Las Vegas: Off the Beaten Strip...Red Rock Canyon and Pink Jeep Tours

Looking to do something different and off the Strip while in Las Vegas? Get off the beaten path and experience an outdoor adventure while learning about the history of Las Vegas and its surrounding areas. We chose to visit Red Rock Canyon because it is an easy drive from the Strip (about a half hour drive). Pink Jeep Tours is the way to go here for several reasons:

They pick you up at your hotel and they are on time too. Our tour guide,Tommy, even texted us to let us know he was on his way. Also, they have excellent vehicles and keep the groups small. They picked us (two adults) up at our hotel sharply at 8am in a souped-up, air-conditioned, pink jeep/van that accommodates 10 passengers. We visited in September and the heat was on, so you should make sure to wear comfortable shoes for hiking (sneakers, hiking shoes), comfortable clothing, hat and sunblock. Pink Jeep provides unlimited cold bottled water.

 

Tommy was friendly and knowledgeable. He provided history and facts about the area and answered all our questions. He also made sure that our small group interacted. He offered to take pictures and even obliged when someone asked about taking pictures at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign. We had some time left at the end of the tour and he not only drove us to the sign, but also got us a great photo op spot without having to make the long line.

We were able to enjoy a full tour of Red Rock Canyon in the comfort of an air-conditioned and spacious vehicle. The seats are cushioned and comfortable. The only downside I experienced is that because we were the last ones to be picked up, we got stuck with sitting one behind the other (versus side by side) because of the layout of the vehicle. I was travelling with a good friend so it was not a huge deal to us, but I can see how it would be unacceptable for others, especially couples and/or parents with kids.

There are several stops along the tour, beginning with the visitors’ center followed by several scenic points and also trails. The tour lasts about 4 hours (from pick up to drop off) and they drop you off right back at your hotel.  Very convenient and great outdoor adventure!

Happy Travels!

Mariela

Tuscany - Magical Montefioralle

This is one of those places that will stay with you long after you’ve visited. Montefioralle is a medieval village located in the town of Greve in Chianti in Tuscany, Italy.

Montefioralle boasts breath-taking views and an outstanding winery by the same name. There are various wineries in the region, but the small Montefioralle winery, which is located at the foot of the village (which is on a hill), stands out for multiple reasons.

The winery features Chianti and Super Tuscan wines, starting with their 2010 Chianti Classico, a light, smooth wine that is fun and pleasant on the palate-a great companion to a Tuscan pizza. Next is the 2012 Chianti Classico Reserva, a mature and classy Chianti that  pairs well with light meats. Their Super Tuscan (IGT Montefioralle) is superb. Sophisticated and full-bodied, this was my personal favorite (along with the 2010 Chianti Classico). You should also try the 2010 Vin Santo Di Chianti Classico, made from selected dried grapes. Following a unique fermentation process, the result is a brandy-like wine that is not too sweet. Pairs well with desserts, as an after-meal wine.

The winery, like most in the region, is family-owned. Patriarch, Fernando, was very nice to our kids, showing them the magnum wines, which the boys gaped at. The place is quaint and has a homey feel to it. A long table is set just outside the small stone and mortar building, under a canopy, overlooking the Greve in Chianti mountains. If this does not already sound like a scene out of a foreign film to you, I don’t know what else to compare it to. The view alone is spectacular. As you sit relaxing with the view in front of you, the tasting attendant serves each wine and accompanying tapas-style cold cuts (including prosciutto and Tuscan salami) as well as olives, and bruschetta.

Of course, the winery’s location is highly convenient. Once you are done with the wine tasting, you can simply take the short walk up to the village. As you stroll the cobblestoned streets, you will feel like you are in another world.  It is a neighborhood frozen in time. Through a window I got a peek at an elderly woman cooking in her kitchen and watched artists working on various landscape paintings inspired by the region. There is a small church (Chiesa Di Santo Stefano) and a restaurant. It is a small community and you certainly cannot miss Maurizio Brogioni’s tasting shop, showcasing wines from his family’s estate. Maurizio is personable, witty and welcoming and his passion for the craft of wine making is readily apparent. The afternoon we visited, we were his only guests and we had such a relaxing and enjoyable time. Make sure to taste the Crèma di Cioccolato (we bought several jars!).

In short, this region is home to the best Chianti and Super Tuscans I’ve tasted to date and it is a true gem to visit. Getting there is an adventure in and of itself, as you drive uphill on winding, narrow roads, but it is most definitely worth the trip!

