Top lunch…Milano–

Time for lunch in this fabulous joint…let’s put a feed on!

First gotta do a negroni just around the corner to get warmed up…slurrrrp!

Burrata and tomatoes for antipasti…my favorite in Milan.

Melon and ham…especially delightful in this joint.

Risotto alla milanese…heavenly, absolutely wonderful…I’m in love.

Seafood pasta extraordinaire…stupendo!

Branzino baked in salt…yes, you may serve it, signore.

Branzino removed from salt and bone…veggies…GOBBLE!

The gringo is totally satisfied here…bellissimo.

This…restaurant…ROCKS!

il Salumaio di Montenapoleone is my favorite lunch joint in Milan…WOW…love it here.

Located in a high-end shopping section of town this place reeks of comfort, style and soothingness…which is what all of the clientele here want…desire…crave.

We walk the streets before lunch, and they are charming…filled with lovely clothing shops, shoe shops, jewelers, etc.. . .we are seduced. And to make things worse there is a chill little aperitivo joint right around the corner from the restaurant…we pop in, slurp down a couple negronis, then head on over to lunch.

We have reservations, we announce ourselves, and we are whisked to a relaxing outdoor table in the magnificent courtyard…this place is busy, there is no room for us on the inside…tables are filled with business people, fashion people and loungers like us all looking to enjoy the passage of time over good food and drink. . .we feel at ease here…mmmm, aaaahh!

We start with Prosecco and fizzy water…then we get busy with food…

…for antipasti we do burrata with tomatoes and melon with ham…both are delicious, the burrata is huge–oblong–delectable…maybe my favorite burrata in all of Milan.

For primi we do risotto all milanese and seafood pasta…both are wonderful…my risotto makes me go, “YUH-MEEEEEEE!”…we love both of these dishes.

For secondi I do whole branzino baked in salt…the meat is juicy, tasty and fabulous…all fish should be cooked this way…really good.

Everything is washed down with a solid Etna bianco…we could not be happier at this moment.

WOW…this is my favorite lunch experience in Milan thus far…this restaurant is really really good. The owners are flitting about making sure people are happy…the whole joint is filled with a fun mix of business folks from all over the world…the staff are extremely helpful and welcoming…the vibe is soothing and scintillating…and the grub and drink are outstanding…we love it here–MWAH!

I strongly recommend that you do lunch at il Salumaio di Montenapoleone if you ever find yourself in Milan. . .you will love this place–I gar-ron-taaaay!

On to our next lunch…

…it’s lovely out there.

Dinnertime…Milano–

Din-din at a classic Milan joint…let’s do this!

The front room at Serafina…not too shabby at all.

Zucchini blossoms for antipasti…YES!

Burrata and tomatoes for antipasti…yes AGAIN!

Pasta pecorino…mixed in a pecorino wheel…veddy tasty!

Pecorino pasta…GOBBLE!

Octopus-tomato-cheese concoction…delectable!

Fish smothered in Mediterranean sauce…we ate every last morsel.

Grazie mille, chef! Anthony Kiedis look-a-like…yes?

Serafina is located on a lively tree-lined block in Milan…aperitivo joints are everywhere and filled with young people sipping Aperol spritzes and chit-chatting the night away.

We roll into Serafina after passing all of the spritz-sipping young revelers…we have a reservation…we announce ourselves, and we are whisked to an extremely cozy corner table just like we requested…we are in love with this joint immediately…mmm, aaaahh!

We start with Prosecco and fizzy water. Then we get busy ordering and gobbling…

…for antipasti we do stuffed zucchini blossoms and burrata with tomatoes…both are delicious…

…for primi we do pasta pecorino…lovely noodles tossed in a large pecorino wheel table side and served in warm bowls…delicious…

…for secondi I do a fish smothered in some sort of ‘Mediterranean’ sauce…this is not my favorite dish ever, but I gobble it and feel quite satisfied.

All of this is washed down with an Etna white…crisp and biting…niiiice.

The vibe of Serafina is lively…the crowd is a mix of old and young, locals and visitors…seated in our cozy corner table we feel extremely comfortable in here.

The food is delicious and the staff are helpful and welcoming…

…not a bad choice for dinner at all…we prefer doing lunches, but Serafina is only open for din-din…ah boo-hoo, please don’t cry for us…we make do just fine when lunch is not available.

When in Milan check this joint out…you might like it just as much as we do…

…now we gotta get some sleep and go find a good spot for lunch…

…it’s lovely out there.

della Pesa in Milan…essential–

Ho Chi Minh once worked here…let’s check out this old Milanese classic for lunch.

Bresaola for antipasti…YUH-MEE!

