AUSTRIA

Gelato Mennella in Naples, located on the Via Alessandro Scarlatti across from Pizzeria Errico Porzio, stands out as one of the best spots for gelato, offering the creamiest and most flavorful options. While exploring Europe, particularly during Italy travel, I found the gelato in Sienna to be not only delicious but also the most beautiful, even though it may not be the best tasting due to being whipped and therefore less creamy than non-whipped varieties.

The obvious winner for pizza lovers is Naples – the home of pizza, where you can spend hours exploring the little alleyways of the Quartieri Spagnoli, trying to decide which pizzeria to choose – they all looked equally tempting and were mostly filled with smiling customers. We enjoyed our meal at La 3 Sorelle, opting for the classic pizza margherita because in Italy, the best is often the most basic! We also savored our pizza at the Pizzeria Errico Porzio in Naples on Via Alessandro Scarlatti, along with many other places that could rival Naples. Essentially, if you're accustomed to North American pizza, you'll find that all pizza in Italy is fantastic. One of my all-time best pizza experiences occurred in Anacapri in 2010 while exploring Europe; we were rushing to catch the chairlift to Monte Solaro when we stumbled upon a little take-out window that smelled divine, and our brakes just automatically engaged. The pizza had a thicker crust than Napoli pizza, dusted with cornmeal, made in a large rectangular pan and cut into squares, bursting with juicy, oozing flavors that are hard to describe. If you ever find yourself in Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri and catch a whiff of heavenly pizza aroma wafting toward you, I implore you to stop and grab a slice. In fact, get two! This experience truly highlights the culinary delights of Italy travel.

It was a tie between the crisp Pinot Grigio in Volastra, a charming village known for its great wine bar and stunning sunset views right on the Cinque Terre trail between Manarola and Corniglia, AND the Vermentino served at our hotel Tenuta Casabianca. I would highly recommend this as the ONLY place to stay in the Murlo region of Chanti, Tuscany. It was affordable, beautiful, and luxurious! We enjoyed a 2-bedroom villa with its own pool for less than the price of a typical hotel room. And when you are there – do book the wine tasting. As fans of rosé wine, we particularly loved their Rosato, making this Italy travel experience even more memorable.

I love tiramisu – and it was a tough contest as the Italians really know how to rock a tiramisu (probably because they are not stingy with the booze). They should; they invented it. Specifically, it was the Italian pastry chef Roberto Linguanotto (1943–2024) who is credited, along with Alba di Pillo-Campeol, for inventing the dessert at the Le Beccherie restaurant in Treviso, Italy. This was a tough call as we sampled our way through tiramisu in the Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Naples, Florence, Rome, and Sienna during our Italy travel adventures. However, I would have to give a nod to the one we picked up while walking down the street in Riomaggiore. 

I discovered the best way to drink coffee in Italy during my travels in 2010 when I stumbled upon this delight one night after a fantastic FREE concert in Lucca. I was HOOKED! Corretto literally means 'corrected' in Italian – signifying that booze has been added to a shot of espresso, which seems much more correct to me! Sometimes the alcohol is served on the side, but often I found they just splash it in generously. Our favorite was with Sambuca, and hands down the winner of this delightful drink was the woman who ran the small coffee shop, Punto e a Capo, in tiny Casiano di Murlo – which we affectionately called mini Murlo (it is actually a frazione or comune, a small village or hamlet outside the main town). She never blinked an eye when we’d roll up before eleven in the morning for our daily Café Corretto and seemed to enjoy upping the boozy splash with each visit! 

One of my favourite Italian dishes is risotto. Rich and creamy, this beloved dish originated in Northern Italy, particularly in Lombardy and Piedmont, but you will find it offered in most good quality restaurants throughout Italy. While exploring in Rome, I had the pleasure of enjoying a spectacular 'risotto ai funghi porcini e olio tartufato' (mushroom with truffle oil) in Trastevere, just across the river from downtown Rome. I don’t even remember the name of the restaurant; it was just a little place with tables outside and 'mommas' excellent cooking. It was one of the specials of the day, and believe me, it was something special!