Ok….so….I love Los Angeles! And as you know, the Westside to be specific. One of the things that I love most about the Westside are all the delicious restaurants to choose from. Although I do eat various types of foods, I ALWAYS crave Italian thus constantly eating at Italian restaurants.
Naturally, I think my father is the BEST chef in the United States. And although his menu caters to Americans (chicken parmigiana, spaghetti with meatballs etc) it’s his secret authentic Italian menu that makes my mouth water. That menu only comes out when there is a client that truly knows what Italian food is about. The regular menu is for those who think that that inexplicably-famous-Italian-chain-that-shall-not-be-mentioned (yuck!) is authentic Italian. His restaurant is on the border of Long Beach and Paramount, for more info. www.cafecorleonerestaurant.com You will find me there every weekend!
Now, back to the Westside! As the daughter of a well-known chef many have asked me what are the best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. After giving them the little spiel that I just gave y’all about my father I tell them that without a doubt, the best restaurant is Madeo in Beverly Hills, closely followed by the also amazing Ago in West Hollywood.
I am constantly trying new Italian restaurants, but none has surpassed those restaurants. Dining there is an “experience” that cannot be missed. I had my wedding rehearsal at Madeo and just celebrated this past New Year’s there as well. Another reason I love going is because I have become very good friends with the family. You will fall in love with the dad, Alfio, who makes everyone feel special at his restaurant. And if you are looking for the best espresso in town, you will find it here.
I am also VERY lucky to live in a charming neighborhood with two great little Italian café’s: Bella Roma and Dolce both on Robertson Blvd. I know the owners of all 4 of these restaurants and love them dearly. They are all great people (with thick Italian accents) that are passionate about the art of Italian food.
The owner of Ago, Agostino Sciandri owns several restaurants in the United States, many of them in the Los Angeles area. Check out Caffe Roma in Beverly Hills since the ambiance is very nice and there is dancing on the weekends. It’s also great for private parties.
Now, there are MANY great Italian joints in Los Angeles (take that New York!) but I cannot mention them all. But wherever you live, especially if you live in Italy or Los Angeles – I would love to hear what restaurant you think deserves mentioning. I promise that if I come to your town, I will check it out! That is, if the airfare to go to Italy goes down!!!!!!!!
Ciao……a presto!
Oh, and don’t forget to contact www.DiscoverItaly.net for all your travel needs to Bella Italia!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
THIGH FACTOR: ITALY VS. USA
Ok, so I just came off a PAINFUL and I mean VERY PAINFUL 2-week detox diet. For two weeks straight I could only eat fruits and veggies. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE fruits and veggies…. as a SIDE DISH but NOT as the main and only dish. Let me put it this way: I love to eat. Actually, I LOOOOOVE to eat.
My father is a well-known chef and growing-up in Sicily I was spoiled with all of my zia’s delectable meals. Eating is a sacred act to me, seriously. I look forward to every meal and enjoy every last bite.
So needless to say, when I would wake up and realize that what I had to look forward to for breakfast was kiwis, oranges, and apples I nearly lost my marbles. Then for lunch soup, and for dinner salad….aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
I don’t consider myself a hard-core carnivore, but boy was I craving cows, pigs, chickens….even my neighbor’s cat was looking pretty attractive to me. And let’s not even talk about my detailed-and-strange dreams of pasta. So here is my question: WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TROUGH THIS????????????????
Yes, I know the obvious. I do it because my thighs are starting to have their own personalities and it’s scaring me. But why am I gaining weight when I almost always eat healthy food? AND WHY IS MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN ITALY SO THIN???????
Ok so here are the usually theories: THEIR food is fresh - not processed, OURS is HIGHLY processed, THEY walk everywhere, WE drive two blocks away (remember the movie- LA Story?), THEY have overall healthier lifestyles, OUR healthy lifestyle includes sitting countless hours in front of the TV (something I never do!).
But I also know that weight is more of a mental issue than anything else. In one of my favorite books called, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay she explains how one gains weight because they are unhappy with some aspect of their life or for protection, or insecurities. I believe this to be 100% true. Recently, a client of mine disclosed that ever since she started my Healing Program called “Get the Life You Deserve” (for more info please go to www.ConnieCosta.com) she lost 15-20 pounds just by learning to love herself more. WOW!
So- is my family back in Sicily just eating fresher products, walking more….or simply….happier? They really do seem genuinely happy. Is it because life is “simpler” in Sicily? Any theories/ideas/comments on any of these topics are greatly appreciated.
