RRainey

How serious a meal is lunch?.I would just as soon have lunch at 3PM and stuff myself,then get something light before bed, most likely at my hotel. Would it be considerd wierd to order a bottle of wine,appetizers and a steak for lunch? New Years eve would be the exception,as this year I may stay up(believe it or not I don't think I have been up for new Years in 10 years) but won't that be extremely crowded? Are there wine bars that focus on wine(I am married) instead of the scene? which do you recommend? RR

Thanks for the info. I would like an authentic dining experience. El Obrero looks great!! I like to eat my steak rare and have a very big appetite which steak would you recommend? what sort of a winelist do they have- any specific recomendations there? I realize that folks eat late IN BA, and I know that "when in Rome,do as the romans do" but there is no way that I could go along with dinner finishing past midnight. When in Italy we usually eat our main meal at lunch as even 8pm to start dinner is late for us. We wake up at 5am most days and 6am when we are sleeping in on a Sunday. RR

I will be In Buenos Aires at the end of a hiking/running trip through Patagonia over Christmas and New Years. I love steak and am anxiously reading about the local beef. I want to go to the "best Place". Many recommend Cabana Las Lilas. We will be with a group so I can get away one or max two times. RR

I am sorry what is this town.it looks like grosseto to me. See link to map below 71,000 people live there. Ok I left out one "s". http://www9.mappy.com/sidFsb1O6sgtBPMn21w/...ccm1=380&brand= I went in October for a little less than one week. RR

The poster above is incorrect. The maremma extends much further south than grosetto it goes south to the Costa D' Argento.On my last trip in fact to the maremma we never went as far north as grosetto. Here is the tourism website. http://www.lamaremma.info/ITALIANO/index.asp One of my favorite casual meals of my life was in alberese just outside the maremma national park. Here is my link to my slowtrav review http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/restaurants/...orco&s=alberese RR

I am looking for a place to dine in geneva with emphasis on food over fancy presentation. good wines would help. It would be nice to spend under 100 dollars for two. RR

Here is my Maremma wish list as i have never been to the area these are based on research from many sources Il Tufo Allegro- - Pitigliano Dei Merli- - Sovana Lo Posta - -Catabbio Il Poderin- -Manciano Da Paolino Il Melangolo -Saturnia Il due Cippida Michele Antica Trattoria Aurora -Magliano in Toscana La Cantina -Scansano La buca -Talamone La Flavia Has anyone been to any of these?,someone already posted about the Tufo Allegro RR

It look like Da Caino is a 2 star restaurant.How much was dinner without wine? what was the dress code? RR

Hello, There isn't as much info on the Maremma area of Tuscany.I plan a visit this Fall.My guess is within 5-10 years it will become the next Cinque Terre("I must go there place") Any restaurant recommendations? RR

Parking suggestion for Alba cascina reine is above the town.Drive towards alba at the traffic circle at the edge of town at the bottom of a hill is a parking lot. park there or go to the right and park on the street near the circle.It is confusing to try to drive all the way to town.

The following is a review I wrote for the slowtrav.com webite for our visit Last October Alba: Osteria Dell Arco Piazza Savona, 5, Phone: 0173.363974 Closing day: Sunday and Monday I chose this restaurant based on a good review in the New York Times as well as several opinions from Slow Travelers. It was our 10th anniversary. Excellent. A very nice atmosphere with just enough lighting and a casual and cozy but refined ambience. Excellent wine list; I didn't make it past the "A's" as I choose a '90 Aldo Conterno Vigna Cicala-Bricco Bussia which is perhaps the best wine I have ever tasted! Carmel nose with earthy, gamey power, brillant combination of flavors on the palate(about 60 euro - I would have taken a few bottles home but they wouldn't sell)! My wife started with a zucchini torte with Parmesan; I had Porcini mushrooms with goat cheese which complemented the wine nicely. We shared a risotto fondutta which was very nice. I also had rabbit which also was great with the wine. Dessert - gelato on the way home; food was about 50 euro. Worth a second visit!

According to the one post the daily room rate works out to be $562/night! I am spending less that that for 8 nights in Florence. My favorite lake is Orta,very quaint low key.and WAY less expensive! But to each his own. RR

I like all of Craig's suggestions but there are too many. For a trip that short 2 or 3 places max is best otherwise it turns into a version of 20 cities in 21 days. Check out the website www.slowtrav.com it has alot of info on traveling esp. in Italy.

Bill or others have you been to il Retrovo? Definetly on my list for Florence. Also if you have been how is their wine list? RR

I look forward to at least a few Steaks on my may visit to Florence. I will be there to do the Passatore a 62 mile running race from Florence to Faenza on the road(sr 302?) So that steak on Sunday may the 30th will be special! I can eat like a sumo wrestler so i hope the waiter will let me get pasta as well as a steak without begging. wine pairing Chianti classico? Brunello? RR

We found the restaurant(Oct 2003) with a little difficulty,But it was closed due to a temporary plumbing problem! After looking at this review I am really depressed.

Have you looked at colle lungo yet? http://www.collelungo.com/ It looks great Rr

Maltalcino is great. I would recommend searching for an Agriturismo,a farm that rents rooms. in Alba we stayed at the villa Meridiana.One alternative that is quite nice is colle lungo between Florence and Siena www.collelungo.com RR

I would avoid cortona like the plague. That is where the Under the Tuscan Overdevelopment and tourist stampede is happening. A good lesson of how to take a nice town and turn it into Disneyland. What is next Under the Tuscan sun underwear and condoms? RR

Do you like small rural towns, Yet close to Mantalcino? My suggestion San Quirco D' Orcia. Search the site www.slowtrav.com there are hotel recommendations there,many of the people on that board live in Italy.Warning the board is addictive,i have posted about 800 messages in less than a year! RR

Regarding the bisteca do you need to order ahead? Il Ritrovo is on the definate list for this may, but Rick Steves recommending it may not be good news,won't it soon become overcrowded? RR

I will probably be traveling alone to Florence in May(22-31). I will be on somewhat of a budget lets say 60/day for food. I would be interested in simple economical lunches and maybe two budget breakers. Not interested in outlying areas,no car and want to stay in the city. Restaurant Ricci was recommended (budget breaker) Suggestions? RR

I did not pass through Pont on this last trip but we did visit Cogne.Unfortunately two of the restaurants i wanted to go to were closed,Bon Bec and Lou Ressegnon. Scenery was great and town was nice. If you like small mountain towns with views of the alps i would go but not if you only have say one night there. We visited Macarini in La Morra which is very close to Belvedere a classic restaurant with a great view as the name suggests. RR

Why are you taking about staying at lake Orta and driving all over the place to get to these restaurants?. Why not stay in Alba which is more central to most of the places you want to go. Lalibera didn't do it for me I was there a couple of weeks ago,food was not of the quality of many other places. Had to ask for them to decant my Borolo, for the price highly overrated. Some say Osteria Del Arco has gone downhill i found it great, Also has a nice 90 aldo Conterno Borolo single vineyard (don't remember the specific name of the vineyard) for 60 euro! A fabulous wine (first wine on Borolo page). RR

Jim, Do you buy the current vintages or do you buy older bottles from enotecas or shops? I was thinking that since there may be bargins in older vintages, may as well take advantage. RR