andiamotrips - campania, italy with karen phillips

  View of Sant Angelo One of my favorite places in Campania has to be Ischia.  The big green island has a special place in my heart.  There is sooo much to do here- from lounging around the beach, hiking, thermal spas, or visiting historical gardens or castles. Recently, I created a list of some of my top places to visit on the island. It is by no means a 'Top 10' or any other type of classification. In fact, the list is in a random order. Check out the interactive map below! Bar Ristorante Ida Restaurants 1. Ristorante La Grotte Del Fiore 2. Corbaro Park Restaurant 3. Azienda Agricola U'Scilatur 4. Il Monastero 5. Ristorante Bar Da Cocò 6. Trattoria Il Focolare 7. Chalet Ferdinando a Mare 8. Ischia Salumi 9. Garden Fruit Ischia 10. Dani Maison 11. Ristorante Indaco 12. Bar Ristorante Ida 13. Porto 51 14. HotelVilla Sirena Negombo Thermal Spas 1. Negombo 2. Parco Termale Giardini Poseidon 3. Parco Castiglione Resort & Spa Anton...

  I spent my Saturday on a walk through the heart of Naples - focusing on a passeggiata (stroll) beginning at the Montesanto metro stop just around the corner from the Pignasecca market, to Piazza del Gesù, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Via San Gregorio Armeno and finally to Via Tribunali before heading home.  What did I do along the way?  I visited a few churches, ate a pizza or two, and soaked in the sun and that caldo Neapolitan spirit. Here's a quick look - So what do you think?  There's more on my andiamotrips fb page as well as instagram profile.  

I f you ask me, 'Karen, how was your lunch with Chef Nino Di Costanzo/Dani'Maison Retsuarant ? What was your favorite dish?' I'd pause a bit, because it is a question that has an answer, or answers, that may or may not make sense to you. Because my answer takes into account an evolution, if you will, of the dishes/moments/ experiences that I have shared with the chef since I met him nearly 7 years ago. My answer takes into account the excitement of arriving at the gate, the garden, the breeze on those cool afternoons, the heat on those hot Ischitano summer days. It takes into account the music in the dining room ( the chef loves Pino Daniele ) the artwork on the wall, the changes over the years of his mise en place, etc. So- I usually don't answer - at least not right away. and pics? Well, maybe later. BTW, towards the end of yesterday's lunch service, I managed to catch the chef's attention. 'Nino, look at this pic.. it's from2016,...

It started off as a comment- a hashtag, if you will. ' Karen, come va la dieta? translated as ' Karen, how is the diet going?' I was kidding, making jokes about myself on various social networks.  Then, after a couple of posts, I examined that hashtag and realized it was my mantra for this last period of my life... Karen, how is the diet going?   First of all, let's be clear.  Since I've lived in Italy (next month makes 29 years-yikes!!!) , the word diet for me has meant more of how how I live my life- not trying to lose weight.   So how have I been living my life since my last blog post last November?  Focusing on my new mantra- which may mean going out...staying in...ordering take out...cooking myself.  And maybe this new ride has taken time away from the blog- but if you check out my social media pages such as Instagram  and Facebook , you will see what I mean. In the meantime - stay tuned, because...well...just stay tuned! Visualiz...