Melanzana for antipasti…also YUH-MEE!

Ossobuco with risotto alla Milanese…quite possibly a perfect plate of grub–stupendo!

The gringo loved his ossobuco and risotto…yes-indeedy-dee!

We are extremely happy in our cozy corner of della Pesa…grazie mille!

Antica Trattoria della Pesa has been serving grub here in Milan since the 1880s…it’s gotta be good…let’s check it out.

This place is soothing, chill, efficient and full of Milanese folks…we appear to be the only gringos here…love it!

We have a reservation and arrive on time…we are seated in a cozy corner as requested, and we are good-to-go.

We get busy with Prosecco and fizzy water…the Prosecco is dry and delicious–lovely.

Next we do our antipasti…bresaola–air-dried salted beef, very tasty…

…and a melanzana–warm, juicy and delectable eggplant concoction…perfect start.

The main dish of this joint is a combo of ossobuco and risotto alla Milanese…I do this, and it is extremely delicious…super-tender meat, gooey unctuous bone marrow and wonderful risotto prepared in the Milanese style with saffron–as close to a perfect plate of food as you can get…really good.

We wash this whole meal down with a solid bottle of Barolo. . .mmm, aaaahh!

This place feels very grounded–this sooths us…it’s been here well over 140 years…there is a plaque outside that reminds everyone that Ho Chi Minh worked here while he was making his way around the world learning the ways of humanity…all in preparation for becoming the father of modern Viet Nam…quite a legacy–saluti!

It feels real good here in della Pesa. . .I highly recommend this joint…definitely come here for lunch or dinner if you ever find yourself in Milan. . .you will love it–I gar-ron-taaaayy!

On to our next lunch…

…it’s lovely out there.

da Giacomo, Milano…stupendo!

Fine lunching in Milan…let’s do it–jaaa!

Vongole…exquisite and delicious…mmm, aaaah!

Spaghetti pomodoro e basil with some lobster thrown in for fun…delectable!

Whole roasted branzino…uhm, yes, this’ll do, signore.

Antipasti of tuna tartare…magnifico!

Our new Milanese ladyfriends…they love lunch as much as we do…mmhhmmm!

The gringo is extremely satisfied with this joint…you will be, too…check it out sometime.

WOW…lunch at da Giacomo here in Milan is wonderful…let’s check it out.

We arrive for our lunch reservation…as hoped for, the place is empty…just a regular ole weekday afternoon, and we have most of the joint to ourselves–niiiiice!

Our waiter seats us, and we get busy with fizzy water and Prosecco…possibly the tastiest and driest Prosecco we have ever had–perfecto.

The focus here is Tuscan grub with a northern Italian tinge and seafood…

…so we do antipasti of tuna tartare–wonderful!…

…then primi of vongole and lobster spaghetti–fabulous!…

…then whole roasted branzino–magnificent!

We wash this whole meal down with a solid Sicilian Etna white–Vigna di Milo Caselle…really good.

da Giacomo has been serving deliciousness since the 1950s, and it is still going strong…

…the staff are great, the space is relaxing, the vibe is chill and the grub is excellent.

If you ever find yourself looking for a soothing lunch here in Milan definitely consider this place…they are here, working hard and ready to serve you whenever you arrive…

…book a table, show up promptly, then enjoy the passage of time while ingesting tasty food and drink…

…you will love–I gar-ron-taaaayy!!

On to our next lunch…

…it’s lovely out there.

Leonardo lived here…Milan–

Leonardo lived in this castle when working in Milan…magnifico!

The front door of the castle…not too shabby.

600+ years old and still going strong…stupendo!

A gate honoring Umberto I…the first king of a unified Italy…niiiice.

This Leonardo fellow did a lot of stuff here…Google to learn more.

Sforza Castle took about 150 years to build–roughly 1400 to about 1550…

…started by a grand duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, and completed by other dukes and kings and various big-shots…surrounded by Sempione Park…this is a wonderful spot for walking, running or just chilling while hanging out in Milan. . .we definitely recommend that you check out the whole thing.

Leonardo da Vinci lived here for about 18 years as he performed many duties and completed many projects for the rulers of his day…

…designing and building bridges…

…designing and building various bits of Milanese infrastructure…

…creating art–for example, his depiction of The Last Supper which can be viewed in a nearby church…

…frescoing ceilings…

…etc. and so on.

We walk in Leonardo’s footsteps as we stroll through these grounds…we imagine him doing stuff here, there and everywhere…and we go, “mmmm” and “aaahhhh” the whole time.

Come to Milan, visit the Sforza Castle, breathe the same air that Leonardo breathed, see the same blue sky that Leonardo saw…it all feels so good here…

…and it is all waiting for you right here, right now.