Oh…and of course…check out the Discover Italy Blog which provides helpful travel tips to those wanting to visit my BELLA ITALIA: http://discoveritalytours.blogspot.com
Or simply visit: www.DiscoverItaly.net
Ciao….a presto!
Concetta
My father is a well-known chef and growing-up in Sicily I was spoiled with all of my zia’s delectable meals. Eating is a sacred act to me, seriously. I look forward to every meal and enjoy every last bite.
So needless to say, when I would wake up and realize that what I had to look forward to for breakfast was kiwis, oranges, and apples I nearly lost my marbles. Then for lunch soup, and for dinner salad….aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
I don’t consider myself a hard-core carnivore, but boy was I craving cows, pigs, chickens….even my neighbor’s cat was looking pretty attractive to me. And let’s not even talk about my detailed-and-strange dreams of pasta. So here is my question: WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TROUGH THIS????????????????
Yes, I know the obvious. I do it because my thighs are starting to have their own personalities and it’s scaring me. But why am I gaining weight when I almost always eat healthy food? AND WHY IS MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN ITALY SO THIN???????
Ok so here are the usually theories: THEIR food is fresh - not processed, OURS is HIGHLY processed, THEY walk everywhere, WE drive two blocks away (remember the movie- LA Story?), THEY have overall healthier lifestyles, OUR healthy lifestyle includes sitting countless hours in front of the TV (something I never do!).
But I also know that weight is more of a mental issue than anything else. In one of my favorite books called, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay she explains how one gains weight because they are unhappy with some aspect of their life or for protection, or insecurities. I believe this to be 100% true. Recently, a client of mine disclosed that ever since she started my Healing Program called “Get the Life You Deserve” (for more info please go to www.ConnieCosta.com) she lost 15-20 pounds just by learning to love herself more. WOW!
So- is my family back in Sicily just eating fresher products, walking more….or simply….happier? They really do seem genuinely happy. Is it because life is “simpler” in Sicily? Any theories/ideas/comments on any of these topics are greatly appreciated.
Oh…and of course…check out the Discover Italy Blog which provides helpful travel tips to those wanting to visit my BELLA ITALIA: http://discoveritalytours.blogspot.com
Or simply visit: www.DiscoverItaly.net
Ciao….a presto!
Concetta
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
TO LIVE IN SICILY OR NOT? THAT IS THE QUESTION!
I have been contemplating for a while now whether I would be able to move back to Sicily or not. Sure, I visit relatively often and everytime I go I cling on to my aunt Rosalia’s furniture for dear life because I do not want to return, but the reality is – all is great when you are on vacation –but living there is an entirely different animal –right?
Don’t get me wrong, I love Los Angeles. I live on the Westside and as my husband “nicely” puts it, I am very “Hollywood” thus fit right in. I love shopping at the Beverly Center, having a nice dinner at Madeo or drinking a delicious espresso at Caffe Roma in Beverly Hills.
When I think of all the superficial things I would leave behind I do get sad: Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, The Grove, 3rd St., Robertson Blvd., and most of all….my Beverly Hills! What can I say? I am who I am and I make no excuses for it!
But on a deeper level, my main issue is that my husband’s family and my parents and sister are here in Los Angeles. Not to mention my dear friends.
But when I think of the quality of life I would live there, versus the one I live here I almost instantly become convinced that Sicily is the place to be.
One of the main reasons I would love to live there is because of the delicious and healthy food. All the fresh products, the freshly baked bread and all the different choices! I am the type of girl that cooks a fresh, homemade meal every day for my family so Sicily would be my paradise.
The pace of life is also very appealing. Here in LA it’s “go, go, go!” but in Sicily they take the time to truly enjoy life. I love the idea of simply relaxing and enjoying my family. Watching the sunset on the beautiful beaches of Aspra while sipping on homemade wine and freshly made arancine. Taking family walks around la piazza with nothing to do but, “walk”.
No, I am not complaining about my life here – I LOVE IT! But a part of me belongs in Sicily; and I must be true to that part of my - self.
Oh...and...as usual...if you are planning a trip to Italy please visit: www.DiscoverItaly.net
or follow the blog on http://honeymoonsinitaly.blogspot.com/
Don’t get me wrong, I love Los Angeles. I live on the Westside and as my husband “nicely” puts it, I am very “Hollywood” thus fit right in. I love shopping at the Beverly Center, having a nice dinner at Madeo or drinking a delicious espresso at Caffe Roma in Beverly Hills.
When I think of all the superficial things I would leave behind I do get sad: Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, The Grove, 3rd St., Robertson Blvd., and most of all….my Beverly Hills! What can I say? I am who I am and I make no excuses for it!
