Leave it to the Four Seasons George V, Paris to become a winter wonderland of white lights, exquisite flowers and a showcase for Swarovski crystals. Jeff Leatham, perhaps the most talented artistic director/floral genius anywhere, has transformed the hotel lobby into a forest of Christmas trees hung with crystal curtains made to order for the George […]
Sometimes a man just needs a special award for creativity. Rumor has it that a very important executive at Wynn Las Vegas got lots of points when he presented his wife with this beautiful Hermes bag. Thanks to cake artist Flora, Aghababyan at Wynn Resort Las Vegas, this handbag reproduction was enjoyed by all […]
Sommelier Paolo Vaninetti oversees the wines served at The Verandah Restaurant, the Grill Room and even the bottle of champagne opened with great flair at the Canova Bar. It doesn’t matter, the sommelier at Villa d’Este knows his wines. Sommelier Paolo was kind enough to share some of his personal experiences and background. Q […]
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 […]
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 […]