It’s lovely out there.

Coolest bar in Milan…BOOM!

Aperitivos for the common people…this became a ‘thing’ in this joint shortly after the end of WWII…saluti!

These dudes knock out endless negronis for all of the people day and night…stupendo!

Yes, two goblets of goodness for us pleeezzzz…grazie mille!

Saluti!

Slurrrrrp.

The gringo loves every last drop…mmhhmmm!

Bar Basso opened in 1947. It is said that the negroni sbagliato was invented here…this is a negroni made with Prosecco in place of gin…

…the story is that a past owner of the bar, a dude called Mirko Stocchetto, one night mistook a bottle of prossecco for a bottle of gin, added it, and this “sbagliato” (‘mistake’ in Italian) became a desired version of the negroni, the negroni sbagliato–the mistaken negroni…

…Mirko’s son, Maurizio, now owns the bar and things are as hot as ever with all types frequenting here: fashion moguls, business titans, students, office workers, curious gringos like me, etc.

Another historic element is that this joint made apertivos available to “everyday folk”…not just wealthy elites…EVERYONE is welcomed here…

…they serve their drinks in unique large fun goblets or regular glasses, however you like…

…they use giant ice cubes or smaller ones, however you like…

…and the snacks are ubiquitous and delicious…

…we love this joint!

Stand at the bar, sit at a table, stand outside, smoke, don’t smoke, sip, chit-chat, gobble snacks, enjoy the passage of time however you like. . .this is a fun, lively and uplifting bar…Google to learn more…

…come to Milan, find Bar Basso, have a negroni or three and watch the show…

…you deserve cocktails in a great bar. . .enjoy!

It’s lovely out there.

Milan welcomes us…saluti!

Benvenuto a Milano…jaaaa!

Stay here…fabulous hotel just 2 blocks away from il Duomo…we love this joint!

The center of town…start here, and all of your Milanese dreams will come true…mmhhmmm!

Pose, snap, then get out of here to find the real fun stuff of Milan.

For example, La Scala, the world’s most famous opera house…nice negroni spot right next door, fyi.

Simple and humble on the outside, La Scala is loaded with magical music vibes…tickets are on sale all of the time–check it out!

BAM! We arrive at Milan train station, grab a cab, head to our hotel, drop our bags, splash our faces and hit the streets…let’s check this town out.

Our hotel during this visit is the Clerici Boutique Hotel on…wait for it…Via Clerici…very easy to find. Great location just 2 blocks or so from il Duomo, the Galleria shopping structure, La Scala Opera House, etc….definitely consider this hotel if you ever find yourself here…really nice. Plus, there is one room in this joint that has a balcony–room #402–in fact, 402 has two balconies. . .open the doors to both balconies, and we have a floor-through experience with magical breezes flowing through the room during nice weather. . .book this, you deserve it.

We head on over to il Duomo, and it is quite impressive…we read that this is the largest Gothic cathedral in all of Europe…is this true? Must be…certainly feels pretty massive. . .and the exterior marble is quite a sight, definitely dramatic, not loved by all. Oscar Wilde wrote to his mother in June 1875 after seeing this, “The Cathedral is an awful failure.” Not sure I totally agree, but it certainly is an acquired taste…

…anyway, who cares what Oscar or I think? Just know that this thing is totally worth a visit…get on over here and see it for yourself some time.

Lots of people are always in and around the il Duomo square–blaaaahh…

…so we get out of here and head on over to La Scala, the most famous and important opera house on Earth. This, too, is totally worth a visit…surprisingly simple and humble looking from the outside…lots of posters advertising upcoming shows, people in line at the box office buying tickets…seems that something is happening here nearly every night of the week. . .good to know if you are an opera fan.

Opera was invented here in Italy…the music and singing and stories extend back over 500 years to the first operas written by Monteverdi and others…La Scala is a must visit when in Milan…come here, check it out, see a show if you like, or you can just enjoy a negroni in the restaurant right next door and watch the opera fans of every shape, size, color, creed and gender flitting about here, there and everywhere each evening as curtain time approaches. . .feel the magic, feel the history, feel the joy. . .mmm, aaaah!

So much more to see and do here…stay tuned…you’re gonna dig it all…

…it’s lovely out there.

Florence forever…a presto–

Big old house on the south bank of the Arno…site for social events–bellissimo!

View of town center from Villa Bardini…mmm, aaaahh!

Park next to Bardini…good spot for gringo posers–saluti!

Just enjoying the passage of time…slurrrrp.

Site of many Pitti parties before the Medicis bought it and made Florence great again and again and again…etc.

Good Pitti/Medici smooch spot…MWAH!

