At Villa d’Este, it’s  natural to wonder what the favorite risotto is of the executive chef, affectionately known as the “King of Risotto.” I loved reading about the Risotto With Spring Vegetables that is also one of the hotel favorites,  and evidently that of Pope Paul II as well. Chef Parolari and Jean Salvadore share […]

The Lake of Dreams at Wynn Resort in Las Vegas is dazzling. This extraordinary man made lake leaves guests reaching for their cameras. Diners and guests experience a visual delight like no other during their visit to the Wynn. At dusk this spectacular lake becomes the stage for  what can only be described as a surreal […]

Famous for their jaw-dropping, acrobatic performances, Cirque du Soleil ‘s production of Le Reve, performed at the aquatic theater in the round at Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, certainly lives up to its name. “Le Reve,” or “The Dream,” is a spectacular production that transports the viewer from one universe to another. The sheer logistics […]

  When Elton John requests that his personal chef take cooking lessons from the “King of Risotto,” Chef Luciano Parolari, it probably means that Villa d’Este’s chef  of more than 30 years has created an utterly fabulous risotto.I love the stories from Tales of Risotto about the Risotto con Pesce Persico (perch fillets) served at […]

Verdi, Puccini, Stravinsky, Liszt, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, George Clooney (of course, since he has a villa across the lake), Alfred Hitchcock, Barbara Hutton, Aristotle Onassis, Sting, Elizabeth Taylor, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Madonna, William Randolph Hearst, Paul McCartney, Greta Garbo, Valentino, Gianni Versace, Clark Gable, Elton John  and many more guests have […]

Chef Luciano Parolari, otherwise known as “The King of Risotto” throughout  Italy, is a master of risotto – seafood, shellfish, fresh vegetable, seasonal and even poultry and meat risottos. So much so that he has written a book, “Tales of Risotto,” that answers every question you might ever ask about risotto, from tips for the […]

  Executive Chef Luciano Parolari, otherwise known as the “King of Risotto,” has an endless supply of great stories from his experiences at  Villa d’Este on beautiful Lake Como. There are so many tales to tell (check out “Tales of Risotto”),  from favorites of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Madonna and Gianni Versace. […]

 Frank Sinatra and Ava Garnder’s first visit to Villa d’Este was in the 1950’s.  I love the story about a favorite new dish enjoyed during their stay.  “The (artichoke risotto)  is a risotto that for many years could only be made during the artichoke season, which is the month of March. That was true in […]

“The precise location of heaven on earth has never been established but it may very well be right here.” ~Herb Caen If you love to read about romance, intrique, celebrities and palatial gradeur, take a look at the history of Villa d’Este. My favorite drawing is titled, “The Long and the Short of the Tale or the Whole […]

Four Season’s George V head bartender, Johann Burgos, was kind enough to answer some questions guests might ask directly, if lucky enough to be enjoying a Parisian nightcap at Le Bar with Johann on duty.   Q     Please share with us a memorable story during your tenure as head bartender. A memorable story between […]