GLAM, Venice – an Impressive Reputation The Only Two-Star Michelin Restaurant

GLAM, The hottest dining ticket! in Venice!  The only two Michelin Star in Venice, welcomes guests in a unique setting that comprises a cozy intimate dining room, with glazed walls of African wild animal scenes. In summer or spring, dining is offered in the lovely garden courtyard, tables sit in the shade of an old magnolia tree, a divine spot for brekkie.

The Vibe – Contemporary with a culinary vision. An Amazing Dining Journey of Theatre and Extraordinary Food.


If you stay at Palazzo Venart, a Leading Hotels Of The World property, as I did, glide downstairs to begin an auteur culinary experience curated by multi-starred chef Enrico Bartolini and Resident Chef Donato Ascani. The menu rethinks the traditional flavors of the Lagoon in a modern mode, emphasizing the quality of seasonal ingredients and the wide selection of fine fresh markets.


GLAM Restaurant serves two tasting menus, “Art, Gardens and Lagoon” and “The Classics of Glam,” from which result signature dishes – well balanced, current and minimalist – created almost on “impulse,” but with perfect technique. I would recommend the Tasting Menu.

A crack of dawn departure flight influenced my menu, i.e. the Tasting Menu, which I assumed would be less courses! Either my Italian didn’t translate well, or Chef intended we enjoy every course offered, it was a delectable mini marathon of extraordinary bites with a culinary adventure theme.

Cocktails to contemplate choices! Rye Manhattan up and a spritz of lavender to amplify the palate of a Fizzy Gin Concoction. A glamorous platter of amuse-bouche was served with flutes of Bubbly. Note to self, when you think you are merely ordering a few bites, don’t let the waiter continually top-up your Champagne flute – our bubbly bill by the glass was molto costoso! As mentioned, Carried Away!

Transported by the imaginative presentation, the divine meal began with a aromatic rosemary shrub rooted with teeny cracker and cheese bites, setting the stage for the dining journey!

Aesthetics are visible in each dish. A splendid risotto with garden fresh petite peas in a creamy sauce was one of my favorites. Among small plates of a roasted ravioli with sage, succulent lamb and a tender fillet of beef sitting on a bed of pumpkin puree. I truly lost count and despite declining dessert, petit-fours charmingly glided across the white table cloth. My photos don’t do the Dining Journey justice, but I’ll never forget the meal and the memory! Ambling upstairs, a silver box of Mints for digestivo is a parting gift.

As of 2019, chef Enrico Bartolini collected six Michelin stars across his five restaurants; GLAM, his Venice outpost creates an unforgettable experience tantalizing the appetites of connoisseurs from all over the world, combining the intense flavors of Italian tradition with a rarely replicated refined technique and presentation.

Highly Recommend!

Oh- PS- if you glide downstairs from your suite, a credit card is expected for dinner. It cannot be charged to your room! Oops, a room key in your pocket is no substitute for a credit card, the waiter was more than kind, they knew we would not be slipping out in the night, all forgiven! Grazie!

Truffle Temptations, a World of Wine and Truffles – Mandarin Milano

My upcoming stay at the Mandarin Oriental Milano in spring has me very excited to return to this city. One of the few Mandarin exclusive offerings. Autumn Adventure: Truffle hunting in Langhe, a hilly region in Piedmont, Italy, has a long history that dates to ancient times. The Langhe region is renowned for producing the prized white truffle (Tuber magnatum), which is one of the most expensive and sought-after culinary delicacies in the world.

A hint of my first foray to Milan, I carried a small pocket film camera up the winding stairs to the roof top of the majestic Gothic masterpiece Duomo, the gargoyle photos are still on my office walls. The fifth largest church in the world is still a primary attraction of the city. Its completion took 400 years! The Duomo is home to an impressive array of statues—over 3,400 in total, making it the cathedral with the highest number of statues in the world.

Surrounded by the magnificent snowcapped mountains of the Alps, Alba is hilly and slightly mountainous and the best way to get here is a scenic 2-hour drive from Milan. Meet the truffle master and a renowned truffle hunting dog, an expert in the woods! Pull up your wellies and hike through leaf carpet grounds, surrounded by the sounds and scents of the fall forest, the perfect setting of rust and gold crunchy leaves.

Autumn outings rewarded by a handful of white truffles. Chefs all over the region celebrate the white tuber. What is your favorite dish to enjoy the precious tuber? One of my favorites is a delicate Ravioli al Uovo, with browned sage butter. What favorite wine to enjoy, a glass of Antoniolo ‘San Francesco’ Riserva, Gattinara, Alto Piedmont, or a sweet sherry, or a Barbaresco, an aged Chardonnay?

From October to December, the international white Truffle Fair of Alba is a time of celebration. Black truffles are found in Central Italy, especially Umbria and Piedmont. .

Only one of the many offerings of Mandarin Milano! Highly Recommend !