Spritztime at lake Como

Next time you visit lake Como, have a short stop at hotel Taverna Bleu at the left bank. This small villa houses about 15 rooms with lake views and a great garden and terrace to enjoy your afternoon Aperol spritz or two.

The restaurant serves local food such as mountain cheeses and grilled fish from the lake.

Also the - very - small village of Sala Comacina is a two minute walk and serves the best outdoor lunch while sitting under a tree at the lakeside. There is nothing else to do anyway which is great (bring your book!).

http://www.tavernableu.it

Hidden Gem in Provence...

A great place to wine and dine is Hostellerie L'Abbaye de la Celle in Provence. Situated in the small village of La Celle, the former monastery now houses 10 suites and a superb restaurant.

Try their veggie starters fresh from their own garden or the grilled provencal fish.
In summertime dinner is served on the beautiful terrace as you can see below.

A must see...and eat! http://www.abbaye-celle.com/

Travelling to Istanbul?

Travelling to Istanbul soon? I had a great stay at the Hypnos hotel.....centrally located, just a 5 minute walk from the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, it's great place to explore this great city.

Surrounded by great traditional Ottoman restaurants, shops and historic sites this small and bohemian hotel really feels like home away from home.

Try their traditional Turkish breakfast, although Tahini, goats cheese and olives might be better for lunch.

I stayed at the Urania room as seen below....a bit small, but nice!

www.hypnoshotelistanbul.com

In Spanish ham wrapped panfried Turbot with a cold rocket potato puree and a lemon & Parmesan mayo.....one of my own recipes.

Nice as summer lunch!

Bouillabaisse recipe - A Provencal fishsoup

1 onion, chopped 3 stalks celery & leaves chopped 2 cloves garlic sliced 1/2 cup virgin olive oil 2 cups clam juice 1/4 cup parsley, chopped 3 large tomatoes, diced 2 teaspoons of salt 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme 1 tablespoon paprika 1/2 cup dry white wine & a splash of Pastis or Ricard 1 pinch of saffron 1 dash hot pepper sauce 3 pounds mixed fresh fish 1 pound lobster/tails (optional) 1 pound crabmeat (optional) 1 pound Shrimp shelled 2 dozen clams, mussels or scallops Put all ingredients, except seafood, in a pot. Cover and cook for 2 hours. Add seafood. Cover and bring to the boil again, then cook for 8 minutes. Serve in heated large bowls garnished with fresh parsley with crusty bread on the side. Bon appetit....!

Hotel Costes Paris

Hotel Costes in Paris is one of my favourites.....located on Rue Saint-Honore, it's a great place to have a light lunch or a cocktail. Entering the hotel feels like slipping in a hot bath.

Try their club sandwich and enjoy its relaxing sound! 

www.hotelcostes.com

Nougat from Brussels

Naturally the southern French city of Montelimar serves the best Nougat in the world....but, as seen here, in the city of Brussels it looks and tastes quite as nice.

Millinger Theetuin

The "Millinger Theetuin" is a great place to have lunch or a cup of tea.

Located in the heart of The Millingerwaard, near Nijmegen, it serves fresh fruits, applepie and several sandwiches.

The lush garden has a tropical setting with an Asian and Middle Eastern vibe...

www.millingertheetuin.nl

Fishing in Tokyo...

Quite easy at the Tsukiji fishmarket.