The Connected Table

USA chef teams swept two prestigious international culinary competitions held July 25 and 26 at the Ernest M Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the Bocuse d'Or and the Coup du Monde de la Pâtisserie.

A boutique hotel with a large dose of chic, the Athens Retro, blends colorful design and thoughtful considerations for its guests. The hotel is located in Monastiraki at 11 Vissis Street in a neighborhood historically known for its hardware shops and, notably, doorknobs. The mid-twentieth century building designed by Modern Greek architect, Kiprianos Biris, once served as a hardware store and has withstood the test of time.

An invitation to a destination wedding in Hydra, Greece, is hard to pass up, even if it is taking place in the high, hot summer season. Located in the Saronic Gulf about a ninety-minute ferry ride from Athens, Hydra (or Ydra) is a world apart from the crowds and cars of Greece’s capital city. Hydra is one of the few places in the world where cars are banned. Transportation is by mule, water taxi or foot.

In Greece's northern Peloponnese about two hours' drive from Athens, is the PGI Slopes of Aigialeia (a.k.a. Egialia), a visually stunning area of lands carved by steep mountains, plateaus and gorges, that quickly give way to the shores of the Corinthian Gulf.

Athens, Greece, is rich in history, sights, and traditions, but there is more to explore just beyond the city in the region of Attica, which surrounds the city. Close Athens International Airport is Mesogaia (Middle Earth) in East Attica. It is a fertile farmland of vineyards, olive and fig tree groves, seaside villages and culinary traditions and products.

The Colline Pisane Wine Trail (Pisan Hills) is a picturesque region of vineyards and olive groves south of Pisa. It was here that we visited Fattoria Uccelliera, a hidden gem of a winery and agritourism located in Crespina Lorenzana forty kilometers west of Florence. Antonio Bullieri and Maria Elena Poggianti acquired Uccelliera’s land in the 1960s. The property is 200 hectares and roughly 200 meters above sea level surrounded by dense forests, vineyards, and olive groves.

The hilltop medieval walled city of San Gimignano with its many stone towers is one of the most popular destinations in Tuscany, and for good reason. There are the Michelin-rated restaurants, award-winning Gelateria Dondoli, and 360-views from the towers, all built before the renaissance. The surrounding countryside is home to Tuscany’s- and one of Italy’s- most renowned white wines, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG.

Situated in the wild southern coast of Tuscany, the Bolgheri DOC is best known in the wine world as the birthplace of the “Super Tuscan” wine, thanks to innovative wine producers like Tenuta San Guido (maker of Sassicaia), Ornellaia, and Grattamacco.

The Monteregio Di Massa Marittima DOC is a small wine production area just inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea and encircled by the larger Maremma Toscana DOC. Nearby are the Grosetto Metalliferous Hills, a vast architectural site whose iron rich soils impart the “terra rossa” in many of the vineyards. The DOC includes native vines such as Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Malvasia as well as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier.

Driving along the Orcia River Valley just south of Siena, the rolling hills lined with cypress trees depict picturesque scenes of Tuscany. This is Sangiovese territory at its best. On one side of the river, you will find Montalcino, home to the renowned Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. and on the other side, Orcia D.O.C. We have spent time in both regions visiting producers and tasting exceptional Sangiovese wines.