Happy Travels!

Mariela

Making Pizza Napoletana in Naples – A Dream Come True!

There are many food and wine tours to chose from when visiting Italy, especially in places like Naples where you can find cooking tours and lessons that vary from the highly skilled to the more traditional and fun pizza making adventure. I set out to find a cooking class that would not only appeal to me as an adult who loves cooking, but also to kids as well since my 10-year old son was coming along. I figured pizza making would be the best bet here. And what better place to learn how to make a pizza Napoletana than Naples?

After doing some research online, I settled on the Eat In Italy Food Tours team (http://www.eatinitalyfoodtours.com). I would not be disappointed.  The service is family-friendly and has great location, pricing and setup.  Making reservations online was easy. The general manager, Francesco, responded quickly to our e-mails and answered all of our questions promptly.  When we got to Naples, we took a taxi to the location for the start of our tour at Piazza Dante. We stopped by a pastry shop and tasted some of the traditional pastries, like babà, and my personal favorite, sfogliatella (a cream-filled croissant-like pastry shaped like a shell). I also had some outstanding espresso with our pastries, which got me ready and alert for our class. From there, we walked around the cobblestoned and narrow streets to Palazzo Petrucci Pizzeria where we met Chef Alessandro Izzo and the staff for our pizza-making class. Chef Alessandro and Francesco (both speak English) walked us through the entire process of pizza making, including a tasting of ingredients (I was blown away by the taste of mozzarella fior di latte and their fresh ricotta cheese). The staff got along great with my 10-year old who ended up being a natural at pizza making. My son had a blast. I was very pleased with the class, picking up tips on how to improve my own pizza making at home and learning so much more about the ingredients and what happens behind the scenes at the restaurant’s kitchen.  Francesco and his team are professional, personable and provide exceptional service. By the time we left, I felt like we’d made two new friends! I The tour/class lasts about 3 hours (10:30am-1:30pm) and ends with you eating your own pizza creation while enjoying the view at Piazza San Domenico.

After you are done there, I highly suggest visiting the Museo Cappella Sansevero where you can see the famous sculpture The Veiled Christ (“Il Cristo Velato”) by Giuseppe Sanmartino. The museum is located a short walk from Palazzo Petrucci Pizzeria. And don’t forget to try the local red wine, Lacryma Christi (“Tears of Christ”), made from native grape Piedirosso. The grapes are grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, which explains the mineral and soil elements of the palate. A fun and interesting wine, it paired perfectly with my Neaopolitan pizza!

Happy Travels!

Mariela

Milan, Italy – The Last Supper

The first thing I will tell you is that if you are planning a trip to Milan, make sure to plan ahead. You can see the mural painting, The Last Supper, by Leonardo Da Vinci at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan -but make sure to buy tickets well in advance (months in advance to be precise) as space is limited and tickets sell out quickly. Having said that, if you are not able to secure tickets ahead of time, you can try going to the site itself once you get there and ask if there are any last minute cancellations/availability. This is how I lucked out and obtained a ticket during my trip to Milan. One ticket. That is all they had.

I visited during the month of July and it was busy but not ridiculous. I had a ticket just for viewing The Last Supper and it included a brief tour, with the guide explaining the origins of the church and then walking the group (roughly about 20-30 people) inside a small, cool chapel where you could see The Last Supper on one end and on the opposite mural, the painting, Crucifixion, by Giovanni Donato. It must be noted that you are not allowed to take pictures/photographs once inside the church.

Santa Maria della Grazie Church 

A picture of a copy of the painting taken outside of the church (you are not allowed to take photographs of the original)

It is a true experience and a must-see when in Milan. Surely you can see the deterioration of the painting The Last Supper, but ironically, this (in my humble opinion) also lets the viewer appreciate other aspects and details of Leonardo’s work. 

You should see it for yourself. It is an experience.

Happy Travels!

Mariela

The Wines of Whidbey Island, WA

Whidbey Island is part of the Straits of San Juan, about an hour and a half drive north from Seattle (30 miles). Its economy is mostly influenced by agriculture, tourism and the military (the island is home to a Navy base and has strong ties to the Naval aviation community). Whidbey Island offers beautiful scenic views, a wide variety of outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, fishing, horse-back riding among others) and a small-town feel.

