Naples: Alberto's

Our wonderful week in Marco Island (and I do mean wonderful on many fronts, including the perfect weather) was very slightly curtailed by Mike’s travel schedule, which required him to leave Friday night vs. the usual Saturday afternoon.  That being the case, we decided to dine in Naples before dropping him off at the airport. 

Dining in Naples is a real treat.  There are loads of top notch restaurants, many of which are Italian (Naples attracts a European crowd).  Due in large part to the competitive nature of the market and to the older clientele, most downtown Naples restaurants offer “too good to be true” early bird specials.  Although we almost always opt for late vs early dinners, we decided to take advantage of the numerous great options available to us.

After checking out a few places, all of which looked excellent, we opted for Alberto's on Fifth, a classy place with lovely outdoor seating. We were able to get one of the last outdoor tables, and, believe it or not, enjoyed a first class meal and excellent service for $20 per person.  Too good to be true, as the dinner included two courses and a glass of wine.

Mike, Jess and I each had burrata as our appetizer, and wow, was it good.  Instead of seafood, I opted for homemade pasta (when in Rome, I guess); the others had shrimp and scallops skewers.  Everyone raved about their meal.  We'll definitely go back, and check out other Naples early bird specials next year.

After dinner, Jess treated us to ice cream at Marble Slab (using one of her gift cards).  It was en route to the airport.  

 

(*photo taken from Trip Advisor)

Marco Island, FL: The Italian Deli

The Italian Deli

The strong winds and cool temperatures did not allow for poolside
sunbathing. Instead, father and I decided to walk to the Italian Deli
for some exercise and to procure the evening's meal. During lazy
Florida vacations, planning the next meal is the the only mandatory
activity.

As we arrived at the small deli, a crowd of older Italian men,
characters rather, dined on chicken parmiganos and chatted in the
small seating area. The proprietor of this establishment, a New York
City ex-patriate with sausage fingers, recommended a large feast for
the evening's family dinner. We ordered lasagna with meatballs and
pasta fagioli soup. Minutes later, we were heading back to the
apartment with a heavy tray and full bag. Our arms were quite
exhausted after a long trek carrying literally kilos of food.

At dinnertime, mother and sister prepared, or re-heated, the food and
we dined around the table. The lasagna was rich and meaty layered with
ribbons of ricotta and a sweet and vibrant San Marzano tomato sauce. A
crusty bread loaf was the ideal vehicle to soak up the piquant gravy.
The pasta fagioli soup was a nice addition as well, speckled with
beans, bacon, and pasta in a rich broth.

This deli is a great place to pick up a delicious Italian meal to eat
in the peace and quiet of your home (and avoid Marco Islands abundance
of geriatrics) Run by a charming and possibly mafia-affiliated
gentleman, this deli is a unforgettable destination on Marco Island.

(Nan, Bob, and Jess returned a few nights later for a pizza. Very thin crust and right out of the oven. We ate there and it was delish!)




Eating it all in our condo....

(It tasted 100 times better than it looks!)

NYC: Bar Stuzzichini

One of NY’s best sandwiches

Our family loves New York and goes there every year. Our favorite things to do are walk around the city, eat, and hang out in the Village.

This year we arrived around noon, dropped off our luggage at the hotel, and decided we just had to try Bar Stuzzichini, which, according to New York magazine, has the second best sandwich (called pane e panelle) in the city. Sure enough, we walked down to 21^st and Broadway (near the Village) and found the restaurant easily. Nan and I ordered the famous sandwich (which consists of bread, lightly fried chickpeas and two cheeses) while Jess and Mike took advantage of the lunch special (two courses plus an aperol spritz, an amazing cocktail). The restaurant was almost empty but the service and food were top notch. And yes, the sandwich is worth all the publicity.

NYC: Morandi

Morandi is an authentic and rustic Italian trattoria that specializes in homemade pastas, incredible meat dishes, and fresh tomatoes and cheeses. It was recommended by an Italian waiter, Jess' friend, and a NY blogger that Jess reads. We knew it was a must-try!

It is located in the West Village (Jess' favorite neighborhood) and only a $10 cab ride from our hotel (Lex and 51st). No matter where you go in NYC, it seems to be a $10 cab.
We were drooling over the entire menu but ended up ordering: fried green olives stuffed with sausage, grilled squid with peppers, capers & olives, Vitello alla milanese (veal milanese- Nan & Jess), triangular penne with shrimp, artichoke & arugula (Nan & Jess), saffron pasta with spicy lamb & ricotta salata (Bob), and a pasta with a duck bolognese (Mike).

Overall: 9.75/10 (amazing!)

*top pic: from the website