Take time to smell, and sip, the negronis.

Our hearts and bosoms runneth over with joy and fruit. . .a presto, Firenze.

Wandering around Florence on the south side of the Arno is soothing…less crowds…lots of parks on hills offering great views of the city center…quiet…birds chirping…comfy breezes…important buildings to view. . .more opportunity to reflect on this town…take it all in…enjoy the passage of time.

Villa Bardini is a big old house on a hill…good views…wonderful space for social events…we crash a book party, no one cares…all are enraptured with the setting and the magical words of some author talking about some book that he wrote about some subject that might be of interest to the 20 or so folks in attendance. . .we wish him well from this magical spot overlooking the Arno, Florence, the distant hills and the floating clouds. . .saluti!

The park nearby is great for photos and coffee…we then walk on over to the Palazzo Pitti…built in 1457 for the Pitti family, purchased by the Medicis in 1549, expanded in 1560 and beyond by Cosimo Medici…galleries added, museums created, courtyards constructed, the Boboli Gardens built…and today this building is a wonderful place to hang, visit, contemplate and take in as your imagination runs wild thinking of all the things that have happened here. . .woweewowow!

We keep wandering around Florence…finding more quiet corners on the south side of the river to sip negronis, snack on antipasti, gobble pasta, sip some more, enjoy coffee, etc. and so on. . .

. . .soothingness can be found here, you just gotta look for it.

So, I send you easygoing and uplifting vibes from the hills, valleys and buildings of Florence…feel them…they will make you go, “stupendo, bella mia!”

It’s lovely out there.

#1 lunch joint…Florence–

We love this joint…let’s check it out–jaaa!

Pear salad…delectable antipasti dish.

Rigatoni della casa…wonderful primi…delicioso!

Bistecca alla Fiorentina for two. . .stupendo!

This gringo is extremely satisfied.

Warm and soothing vibes…wanna eat here again and again…saluti!

WOW…Trattoria dei 13 Gobbi is fabulous…this is our favorite lunch spot in Florence. Let’s check it out and see what’s what.

13 Gobbi is located just outside the center of town where all of the gringo mobs are waiting in line to visit various sights…located on a quiet street away from the mobs…kinda gotta know where you are going to get here.

We reserve a table for 2…you gotta do this if you want any respect upon arrival.

We arrive on-time…we announce ourselves…we are seated at a cozy table.

We listen…we only hear Italian being spoken around us–niiiice. . .no gringo mobs here.

Our waiter is chill and lovely…we get busy with glasses of Prosecco.

We then get busy with ordering: pear salad for antipasti, house rigatoni for primi, bistecca for two for secondi. . .we are here for the steak…we share our antipasti and primi cuz we want room for the meat.

And we do vino rosso della casa–carafes of house red wine–to wash everything down. . .it is delicious, 9 euros per carafe, we are “in-the-know”…no silly wine list for us here, a real gringo move in this joint to be avoided.

The pear salad is refreshing and delightful…

…the rigatoni is rich, bright, tomatoey, super al dente and extremely delicious…

…and the bistecca for two is wonderfully tasty and totally gobbleworthy with bitter greens, roasted potatoes and meat that chews like puffy clouds of beef goodness and slides down our gullets effortlessly. . .stupendo!

For dessert a little lemon sorbet…

…and then a solid espresso macchiato…

…BOOM…done.

This lunch makes us happy…this place is soothing.

13 Gobbi is totally worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Florence looking for a good feed spot.

Eat here some time if you can. . .you will love it–I gar-ron-taaaay!

It’s lovely out there.

Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze–

A courtyard inside Santa Croce…I better get off the grass, bad-ugly-American move…scu-zee.

Michelangelo’s tomb…WOW!

Galileo’s tomb…double WOW!!

Just a statue of Dante somewhere nearby…endless sights like this all over town…magical.

This is one of the great places to visit in Florence, and for some reason it is not overrun with mobs of gringos waiting in line to get in…niiiice.

The Basilica of Santa Croce is a church that houses the tombs of many heavy hitters: Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini, Bartolini, etc….quite powerful to gaze at these and contemplate all of the amazing things that these folks have done…all of the amazing folks who have walked through here to pay their respects…and all of the amazing things still to come for us and all of humanity. . .phew, this is heavy indeed!

Plus, the church and its grounds are soothing…very nice walking around in here…not overrun, not loud, not hustly-n-bustly. . .just easygoing. . .mmm, aaaahh!

Check out Santa Croce if you ever find yourself in Florence…I would call this place a ‘must-visit’. . .

. . .walk around in here and let your imagination run wild. . .

. . .then go have lunch…saluti!

It’s lovely out there.