Whidbey Island is home to several outstanding wineries in this region, producing wines from state-grown grapes as well as local artisan wines.  I was immediately curious about these wineries and tasting rooms and set out to visit some of them. Below you will see my reviews of the wineries, tasting rooms and wines that impressed me the most. I was impressed by the uniqueness of each vineyard, the variety of local wines, presentation and local pride.  Summertime is a great time to visit and it was not over-crowded. I was able to hold detailed one-on-one chats with the tasting room attendants who were, for the most part all very knowledgeable and eager to share details about each wine and the history of the wineries.

1.         Greenbank Farm

765 Wonn Rd A201, Greenbank, WA 98253

(360) 678-7700

Greenback Farm is a community-funded organic farm.  It offers a wide variety of locally made wines. They also have a small art gallery, a store featuring locally made jams and organic cheeses and the wine tasting room.  Greenbank Farm is a perfect place to visit with the kids as it offers a wide space for them to run around and they can learn about community farming. I brought my kids along and they absolutely loved playing the bean bag toss game and running around the grounds.

My tasting room attendant that day was Anne. She was personable and very knowledgeable about the wines as well as the farm and its history.  The tasting fee was waived.

My favorite picks:

Whidbey Island White ($14)
This is a blend of Washington-grown Madeleine Sylvaner, Madeleine Angevine, and some Eastern Washington Riesling. Fruity, fresh, nice summer wine with a dry finish ($14-$15).  I would taste this wine again later on at the Whidbey Island Winery and was, once again, very pleased with it.

2011 Lemberger (Red) ($17)

Yakima Valley, WA

Like the previous Whidbey Island White, this is another Whidbey Island Winery-produced wine. Berry-like nose. Medium-bodied. Leathery with peppery finish.. This wine goes very well with grilled meats.

2.         Holmes Harbor Cellars

4591 S Honeymoon Bay Rd,     Greenbank, WA 98253 (360) 331-3544

Owned by a retired Naval aviator and commercial pilot and his chemist-wife, Holmes Harbor Cellars has a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Our tasting room attendant that day was Jerry, who was both personable and highly knowledgeable about the history of the winery and local happenings. He was extremely helpful with information about each wine and also showed us the winery’s first crop of Siegerrebe grapes, which should be ready for harvest in three years. The tasting fee was waived.

Our favorite picks:

2010 3Wire Red ($35)

My husband’s favorite pick was the award-winning 2010 3Wire Red, which is a blend of Carbenet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Carménère, Carbenet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is plummy and complex. It hit me strong at first with flavors of plum and cherry and then a well-rounded finish. I highly recommend this wine.

2009 Carménère ($34)

Walla Walla Valley

The nose delivers hints of tobacco, cherry and chocolate. Meaty, and smoky, the wine has flavors of plum, blackberries and spices. A very pleasant wine, it tends to get mixed reviews according to Jerry. I really enjoyed it but then again, I tend to be partial to Carménère wines.

3.         Whidbey Island Winery

5237 Langley Rd, Langley, WA 98260

(360) 221-2040

This beautiful and picturesque winery has been operating since 1992 and offers a variety of wines using grapes from the eastern region of Washington, including Yakima Valley and Horse Heaven Hills. My tasting room attendant was Sean and he eagerly explained the wines, grapes and regions. He offered his own take on some of the wines and answered all my questions, which again, proved helpful in my quest to better understand the region and its wines.  The tasting fee was waived.

Top picks:

Whidbey Island White (see previous notes from Greenbank Farm visit)

2013 Merlot ($17)

Yakima Valley

This is not your typical Merlot. I am not a big fan of Merlot, but this is an exceptional Merlot. The wine offers hints of blackberries and floral aromas. It has a cigar-box flavor and is not too sweet. The palate also offers flavors of berries, licorice and a spice-filled finish.  I grabbed a bottle. Enough said!

4.         Ott & Murphy

204 1st St, Langley, WA 98260

(360) 221-7131

Located in a trendy and quaint section of Langley, in front of the water, Ott & Murphy ‘s tasting room provides a serene and casual/elegant atmosphere. When we visited, they had live jazz and it all made for an excellent setting for our wine tasting. The only downside was the service, which was somewhat robotic and dismissive.  Nevertheless, we were able to enjoy our tasting and brief time there. The tasting fee was not waived.

My top pick here:

2012 Tempranillo ($27)

Columbia Valley

The nose offers hints of coffee, blackberries. Round, earthy palate includes flavors of dark fruit and licorice.