Renaissance Mediterraneo Hotel Naples

From a perspective like this one, location is everything. This hotel is so central to pretty much everything, you could build a spiderweb outwards to go anywhere. Though after staying in a variety of hotels in sunny Napoli, I wouldn't rate this one the very best. Not even close.

The rooms are a typical italian style hotel room that is stuck in the 'Godfather' days. The telly is of the old fashioned kind, the furniture doesn't just look but actually is retro style, but the most annoying thing is the two single beds pushed together to make a king size. I'm glad I'm not here on a Romantic Weekend Break. One would most definitely end up on the floor between the 2 beds.

The best asset the Renaissance Mediterraneo has however, is the roof top restaurant. I just had breakfast there and the views are just stunning. Vesuvius mysteriously clad in misty clouds, the city behind, rising steeply up against the rocky coastline and the marina with it's resident yachts and guest cruise liners give you plenty to marvel at. The best thing at the breakfast buffet are the fresh loafs of bread. Probably the yummiest chewy soft crunch I've ever tasted. With some Italian cheese, buttery scrambled egg, or wafer thin Italian salami, I think bacon can move over.
I have to mention also how I love the Italian attitude of the waiters/waitresses. They are probably not the friendliest, but certainly the proudest to serve. In this morning's instance, I was just wondering what dreadful thing might be occurring in my waitresses life for her to look so stern, when the next moment she came over and offered me another cappuccino. Rest my case.
Perhaps the most peculiar thing about this hotel are the lifts. Lifts? Really? You may wonder. Get in and try to figure out how to operate it. There are no buttons to press, no card to swipe, you can try talking to it (well it maybe voice activated), but ... I will let you work it out for yourself :-)
Now just one quick word about the other resident restaurant O'Break. The menu looks very interesting high end fancy cuisine, as do the prices, and thats all I have to say about that. We are in Napoli! So I am opting to go to the place where Pizza Margherita was invented. You can read all about it, 'cos that's what my next story will be.

Here the Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/napbr-renaissance-naples-hotel-mediterraneo/

Naples: Brandi, where Pizza Margherita was invented.

There are a few things that Naples is famous for. Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, Buffalo Milk Mozzarella, Lemons and Olive Oil and of course Pizza Margherita.

Pizza commonly misconceived, did not originate in Italy but was first made by the Greeks, who topped the flat breads with oil, herbs and spices. In Italy the round flatbreads were a street food eaten by peasants until Queen Margherita of Savoy came to visit Naples, tasted one and loved it.

In her honour the Pizza Margherita was created. Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil representing the colours of the Italian flag, red, white and green.
Also in her honour, today I went to have that very pizza at the place were it was invented by Chef Raffaele Esposito.

I was expecting 'Brandi's' to be overrun by tourists, especially on this Saturday, but not so, it seemed to be an eclectic mix of local families and foreign visitors all having just a lovely bit of lunch. Most likely unaware of how historically important this restaurant really is.


Final verdict, did I like my Pizza Margherita? What do you think?


As a bonus I also enjoyed the jolly guitar entertainment that was served alongside.

Here is their website: http://www.brandi.it/

Lemongrass Fifth Restaurant Male

Finally! My favourite Restaurant in Male is Lemongrass Fifth.

Fareedhee Magu, Male 300-9000 

 

I've eaten there so many times, they've given me a discount card.

The Restaurant has an airconditioned Downstairs, but we always favour the Semi Open Air area Upstairs or even right outside on the Balcony,  where the Fruit Bats do their evening rounds.

When I first discovered Lemongrass Fifth, I was looking for something to eat for lunch on a Friday afternoon. In the Maldives Friday is like a Sunday, most Shops and Restaurants are closed.

If you ever find yourself facing the same dilemma, Lemongrass Fifth to the rescue! So it's open on Friday but surely that's not why it's my favourite. You're right. The real reason is the menu. It's like an encyclopaedia of Thai food. I could study it for hours before I decide what I'm going to have.

