The Cortile Arabo Restaurant in Marzamemi specializes in traditional Sicilian maritime dishes. 

Cortile Arabo is in the village of Marzamemi

In the province of Syracuse, Marzamemi, a small village overlooking the sea of Sicily is just two kilometres from Pachino. Famous for its fishing traditions the town can be reached from Catania airport (100 km away), from where the Linea Interbus buses depart for the municipality of Pachino, of which Marzamemi is a hamlet. It can also be reached by car on the Messina/Catania/

Siracusa/Gela motorway

Fish dishes take pride of place

The Cortile Arabo restaurant is situated in a central position in the village, not far from the Regina Margherita square and overlooking the sea, and it first opened in 2011. The restaurant has three areas: the courtyard, the small courtyard and the veranda overlooking the sea. The cuisine is a blend of ancient Sicilian and Mediterranean traditions, with many cultural contaminations, and the restaurant is helmed by Chef Massimo Giaquinta, who has a Kenyan mother and Italian father. The ingredients are selected taking into account their quality, but above all their seasonality, and the Sicilian traditions are enhanced by dishes in which fresh fish is the absolute protagonist.

The restaurant is a popular wedding venue

Cortile Arabo is attentive to new culinary experiments, attracting a clientele not only for the cuisine but also for its ambience, and for the outdoor tables overlooking the sea. The Cortiletto small courtyard is used as a champagne bar and has comfortable couches.   The location of Cortile Arabo, situated on the cliff and in a central position in the village, makes it a popular choice for weddings and summer events enhanced by the local architecture with its stone fishermen's houses and by Marzamemi’s tuna fishery. This is one of the oldest in Sicily, and in the past was the undisputed protagonist of this small seaside village.

Baroque Noto and Siracusa are within easy reach

From Marzamemi it is possible to reach the Baroque towns of Noto and Siracusa, as well as the southernmost point of Italy. In addition, a visit to Pachino, a town famous for its PGI tomatoes and its evocative atmosphere, is not to be missed. 

For information: https://cortilearabo.it/ 

Perugia in central Italy boasts the Michelin l’Acciuga Restaurant which has a new Etruscan menu. 

Perugia is a mix of history, art and culture

About two hours by car from Florence and one hour by plane from Milan, Perugia encapsulates all the charm of central Italy and is a fascinating mix of history, art and culture. The appeal of antiquity can still be felt along its streets with their historic buildings of great beauty and sobriety. This passion for tradition has been captured by local companies like L’Acciuga Restaurant which is passing on Perugia's centuries-old identity. This Michelin-starred restaurant is just ten minutes from the historic centre and is a hot spot of Umbrian cuisine.

Viterbo-style carrots

Stellar menus using local products

It is helmed by chef Marco Lagrimino who exalts simple local products, purchased directly from small local producers, in his stellar preparations.  L'Acciuga has a bright indoor dining room, and there is an outdoor area with nine tables, seating approximately 27, for alfresco dining. 

 

A new Etruscan menu with vegetarian, meat and fish dishes

Renowned for its elegant and refined menus, to celebrate its history L'Acciuga recently unveiled a new menu that recalls the flavours of tradition: the Etruscan Menu which captures the most ancient and authentic culinary traditions of central Italy.  Based on seasonal ingredients, it consists of two courses: a vegetarian dish called Hora, named after the Etruscan goddess of agriculture, and a sampler of dishes based on meat and fish products called Uni, the symbol of summer and feminine creativity.  The L'Acciuga Restaurant is a recommended stop for visitors on picturesque multi-day trips to the art cities of central Italy from Perugia, Assisi, Arezzo, Siena and Florence to the countless smaller towns and villages just waiting to be discovered.

Quail dish with cherries

For information: www.lacciuga.net 

Ada Gourmet is near the ancient city walls of Perugia, and has one Michelin star.  

Not far from Florence and Rome 

This historic city in central Italy is just under two hours from Florence. The location is also easily accessible from Rome (about two and a half hours by car or by train) or from Milan (one hour by plane). Ada Gourmet is a small but suggestive restaurant, as the room has seating for around twenty set in an elegant and charming location, in a historic building with a modern and refined design. 

Umbria’s only Michelin star female chef

The restaurant was an old barn and, although it only opened in 2022, it has already been awarded a Michelin Star, making Ada Stifani the only starred female chef in Umbria. A native of Lecce in the Apulia region, Ada has lived and worked in Perugia since the 1990s, refining her techniques and culinary philosophy in numerous local restaurants, and leading to the style of cooking that earned her the Michelin star.

A vegetarian and a meat and fish menu

Ada Stifani proposes her idea of fine dining, which is both elegant and refined and the synthesis of different techniques and territorial traditions. There are two menus, the names of which evoke a pentagram of sensations and stories to be told: Perceiving and Storytelling. Using excellent Italian products and haute cuisine techniques, the Percepire menu consists exclusively of vegetarian dishes, such as Spaghetto monogramo with root jus, egg yolk and chamomile butter, and Topinambour, prepared with Cannara spring onion, celeriac and wheat. For diners who are not necessarily vegetarian there is the Storytelling menu with fish-based dishes such as Gnocco di rapa rossa with smoked eel, or meat dishes such as Lingua with dehydrated fruit and hazelnuts.