But on a deeper level, my main issue is that my husband’s family and my parents and sister are here in Los Angeles. Not to mention my dear friends.
But when I think of the quality of life I would live there, versus the one I live here I almost instantly become convinced that Sicily is the place to be.
One of the main reasons I would love to live there is because of the delicious and healthy food. All the fresh products, the freshly baked bread and all the different choices! I am the type of girl that cooks a fresh, homemade meal every day for my family so Sicily would be my paradise.
The pace of life is also very appealing. Here in LA it’s “go, go, go!” but in Sicily they take the time to truly enjoy life. I love the idea of simply relaxing and enjoying my family. Watching the sunset on the beautiful beaches of Aspra while sipping on homemade wine and freshly made arancine. Taking family walks around la piazza with nothing to do but, “walk”.
No, I am not complaining about my life here – I LOVE IT! But a part of me belongs in Sicily; and I must be true to that part of my - self.
Oh...and...as usual...if you are planning a trip to Italy please visit: www.DiscoverItaly.net
or follow the blog on http://honeymoonsinitaly.blogspot.com/
Monday, November 24, 2008
LA BELLA SICILIA
Ok, I am ticked off. Very ticked off! For months now I have been hearing about this “great book” that shall remain nameless, and how the author shares her amazing, mystical and gastronomical experience in Italy and other countries. I picked it up by accident and immediately went to the Sicily section of the book. I was appalled! The author talks about poverty, corruption and how there is a HUGE difference between the North and the South of Italy (and not a positive one). I am not sure what areas she went to or who her tour guide was, but one thing is for sure: THAT IS NOT THE SICILY THAT I KNOW!
Although I was born in the US, I was raised in Sicily, Italy and returned to Los Angeles when I was 13 years old. I go back to Sicily very often and was even married on that beautiful island (my entire family still lives there).
I understand that Sicily has a bad reputation. Movies portray Sicily as a mafia infested island, and I have actually encountered many people that are scared to go to Sicily precisely for this reason. This is nonsense.
Yes, it’s true –Sicily does have an issue with the mafia. However, in all the years that I have been back and forth to Italy I have never even met a member of the mafia. And if I did, I was totally unaware of it. And that’s the whole point: the mafia doesn’t exactly walk around with t-shirts that say “mafia member here”, nor do they walk around with guns and shoot each other all day. But most of all, they never mess with tourist. They could care less about tourist. Without getting into too much detail and bore you to death, the mafia has to do more with government and politics than anything else. Again, THEY DO NOT ROBB, KIDNAPP OR SHOOT AT TOURISTS. Say it with me!
And poverty-stricken? They make Sicily sound like Tijuana. Sicily has some gorgeous picturesque towns such as Siracusa, Erice and Palermo and some jaw-dropping sea towns such as Mondello, Cefalù and Taormina just to name a few. No poverty there. You can stay at some amazing five star hotels in these towns that will leave you breathless. I know that most folks are obsessed with Florence, Venice and Rome however; Sicily has so much to offer for half the price.
The delectable cuisine will amaze you! Fresh seafood, delicious red-sauce pastas (we don’t eat cream sauce in the South), amazing desserts and some of the best wines in the world. It’s worth to travel to Sicily for the food alone.
The people are friendly and there is so much to do; from shopping, to eating, to visiting ancient ruins, to touring world-famous wineries, to touring castles, to visiting the countryside, to bathing under the warm Sicilian sun you will not regret going to this amazing island. This is the real Italy. And even around Sicily there are smaller but nonetheless AMAZING little islands: the Aeolian Islands and Pantelleria. If you would like to feel as if you just died and went to paradise, I recommend you making a visit.
So, poverty-stricken? No! Mafia messing with tourists? Negative! HUGE difference between North and South? YES!!! We are friendlier, the food is better and there is more to do. Perhaps I’m biased, but hey –it’s my blog and I get to say what I want.
Although I was born in the US, I was raised in Sicily, Italy and returned to Los Angeles when I was 13 years old. I go back to Sicily very often and was even married on that beautiful island (my entire family still lives there).
I understand that Sicily has a bad reputation. Movies portray Sicily as a mafia infested island, and I have actually encountered many people that are scared to go to Sicily precisely for this reason. This is nonsense.
Yes, it’s true –Sicily does have an issue with the mafia. However, in all the years that I have been back and forth to Italy I have never even met a member of the mafia. And if I did, I was totally unaware of it. And that’s the whole point: the mafia doesn’t exactly walk around with t-shirts that say “mafia member here”, nor do they walk around with guns and shoot each other all day. But most of all, they never mess with tourist. They could care less about tourist. Without getting into too much detail and bore you to death, the mafia has to do more with government and politics than anything else. Again, THEY DO NOT ROBB, KIDNAPP OR SHOOT AT TOURISTS. Say it with me!