Tonight we shared a Tom Yum Steamboat, then I had one of the fried whole fish dishes. The waiter looked at me a bit funny , hesitated, then said with a side to side head shake 'ok'. It is an indulgence even for me, and really it is for sharing  (comes with 3 portions of rice) but you know me, I am having what's left as my crew meal!

The side dishes are Garlic Water Spinach and Green Papaya Salad. Two of my 'Must Haves' in any Thai Restaurant.

Once again everything was lovely. The only one small thing I missed here, was my beloved Chilli Fish Sauce, but then hey will bring some, if asked.

Do: Have a Cola Float! It's old fashioned and very nice.

Don't: Think that a green Curry is mild. 

Is is unusual that I am already contemplating what I'm going to have next time,  and why do I always seem to be envious of the person who has the Green Curry?
 

Kurumba Island Resort Maldives

Kurumba means Coconut and doesn't it roll of the tongue nicely? It is the first private resort that opened to tourists in the Maldives in the 1970's. The Design of the resort makes me think 'Zen' and 'Peaceful' and it may have been here for 40 years already, but there is nothing old about it. Kurumba has 180 rooms with 8 different styles to choose from.
At beach walking speed the island can be circumnavigated in 30 minutes. It is indeed surrounded by soft white sand and turquoise child friendly shallow water.

In amongst the plentiful flowers, shrubs and coconut palms the beautiful beach bungalows are hiding. My favourites are the Deluxe Bungalows right by the sea. You can open your glass double door out to your little terrace and hop right onto the beach. All it needs is a hamock, but maybe it's just me, I like hamocks.

To protect the island Kurumba has wave breakers around the lagoon. All along these you'll find marvellous snorkelling scenery. Just outside of the them, by the reef shelf, are thousands of tropical fish of all colours and sizes. Talking of size there are also a few baby reef sharks swimming along the shore, and today when I was calmly bobbing along, thinking I was in a live aquarium, duh duh duuuhhmm...I met their Daddy!

Not to worry though, he looked big and scary but is harmless really.
Apart from snorkelling you can indulge in plenty of other activities. From watersports to yoga, table tennis to finding your dancing feet and sea legs.
Your holiday will be tranquil but never boring.

Being conveniently close to the airport this resort would seem favoured for families or shorter holidays, but I think a romantic getaway would be equally wonderful here.


There are several restaurants and Bars dotted around, offering a great variety of delicious dishes including Seafood, Barbecues, Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Japanese cuisine as well as the usual Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Do: Book a trip to see the amazing Manta Rays, if they are offering it, (depends on whether they are currently around.)
Do: Visit Male Island and go to one of it's great Restaurants or walk around the Fish Market. There is a choice of my favourite restaurants in Male on this blog.
Don't: Swim over the corals at low tide, they can be razor sharp.

This is their Website:  http://www.kurumba.com/

Kuda Bandos, Maldives

If you're looking for a 'marooned on an island' excursion on your Maldivian holiday, Kuda Bandos will be worth a visit.
No matter how many times I've been here it always has the wow effect, every time. The water couldn't get any bluer, the sand couldn't be any softer and the sound of the waves gently lapping against the beach couldn't be any more relaxing.
Top Tip: (from a german) As soon as you get there grab yourself a sunlounger,


It is the easiest place for snorkelling I have encountered so far. Just step into the water and you're there, surrounded by a multitude of tropical reef fish. The best place to snorkel is to the right of the little channel they use for jet ski's and small boats next to the pier. Be careful though at low tide. The coral is closer to the surface and can be razor sharp.

To get to Kuda Bandos arrange a picnic trip from your resort or hire a private transfer. It currently costs $11 entree fee to be payed on arrival at the island.
If you are not part of a picnic excursion, there is a small bar that serves cold drinks, beer and some snacks. Otherwise a Top Tip is to loiter around other peoples BBQ and take a look after the tour groups have finished eating. Many times I have been offered to help myself to anything that is left. Sometimes they even put a few fresh bits on the barbie just for us.

Must do:
Keep some bread for the fish at the pier.
You will get a huge array of colourful fish coming for a feeding frenzy. It's a small effort but such fun!

