July 8, 2011
When I say Liguria, I’m talking about the Ligurian coast in the Italian Riviera. Topographically different from the rest of Italy, the coastline is scattered with mountainous cliffs that drop straight down into the ocean, and hidden beaches are nestled away in unspoiled coves. Idyllic Santa Margherita and Portofino were the two stops for us […]
June 24, 2011
I’m really glad we made it to Florence before the Jersey Invasion dropped a gang of guidettes into the birthplace of Michelangelo. Although I’m sure they feel quite at home amongst the various Guess stores and Footlockers, I was disappointed that there is no legitimate shopping in this city. But I did have two of […]
June 10, 2011
There’s nothing more gag-inducing to me than Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun, yet there is nothing that made me feel more like Diane Lane than actually being “under the Tuscan sun”. Ok, I admit. I did fantasize about buying a rundown villa, driving to the beach in my vintage Karmann Ghia, making embarrassing […]
May 27, 2011
*Dear Martians, please welcome the newest addition to the Umamimart Familia, Jerkey. She is based in LA, and a good friend of Umamimart writer Sarah Nevada and Yoko’s cousin (and loyal reader) Tomo. We first met at the San Pedro Fish Market Umamiventure, back in June last year, and she is a huge pizzahead. She’ll […]
January 19, 2011
It’s a blah blah world here in Skankynavia. Bad economy, rising unemployment, snow storms, ice rain, foggy days without sunrise or sunset. It’s even more depressing than watching Depression Cooking With Clara. As previously written, studies have shown that over 40% of Scandinavians feel affected moodwise when the winter kicks in, as our days are […]
June 30, 2010
Umbria is one of those places you hear people romanticize when they talk about their “dream vacations†and after a recent trip to the region, I now understand why. I had an opportunity to visit a bed and breakfast in Umbria called Ca’ Di Gosto. It’s almost inaccurate to refer to it as a B&B […]
June 9, 2010
After spending five months in Venice and frequenting countless wine bars and restaurants, Paradiso Perduto was the one I kept going back to. A neighborhood establishment that’s good for a drink, a snack, a meal, or an all day bender. A place where you felt like the bartenders would recognize you with a wink and […]
February 23, 2008
In Rome we stayed in Trastevere, which is a hip, bohemian hotspot on the other side of the Tiber, near Vatican City. It’s a great neighborhood, sorta Williamsburgish, lively at all hours of the night- lots of bars, clubs and restaurants. For my last supper in Italy, I wanted a typical Roman meal- and Trastevere […]
February 21, 2008
For not really having any premeditative restaurant agenda, Matt and I did really well in Rome. The city’s such a maze, that it’s best not to have your heart set on any one restaurant- you’d just get frustrated going around in circles looking for it. We were walking around towards the Pantheon in the afternoon […]
February 11, 2008
Ok, I know this is ridiculous– even though it’s been months since I went to Italy, I still feel the need to finish blogging my fantastic eats (my computer with all my Italy pics died a few months ago, but we’re back!). Probably one of my best meals ever in 2007 was in Assisi, at […]