow in popularity. If you go, be sure to consider, the Hotel Caruso, Palazzo Sasso or Hotel Palumbo…you will not be disappointed.

Here are a few more to add to your latte lover’s list of fine cafes in the North America…1. Caffe Artigiano, shops located throughout British Columbia, 2. Intelligentsia, This Windy City java shop is known for its US Barista champ Matt Riddle and its Black Cat blend espresso, 3123 N. Broadway, Chicago, 3. Caffe Trieste, former hang out for Jack Kerouac and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, this San Fran based institution just celebrated its 50th anniversary, 601 Vallejo St., and 4. D’Amico Foods, since 1948, no glitz here. But this Italian foods institution over the Brooklyn Bridge carries 85 types of coffee beans, 309 Court St., Brooklyn.

Leave it to Lombardy’s culinary entrepreneurs! Food & Wine reports that an Italian sturgeon farm implants microchips in the heads of its fish, using a transponder to track what has been eaten. The goal: to pinpoint the best future spawners. Dean & DeLuca, the US gourmet deli, is offering this “rich and nutty” roe called Calvisius…about $175 USD per pound!

The famed design team of Dolce & Gabbana is expanding their talents with a new café-restaurant in Milano. Just a five-minute trek from the D&G’s very hip showroom is Domenico and Stefano’s new showcase, Gold. The foodery has a very classy upstairs dining room with Sicilian influenced dishes like breaded swordfish with breadcrumbs. Gold, Pz. Risorgimento, +39 02/757-7771; www.dolcegabbanagold.it.

The January issue of Bon Appetit suggests a new, easy party platter to consider is “Salumi Misto”…aka, cold cuts, charcuterie, cured meats, etc…. Whatever you call it, the salumi platter is being reinvented by some very hot restaurants. This staple in Tuscan trattorias usually includes prosciutto, various types of salami, pancetta, et. al. Try these websites: www.laquercia.us; www.salumicuredmeats.com and www.orceserranohams.com.

RyanAir and Air One continue to expand into the Italian Peninsula. Operating from London City airport, Air One is opening routes to Torino, Genoa and Milano’s Linate. RyanAir will now offer direct flights from London Stanstead to Perugia in Umbria and from Nottingham to Sardinia and Pisa. If you are thinking about flying all business Maxjet or EOS from US to the UK and then hopping to Italy be careful of the airport connections. From Heathrow to Stanstead can be a 2-hour plus ordeal! As for US-based carriers, US Airways is now flying into Venice, as is Delta. The Atlanta based carrier has also been first to fly non-stop to Tuscany (Pisa) this year.

The famed Super-Tuscan wine estate Tenuta dell ’Ornellaia has released 600 numbered chests of 12 great wines to make any enthusiast cheer. The “Made in Bolgheri” cases are hand carved and lacquered. The assortment includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Look for it in the finest wine stores.

Aielli & Benevento had the chance in February to stay at the new Ferragamo boutique hotel in Roma. Just five steps off Via Condotti (the city’s Fifth Avenue equal) is Portrait Suites, an ultra-chic, newly renovated townhouse. With a roof top terrace that is 200 yards sightline to the Spanish Steps, the location of this hotel cannot be surpassed. Ask for Camera (Room) 24, a corner junior suite.