I've spent the past week looking at photos, tasting notes, and videos that I made over the past year for the blog. I must admit quite a few of my adventures brought back special memories of good times in the vineyards and restaurants of Campania. Here's part one of a look back at 2013 After all...should
auld aquaintices be forgot?
Let's begin in the vineyards. Let's begin in Irpinia.
Back in April I shared my visit to
Villa Diamante in Montefredane. A winery known for the Fiano di Avellino and we tasted several exciting examples of their going far back as 1998.
When
Ida Budetta invited me to visit her winery,
Az. Agricola San Giovanni in Punta Tresino last summer I was more than thrilled. Until I got lost. I remember, though, finally arriving and getting the opportunity and privilege to spend a few hours in her piece of paradise overlooking the sea.
Then there was a visit t Vico Equense. An area where until a few months ago was familiar to me for their restaurants and beach. I never imagined a winery tucked up in the hills.
Azienda Abbazia di Crapolla. Winemaker
Arturo Erbaggio showed me around the property which included Campania's only pinot nero vineyard.
I spent quite a large part of 2013 exploring some of the top restaurants and kitchens in the region. But there were a couple of days when several dozen
chic chefs all got together in one place. Chef junkie overload during the two events scheduled by CHIC Charming Italian Chefs during the presentation of their 2013
guide
.
One trip in particular took me to the Iaccarino family farm located in
Punta Campnella. The view was spectacular as well as the artichokes that were picked and served later that afternoon at lunch at their restaurant.
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Chef Ernesto Iaccarino |
It was a cold rainy February afternoon when I drove to Telese (Bn) to visit chef
Giuseppe Iannotti and his restaurant/bistrot and vineyard known as
Kresios.
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Chef Giuseppe Iannotti |
The weather wasn't so hot when I went to visit chef
Mirko Balzano who had some fantastic dishes for me to try.
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Chef Mirko Balzano |
Summer took me by surprise when I ventured into the Sorrentine Peninsula for a couple of cool lunches. The first stop was to visit Chef
Alfonso Caputo at
Taverna del Capitano in Nerano. A kitchen that welcomed me be back on several occasions.
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Chef Alfonso Caputo |
Then, it was off to Massa Lubrense to
Relais Blu. I enjoyed a fantastic lunch prepared by Chef
Roberto Allocca. A breathtaking panorama paired perfectly with my meal that day.
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Chef Roberto Allocca |
A trip to Benevento to visit Chef
Angelo D'Amico at
Le Macine during truffle season will be hard to forget. Not to mention the freshly baked dinner rolls paired with cold pressed olive oil that was produced the evening before.
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Chef Angelo D'Amico |
Of course I had to squeeze in a few pizzerias this year. Besides my usuals (Pepe, Ciro Salvo, Fratelli Salvo and Enzo Coccia) I
found one not far from home. Pizza maker
Salvatore Santucci who runs a real family business, where even his young sons,
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Salvatore Santucci |
And speaking of pizza, a mega pizza marathon rounds out part 1 of my trip down memory lane.
Pepe in Grani and
Franco Pepe hosted
Gabriele Bonci for a 12 hour pizza making/eating
extravaganza. Of course I was there!
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Franco Pepe, Gabriele Bonci, and Stefano Pepe |
Auguri e Buon Anno!
.
Well done Karen!
ReplyDeletethanks! auguri! :-)
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