Love a little romance and grandeur? Villa d’Este is simply breathtaking. This exquisite, five star Italian resort is located on the romantic shores of Lake Como, not too far from Milan. This is one destination that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Where else can you combine history, exquisite atmosphere and culinary excellence? Many have […]

Risotto Primavera (with spring vegetables) is one of the popular risottos prepared at Villa d’Este by Executive Chef Luciano Parolari on romantic Lake Como in Italy. Throughout the world, Chef Parolari has been known as the “King of Risotto” for good reason! The Gourmet Review would like to wish Executive Chef Luciano Parolari good luck, as he […]

Villa D’Este is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. If you are truly ambitious and want to create an over the top New Year’s Eve dinner, take a look at the exquisite photographs and recipes on the attached Christmas card from Chef Luciano Parolari  at Villa D’Este. I guarantee you will want […]

What if you wanted to learn how to make risotto from the “King of Risotto” in Italy? Well, take a look at the private cooking classes with Executive Chef Luciano Parolari at Villa D’Este. You won’t find anything like this anywhere in the world. I promise! This sumptuous, elegant hotel will transport you in time, as […]

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. […]