Shannon Essa

They are not related to da Fiore, and the name of the place in San Marco is just Fiore. And it's not really on a main thoroughfare, but in a calle off Campo San Stefano. "The" da Fiore DOES have a sort of sister restaurant, the fabulous pizzeria Il Refolo, which is much less expensive than (and totally different than) da Fiore. It is run by the owner's son Damiano Martin and is behind the San Giacomo 'dell Orio in Santa Croce. It is only open in the warm months.

I am a little late here, but you should definitely try La Zucca. Fantastic pastas, meat dishes, and lots of rich vegetable dishes - no seafood. It is not the insane deal it used to be, but it is still very reasonable. Don't go there without a reservation. La Zucca Ponte del Megio 1762 Santa Croce (near Campo San Giacomo dell' Orio) 041-524-1570 You'll do very nicely elsewhere, just don't go to seafood shrines like Corte Sconta or Alle Testiere. When are you going? They have a chicken curry dish at Il Refolo, plus awesome pizza, but they are only open April - October. Il Refolo is behind San Giacomo dell' Orio church.

Alberts, you are killing me. When I lived in Venice, Osteria da Alberto was the closest restaurant to my house - I ate there all the time. Looking at your photo is making me very homesick for my old Venice 'hood. Oh well, only two months and four days till I go back.

When I tasted 2 Buck Chuck I thought two things: 1) Well it's a little better than what they serve on airplanes. 2.) I'd definitely drink this at a party if I was already drunk.

A report on my "Gazpacho" infused vodka - I used one cucumber, one red onion, one jalapeno, and one red bell pepper in one fifth of vodka. It steeped for three days. It was good, very smooth, and excellent in Bloody Mary's. Next time I would use less red onion and more jalapeno. It was pretty oniony. I also served the vegetables at my party (marked well so people knew what they were getting into.) They were quite the topic of converstation. Everyone who tasted them had a pretty funny look on their face. Thanks again for all the tips.

Mayhaw, do you mean the crazy guy from Luxembourg who was into heavy metal? That Black Death guy? After living in Italy, where a restaurant would bring you a grappa (sometimes good, sometimes so-so) after a meal, just because they liked you, it saddens and sometimes sickens to see the prices for an after dinner grappa over here. I developed a taste for it, and love it, but I am not going to spend $10 on a shot of it.

Thanks for the welcome, and the tips! I'll use cucumbers, red peppers, red onion and jalapeno and throw some parsley in at the end. Will let you know how it turns out! I am having a New Year's Day Party - the theme is hangover relief. So I'll serve Bloody Marys with the infused vodka, a pretty intense homemade eggnog, Bellini's, and Anchor Steam Christmas Ale. Anyone in the San Diego area is welcome!

Up in San Francisco at 2223 Market, they served a Bloody Mary with "Gazpacho" infused vodka. I couldn't get the exact ingredients out of the bartender, but I want to try this. Do you think some chopped tomatoes and green peppers would work? I won't be able to infuse very long - I want to serve this January 1. Any ideas for "Gazpacho" vodka?

If you do go to the Wine Cask, be sure to taste some of the owner's wines (Doug Margerum, Margerum wines.) In Santa Ynez, check out Bridlewood and Brander, and there are plenty of tasting rooms on the main road in Los Olivos. In San Luis Obispo definitely go to Talley - especially if you are into architecture. The have an incredible tasting room with a fantastic view. If you want to stay someplace odd, check out the Madonna Inn. It's scmaltzy, but it is different. In Templeton, Turley is a good stop and a visit to Wild Horse is always fun. In Paso, if you're OK with cheapo lodgings, I always stay at the Farmhouse Motel, at the southern tip of State Street. It's funky, but has a strange charm, and the price is certainly right. I love Villa Creek but order wine by the bottle because the by-the-glass menu is just OK (or get margaritas.) Castoro Cellars and Bonny Doon (close to each other on Hwy. 46 West) are two of my favorite stops. You must go to Tablas Creek - for the scenery and the great wines. Justin is worth a trip too. Have a great time!

Many of my favorites are here (especially Osteria da Alberto and La Zucca) but thought I would turn you on to a fairly new place called Boccadoro (in Campo Widman, very near the Church of the Miracoli in Cannaregio.) The chef is said to come from the kitchen of Al Covo, but I had a great meal there - one I expected from Al Covo and did not get. Incredibly fresh seafood, with a sort of Asian theme (sea bass sashimi, tempura style fritto misto). The owners are a couple, he from Sardinia and she from Piedmont (I think.) It is a sweet little place and the owners couldn't be nicer. My favorite moment? A brit sitting next to us yelled to the waiter, "scusi! Il conte, per favore, we have a concert to attend." Poor guy, he didn't know he was asking for the Count.