I travel alone most of the time. But I’m lucky to have plenty of good friends in Europe. Many are guides, hoteliers, and restaurateurs who are my partners-in-arms in helping Americans travel smarter (and tastier). Consider how local friends, both new and old, have made your travels sparkle.
Federico is my man in Madrid. When I need a tapas crawl with expert help, he always finds me just the right pimientos de Padrón.
When I want to drop in on a farm and be part of a Tuscan family, all I need is Roberto Bechi. It seems Roberto can create the quintessential family farm fantasy at the snap of a finger. And those he guides get to come along for the ride (and the prosciutto, and the pecorino cheese, and the finest Tuscan wine). Bravo, Roberto!
For 30 years of visits to Venice, Loris (at Trattoria da Bepi) has been steady in the kitchen, adept at satisfying the dreamy expectations of my hungry readers, and always there with a friendly welcome. He taught me to dunk biscotti into my Vin Santo.
Nikos at Albergo Doni in Venice is symbolic to me of the new generation taking over fine hotels run by their parents and doing a great job. While I’m always sad to see old friends retire, the next generation brings fresh energy and a creative boost.
Gigi at Osteria al Mascaron is still cranking out the cicchetti. I’ve grown up with my friends in Europe, like Gigi. I took my minibus groups to his bar in the late 1970s when we were both just kids. His bar’s a bit bigger now — and so are my buses — but we’re both still doing exactly the same work…together. How could it get old when you’re inspiring travelers to embrace life — specifically, eating ugly things on toothpicks and washing it all down with sprightly white Venetian wine?