A perfect choice for fine dining in central Italy

By virtue of its atmospheric setting and refined cuisine, Ada Gourmet is a perfect choice for romantic fine dining, and it is a noteworthy stop for visitors on a trip to Central Italy. It is located in the historical centre of Perugia which is a city rich in history and monuments, from the Piazza IV Novembre square and the Basilica of San Pietro to the Rocca Paolina,  a 16th century fortress located a three-minute walk from the restaurant. For information: https://adagourmet.it/ 

The art of good taste, good pizzas and more is to be found in the new Cittadella restaurant in Parma.  

There are two Cittadella restaurants in Parma

Cittadella is a fusion of an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for the gastronomic world, and is the brainchild of Alberto Banchini, a Parma manager from an historic family of chocolatiers. Today there are two Cittadella restaurants in Parma, one historic and the other more recent. The new restaurant, in Via Paradigna 30, has similar iconic wood features and the carefully studied lighting that made Banchini’s first restaurant famous. 

Pizzas, breakfasts and aperitifs

There is also a large outdoor area and ample parking, and the menu is not limited to the pizzeria but includes breakfasts and aperitifs like the exclusive Fusetti Bitter, accompanied by plates of local salamis and cheeses. Cittadella's flagship product is still the pizza, which is left to rise for at least 48 hours to guarantee flavour and digestibility and uses high quality flours. The toppings include ingredients from the Parma area, skillfully combined with other delicacies from around Italy. 

Sustainable ingredients and a rich dessert menu

Some of the most famous pizzas are the "Gallardo" with fresh mozzarella, smoked buttermilk, crispy bacon and yellow dates, the "Cittadella" with fiordilatte, pesto sauce, Parmesan flakes, rocket and a drizzle of olive oil, and  the "Boschi di Parma"  with fiordilatte, tomatoes, Parmesan cream, black truffle cream, sausages and  porcini mushrooms. The menu varies according to the season, with the addition of special pizzas made with fresh and sustainable ingredients and, thanks to Alberto Banchini's links with the world of confectionery, the dessert menu is equally tempting with handmade ice creams, parfaits, homemade cheesecakes and tiramisu.

The Attico sul Mare  restaurant in Grottammare, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, the regional capital of the Marche region, overlooks the Adriatic Sea.

Two menus inspired by music

Managed since 2007 by Simone and Sara Marconi, and nestled inside the Kursaal Palace, a historic Art Nouveau building perched directly on the Adriatic Sea, the restaurant's interior is an elegant blend of white and navy blue hues. The kitchen is helmed by chef Tommaso Melzi, a seasoned professional adept in both traditional and contemporary gastronomy, and the restaurant offers two distinct menus, each drawing inspiration from the realm of music: the "80s Revival" and the more contemporary "Pop 2024.”

Locally-sourced fish and meat feature on the menu

Among Attico sul Mare's signature dishes are veal belly, cavatelli pasta and brodetto soup, and most of the vegetables used in their preparation are sourced directly from the family farm. The restaurant also prioritises locally sourced fish, delivered daily to ensure optimal freshness, as well as meat sourced exclusively from regulated producers. The commitment to local products extends to the oil and the stone-ground flours they use for their bread-making.

A wine cellar with 400 labels and sea views

Attico sul Mare's wine cellar boasts an impressive selection of 400 Italian and international labels meticulously curated by sommelier Sara Marconi, who adeptly pairs wines with each dish. Simone Marconi is the maître, ensuring diners receive attentive and meticulous service that complements the breath-taking natural backdrop of the Adriatic Sea  visible through the restaurant's large windows.

Casa degli Spiriti is a gastronomic experience on the Verona side of Lake Garda. 

Regional products and 1,500 bottles of fine wines

Chef Federico Chignola, with the support of his family, has revitalized Casa degli Spiriti with a cuisine centered on the essence of the Garda region and its products for a unique gastronomic experience. With over 1,500 bottles to explore in the splendid 18th-century cellar, Chignola's signature dishes include “Mackerel Puttanesca”, “Risotto with butter, lime and Rosemary” and “Teriyaki lacquered Eel.”  

The Bistrot and La Veranda for gourmet dining

In addition to the gourmet restaurant, the upper floor houses The Bistro with a terrace overlooking Lake Garda, and on the lower level the gourmet restaurant La Veranda has a splendid view of the horizon. With a large garden, Casa degli Spiriti is the ideal venue for gourmet dining and weddings, with the possibility of civil or religious ceremonies in the Church of San Zeno di Montagna, which is only 900 metres away. Casa degli Spiriti offers a dining experience that fuses cuisine, family and landscape.

Blue and green reign at the Blu Suite, an oasis of peace on the beautiful Romagna coast in Bellaria–Igea Marina, close to Rimini.

A spa, 45 rooms and suites, and a large private beach

Set in a marine pine forest the Blu Suite has a spa with a bio-sauna and exclusive Ayurvedic treatments and is a haven of peace and relaxation. This oasis has every comfort in its 45 bright rooms, including suites and penthouses with Jacuzzis and solariums and with Adriatic Sea views, and the large private Blu Beach has three swimming pools.

Chef Maniaci creates fish and shellfish dishes

There are two restaurants: the gourmet Alma where fish and shellfish are used by chef Giovanni Maniaci to create eye-catching and mouthwatering dishes, that also include Maniaci’s homage to products from the countryside, and one of his signature dishes: Spaghettoni with Lobster.

Meeting rooms for business travellers and events

The Blu Suite is ideal for meetings, events, private parties and weddings. Blu Space can seat 150, and Blu Work 45 people. The masterpiece of founder and general manager Katia Foschi, the Blu Suite is a top choice for relaxing breaks in Romagna for families, visitors and business travellers.