Colazione

Cappuccino e cornetto...the essential Italian breakfast. 

Can't go wrong with an Aperol spritz while waiting for your guide inFlorence...

Note to all traveling to the wonderful city of Florence....Make sure to check all museum schedules as many are closed on Mondays and holidays. We learned the hard way....We arrived for a day trip in Florence on May 1st (Italy's version of Labor Day) and found all the major locations closed i.e. Uffizi and L'Accamedia. Luckily walking tours of the city were offered and at low cost. 

My husband and I spent our honeymoon basically roaming around Rome (no pun intended) eating until we couldn't move. And Cacio e Pepe became such a staple that I now have to make it at least once a week at home!

Oh cacio e Pepe....how tricky thou art ! 

Moscato Ristorante-Scarsdale, NY

What to say about Moscato in Scarsdale? Well, how about I just can't get enough! Now this place has a special place in my heart as it is where my future hubby and I had our first dinner date (his pick! It was that night I knew he was a keeper!) but it isn't just for sentimental reasons that I love this restaurant.  Being a first generation Italian-American and surrounded by both women and men who can prepare a mean meal, I hardly ever lean towards Italian when going out because I could very well have my mom or nonna make me the best dinner ever, however, Moscato is different. The first meal I ever had here was pasta with amatriciana sauce. Now, I've been to Rome many many times and know what amatriciana should and should not be...this was the real deal. I all but asked for extra bread to make "una scarpetta" and scoop up all that left over yumminess. Hey, it was our first dinner date so I had to make a somewhat good impression, but trust me I was tempted. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and we ended the meal with a crema catalana (creme brule) so good it could make you cry tears of joy. Not to mention the vin santo and biscotti that give you that right amount of sweetness and warmth to send you home not only satisfied but extemely happy. We spent our 2015 New Years Eve and 2016 Valentine's Day here and the food was again on point. I ordered pasta dishes both times (something I hardly do) and was blown away by both choices. My fiancé ordered the Quattro formaggi  gnocchi and again it was a knock out.  The sauce was velvety smooth and surprisingly light considering it consisted of four different cheeses. The gnocchi were light and fluffy with just enough of a bite to them (because personally mushy gnocchi don't make this girl very happy). Oh, and the ambiance..two thumbs up. I love going to an Italian restaurant and listening to actual Italian music...Zucchero, Pino Daniele, Eros, Laura Pausini to name a few. If you want an Italian experience then you should be immersed in it, culinarily and culturally. Moscato has this down pact. A++ from me