I traveled by car again, to the sweet haven of Sharpura Bargh. A private boutique guesthouse halfway between Udaipur and Jaipur. Shaturgeet and Maya Singh, the owners, greeted me like an old friend. Maya’s warm welcome was lovely and personal. (Royal butlers can get a bit much after a while.) …
Devigarh, my favorite place aesthetically, is an 18th century Palace fort that royally commands the valley, looking out over the Aravalli hills. Bo-chic in style, the interiors are minimalist yet traditional, leaving more out than put in. An awesome aesthetic, if you like austere five-star elegance—a bit “Indian Zen. The …
Udiapur is known as the city of Lakes. The Lake Palace Hotel was conceived (in romance?) and built in 1746 by Marharana Jagat Singh II. It spreads across a four acre island, a complete vision of white marble. Somewhat Venetian, the ground is not visible at all. It seems rather …
Arriving in Delhi for the first time is no small thing. India smacked me in the face. It’s everything at once. Chaos, a mixture of classes and faces with eyes eep as the ocean. In my younger years, I always thought I would end up in India as a backpacker, …
This labor day, have a cookout with fire. Whether you are headed for the hills or staying at home, you can travel the open road camping and cooking around a cozy campfire or turn up the heat on your back yard grill. Or set up an outdoor kitchen and cook for 30 like Veronica of Meadowlark Farm Dinners.
Thailand is the land of ‘nice’. The people are, generally speaking, gentle, hard-working and hospitable, with hands folded in the traditional greeting, “sawadee ka”…hello, welcome and goodbye. I have been to Thailand three times in my life. Once with my family when the children were little in 1988, and two …
Un Pezzo di Uomo. Tony, our captain on the June 2010 ‘Sailing and Savoring Amalfi Coast’ sailing trip, breaks out into spontaneous opera while at the wheel.
Zuppa di Pesce? si..but also Risotto Pescatore Ingredients: 1 kilo of fresh prawns 3 fresh squid 1/2 kilo of vongole verace (clams) 2 red mullet a few cherry tomatoes 1 can of cherry tomatoes, peeled olive oil 4 cloves of garlic, chopped white wine a bunch of parsley, chopped fine …
Luciano Casini’s aunt Lia and me. Elba 2005 Letter to Sally April 3, 2003. Last night was the festa for Luciano’s restaurant as you know. 30 years! It was one of those parties where you don’t know but one or two people apart from the host. I started to wonder …
There is much to say about Anna Tasca Lanza. My affection and respect for her is immense. It will take me a while to digest and post a proper tribute. Here is her daughter Fabrizia’s moving account of her mother’s last days for all of those who knew her.