And poverty-stricken? They make Sicily sound like Tijuana. Sicily has some gorgeous picturesque towns such as Siracusa, Erice and Palermo and some jaw-dropping sea towns such as Mondello, Cefalù and Taormina just to name a few. No poverty there. You can stay at some amazing five star hotels in these towns that will leave you breathless. I know that most folks are obsessed with Florence, Venice and Rome however; Sicily has so much to offer for half the price.
The delectable cuisine will amaze you! Fresh seafood, delicious red-sauce pastas (we don’t eat cream sauce in the South), amazing desserts and some of the best wines in the world. It’s worth to travel to Sicily for the food alone.
The people are friendly and there is so much to do; from shopping, to eating, to visiting ancient ruins, to touring world-famous wineries, to touring castles, to visiting the countryside, to bathing under the warm Sicilian sun you will not regret going to this amazing island. This is the real Italy. And even around Sicily there are smaller but nonetheless AMAZING little islands: the Aeolian Islands and Pantelleria. If you would like to feel as if you just died and went to paradise, I recommend you making a visit.
So, poverty-stricken? No! Mafia messing with tourists? Negative! HUGE difference between North and South? YES!!! We are friendlier, the food is better and there is more to do. Perhaps I’m biased, but hey –it’s my blog and I get to say what I want.
ITALIAN HONEYMOONS
For several years, Italy has been the top honeymoon destination in the world. It is no wonder that its fabulous shopping, delectable cuisine, rich history and spectacular beaches, have had lovers falling in love with Italy, for centuries. Whether you and your fiancé are art lovers, history fanatics, or simply love to hang out at the beach all day, Italy provides the perfect setting for your love story. What can be more romantic than having a delicious plate of pasta while sipping on some great Chianti amidst breathtaking scenery?
There are many romantic activities to do in Italy: enrolling in culinary classes for couples, wine tasting in the lush countryside, and holding hands while watching an unforgettable sunset on one of Italy’s famous beaches.
http://www.discoveritaly.net/
Concetta.C@discoveritaly.net
There are many romantic activities to do in Italy: enrolling in culinary classes for couples, wine tasting in the lush countryside, and holding hands while watching an unforgettable sunset on one of Italy’s famous beaches.
http://www.discoveritaly.net/
Concetta.C@discoveritaly.net
And check us out on brides.com:
HONEYMOONS TO ITALY
At Discover Italy, we provide many services that will make your honeymoon to Italy unforgettable. These services include: the ability to book reservations at magnificent hotels, rent historic villas, enjoy a farm holiday, visit olive oil, cheese, and wine producers, and enroll in culinary classes with local chefs. Discover Italy also provides online booking for local, regional, and grand sightseeing tours; museum tickets, airline tickets, train tickets, car reservations, restaurant reservations, and festival-related resources. There really isn’t much we can’t do!
If you want first-rate service, please call us and one of our representatives will be more than happy to assist you. All of our representatives are trained to be extremely professional, knowledgeable, helpful, and most of all, exceptionally friendly! At Discover Italy, we pride ourselves in having the reputation of knowing Italy inside and out. We have the advantage of having visited and inspected all the hotels, villas, and farm holidays personally; thus being able to recommend it first hand. We also know all of our service providers personally, for each and every one of them had to go through a very strict selection process.
Call or e-mail us today and we will assist you in creating your ultimate dream Italian honeymoon. Just tell us what you want, and we will take care of the rest. Buon Viaggio!
http://www.discoveritaly.net/
CONCETTA.C@DISCOVERITALY.NET
If you want first-rate service, please call us and one of our representatives will be more than happy to assist you. All of our representatives are trained to be extremely professional, knowledgeable, helpful, and most of all, exceptionally friendly! At Discover Italy, we pride ourselves in having the reputation of knowing Italy inside and out. We have the advantage of having visited and inspected all the hotels, villas, and farm holidays personally; thus being able to recommend it first hand. We also know all of our service providers personally, for each and every one of them had to go through a very strict selection process.
Call or e-mail us today and we will assist you in creating your ultimate dream Italian honeymoon. Just tell us what you want, and we will take care of the rest. Buon Viaggio!
http://www.discoveritaly.net/
CONCETTA.C@DISCOVERITALY.NET
And check us out on brides.com
Thursday, July 12, 2007
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