No. 1: Modena's Osteria Francescana

After our trek through the Dolomites, we headed to the center of the wedding festivities - Correggio - a beautiful town near Bologna/Modena.  Not only did the area serve as the the perfect venue for my cousin's wedding, but it also served as the perfect backdrop for my birthday.

After all, given how close we were to Modena, we had to check out Osteria Francescana.  (For those who have seen Chef's Table, Chef Massimo Battura was even more lovable in person and personally greeted everyone dining.)

Well worth it and not hard to see why it was crowned the No. 1 Restaurant in the world.  A few of the dishes over the 4.5 hour meal from our Sensations tasting menu:

Tribute to Normandy.

Lentils are better than Caviar.

Mediterranean Sole.

Autumn in New York.

Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano in different textures and temperatures.

Crunchy Part of the Lasagna.

At the dinner of Trimalchione: fowl in the ancient Roman style.

Croccantino of foie gras. (Foie Gras Ice Cream Bars with Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena.) 

Caesar Salad in Bloom.

Oops! I dropped the Lemon Tart. (Customized.)

Camouflage of Vignola (Chocolate, Cherries and Pop Rocks.) 

One of several dishes not on tasting menu but offered as additions.  Some sort of exploding cherries and pistachio deliciousness. 

Me. Way too excited about it all.  Especially with Massimo's parting gift, a bottle of his own aged balsamic vinegar! 

Dolomites

Despite being one of the most picturesque stops in Italy, the photos still failed to do the Dolomites justice.  We drove from Venice to the Dolomites and stayed in Alta Badia - specifically Val Gardena. We stayed one night, hiked to the top of Lagazuoi-Lagacio per this map, and took the gondola down.

To be honest, I still have no real concept of the areas/regions but because we had a car, I think we were able to drive through what seemed like a lot of the Dolomites.

Truly one of the most exhilarating experiences ever.

Not only did I not fall off a cliff, but I didn't even break a nail and I got to use my new Apple watch!

Venezia

First destination: Venice for 2 days.

I had heard mixed reviews about Venice but it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. Before 8am and after 9pm, crowds are fewer and one can actually appreciate its magnificence.

A few of my favorite things.  Water taxis and traveling by canals.  The architecture.  The ornate cafes.  The twists and turns in the roads, after which you never know if you will end up in a piazza, an alley, or a restaurant.  Long meals ending in espresso and after-dinner drinks (limoncello, grappa, etc.).  Gelato stands everywhere or better yet, chocolate dipped Popsicles.  The sunset.  Our adorable hotel (highly recommend)!

Of all the cities I visited, this is the one I would return to for a long weekend.

Road Tripping Through Lake Garda

Our adventure through Italy began by picking up a trusty Volvo in San Remo (a quick train ride from Nice) and making our way along the Italian Riviera.  We stopped in Varazze for lunch and in Lake Garda for a quick dip.  

One word to describe driving through Italy = insanity.  The roads (which vary from narrow and windy to open cliff-side highways) = insane.  The drivers (who must truly believe they are invincible) = insane.  

That being said, driving through the country was one of the best ways to see it, and I would highly recommend it.  

I see Paris, I see France

I love weddings.  I especially love destination weddings involving a couple I adore.  This month, my cousin got married in Italy, in Correggio, a small town where his now wife grew up and where her family still lives.  Naturally, this meant extended vacations for the entire family.  We started ours in:

Paris for 12 hours...simply because I love Paris...followed by Nice. 

While the crystal blue water (though bordering rocky beaches) and the city views were picturesque, the old city part was by far my favorite.  

Just outside of Nice (in the village of Saint-Paul de Vence), there was a beautiful restaurant and inn, La Columbe d'Or.  Opened in its original form in 1920, the best thing about it was its ambiance and art collection.  The art collection contains some unbelievable pieces from Leger, Braque, Picasso and Matisse, among others, due to artists paying for room & board with their art during the war when fleeing Paris.  You could feel the magic and history just being there. 

And with that, my stint in the South of France was over and we departed for our Italian adventure.

Baby Love (Part II)

For the second baby birthday bash posting, I am repping New Jersey (totally underrated and totally loved by me) and the very dashing Baby Xavier.  

Naturally, Baby Xavier's birthday party theme was a A Little Gentleman.  

And a little gentleman he was, serving up...

White chocolate covered Oreos, bow-ties and mustaches...

Fresh lemonade at this charming stand...

Homemade cake and fudge, made with lots of love...

Platters of Afghan and Italian food...

Darling party gift bags...

Style and grace, and the cutest goodbye face (either he is sad to see you go or he is concerned about your life choices)!