andiamotrips - campania, italy with karen phillips

Chef Nino Di Costanzo An Indian Summer Tour could not be without a tour to the Islands.  I'm talking about Ischia and a return to the nouvissima restaurant Dani Maison . 7 October, 2016 - Indian Summer Travel Diary It's almost impossible to talk about Nono Di Costanzo's dishes without talking about Nino Di Costanzo's dishes .  Di Costanzo, in my opinion, is the mad hatter of attention to detail.  Everything in his Dani Maison deserves a first second and yes, even a third look.   My end of season visit to the 2 Michelin starred Chef Di Costanzo's home that cool October evening was full of eye popping presentations like... His amazing appetizer of quail, scampi and chick peas on a colorful glass dish... Di Costanzo's  linguine  Gerardo di Nola  starring garlic, extra virgin olive oil, anchovies and bruschetta... Sure, one of the best fantastic firsts that I've ever tasted in a long long time, I fell in love  w ith t...

Chef Francesco Sposito 15 October, 2016 - Indian Summer Travel Diary Over a year had passed since I sat down at a table at Taverna Estia in Brusciano, in the suburbs of Naples, Italy.  Needless to say that I as excited and curious as to  w hat the 2 Starred Michelin Restaurant has been up to since my last visit. I glanced quickly at the menu, even though I had already decided days earlier what I wanted after checking out the menu online. I decided that  Chef Francesco Sposito's   CaMpARE seafood based tasting menu   would  serve  as my travel itinerar, maybe  including a detour or t wo. Beginning with the beginning.. The bread basket featured this slice  of sour dough pane cafone ) leavened for 72 hours and a touch of bran in the flour mixture) Next stop, Sposito’s famous finger foods .   His starter plate had some familiar faces such as his version of bread, butter, and anchovies… Hi...

A four hands dinner featuring two plates of spaghetti madness? I am so there. The place, PiazzettaMilu in Castellammare di Stabia (Na).  Head Chef Luigi Salomone invited amicone Cristian Torsiello of Osteria Arbustico , Valva (Sa) to join him in his kitchen for una grande evening of great food, wine and company Campania style. Spaghetti madness part 1. Sous Chef Mario Fusco and Chef Luigi Salomone I got a glimpse of the plate in progress while leaning against the  w all in the kitchen.  Salomone and his sous chef Mario Fusco stirring and tasting, tasting and stirring…until it  w as just right.  An appetizer of spaghetti di Gragnano, fermented greens, and stracciata di bufala…. Next,  Spaghetti madness part 2. Chef Cristian Torsiello Torsiello in action.   Take a look at this pot!   Shaken and stirred! Spaghettone di Gragnano with turnip greens and herring. Pasta is a girl’...

Chef Alfonso Caputo 1 October, 2016 - Indian Summer Travel Diary The last fifteen minutes or so of my eighty-minute drive to Marina Del Cantone is probably my favorite.  An immersion of century old olive trees blends into spectacular views of the sea.  It is at this point that I usually turn my car radio off and enjoy the rest of my drive towards Taverna del Capitano, the Michelin starred restaurant/hotel run by the Caputo family. 1:00- pm ish The kitchen, a traditional first stop whenever I visit Taverna del Capitano.   The kitchen is small, cozy, and calm.  A calm before the storm , so to speak.  A chance to chat with Chef Alfonso Caputo and maybe, just maybe  get  a sneak peek of hat he has in mind for his simple savory appetizers.  No such luck! I make my way to my favorite table with a perfect vie w  of the beach. 1: 25 pm ish Maître Sommelier Mariella Caputo pours me a glass of Nudo Erioco Falanghina Spumante...

It seems like summer in Campania never ends!  That is what I’ve noticed in the 20 plus years that I’ve made this part of Italia home.  So, while vacationers flood the beaches and restaurants in August, others in September, I like to wait just a bit longer.  October.  The weather usually agrees with me and gift wraps an amazing Indian summer . This year was a little unpredictable, but I lucked out with the four restaurants I chose for my 2016 adventure. Here’s a look – First stop –  Taverna del Capitano , Marina del Cantone (Na).    Home to Michelin starred  Chef Alfonso Caputo.   This was my second visit this season; I had visited back in May.  So why go back?  Tradition, maybe.  The location is peaceful off-season, paired with amazing food and wine…details soon. Chef Alfonso Caputo Second stop – Dani Maison, Ischia (Na).  A second look at 2 Michelin starred Chef Nino Di Cos...