Traders Hotel Male, Maldives

Male, the capital of the Maldives, with over 103.000 people sharing just 2.2 square miles of space, is pretty crowded, in fact it is the most densly populated island in the world. What you'll notice straight away is the never ending stream of motorbikes going round and round and round. My brother has this theory that they have nowhere to go, but they drive because they like the cool breeze.
If you have to stay here for business or to catch your early flight home after coming from a resort island the Traders Hotel Male by Shangri-La is a smart choice.

Their rooms are comfortable and modern with big showers in a bathroom that is made of glass walls!
There are wooden blinds you could shut, but really it's much more fun if you don't.

Random Fact: When this hotel was first built they made sure it's foundation reaches deep down, so in an event of freak tidal waves or suchlike Traders will probably be the last building standing.

On the roof you'll find a popular evening hang out for locals and tourists alike. Smoking shishas, drinking tea and mocktails under the stars while listening to chill out tunes. In the daytime the rooftop converts to a swimming pool with double-bed sized sun loungers and a trendy sushi restaurant. They will bring your food on a cute little tray that sits over your lap, so you needn't move an inch from your sunny or shady spot.


I treated myself to Sashimi this afternoon. The Maldives being a world renowned Line and Pole Sustainable Fishing Community, what better to have then the freshest fish possible.
In fact the Azur Roof Top Restaurant staff will not serve it unless it is super fresh from that days catch.


Typically in the Maldives the variety of food include their own (spicy fish or meat curries, rice and roti breads), Indian, Thai and other Asian cuisines.

So when you come down to the breakfast buffet, you will find anything from Dim Sum to Nasi Goreng. Which of course makes my day!
What I find most intruiguing are the fruit steeped in spices. Every morning the chef comes up with new whacky combinations. Today we had Grapefruit with Cardamon and Pineapple with Cinnamon.
There is of course the usual continental and traditional cooked breakfast, too. Being a muslim county you won't find anything containing pork though, instead there will be chewy beef bacon and squidgey chicken sausages.

Whenever I come here I feel warmly welcomed, comfortable and relaxed. I don't know if it is the beautiful turquoise colour of the water but staying here in the Maldives always make me feel happy.

Click here for a link to their website: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/male/traders

A new venture!

I have been inspired by a talented journalist whom I met by divine intervention (otherwise known as chance) to do what I always wanted to, just didn't know how exactly.

So here is my old blog being transformed into a new travel food adventure blog that will have reviews of the places I visit and recipes I learn about or create by inspiration. I hope you like it :-)

Green Tomatillo Salsa

I used to think the green Salsa you see everywhere in Mexico was made with green (unripe) Tomatoes, but then I found these...
Tomatillos!
Here is my recipe for a very very delicious version of the traditional Green Salsa.

Ingredients:

12 Tomatillos, husk removed, washed and quartered
1 Lime, juiced
1 Garlic Clove, chopped
1/2 Onion, roughly chopped
1/2 Avocado, flesh scooped out
1 Serrano Chilli, sliced
1 tsp chopped Coriander
a large pinch of Sea Salt





Mix the Ingredients in a food processor to the desired consistency.
Add a drop of Water if you like a thinner salsa.



Dip your Tortilla chips into it, use as a sauce for meats or fish, on Tacos, over Omelette.... ect. :-)
...ridiculously delish!

Banana Flower Boat Salad

Sometimes I like to buy things that I have never cooked with and may not even know what they are. This was one of those occasions. After I bought this flower bud in the Fruit and Veg Market in Male, (Maldives), I put a picture of it on a cooking related facebook group What Sha Cooking? and ask for help. Once I learned what this flower is, it was easy to create a recipe for it, and I am pretty happy with the Result, as well as the fact that another cooking mystery has been solved.

Ingredients:

1 Banana Flower

1 small red Onion, sliced thinly

1 handful Basil Leaves

1 handful Mint Leaves

Dressing:

3 Birds Eye Chillies

1 tbs Rice Vinegar

1 tbs Fish Sauce

1 tsp Palm Sugar

Marinate:

1 Sirloin Steak into cubes 

2 tsp Soy Sauce

1 tsp Fish Sauce

1 tsp Honey

1 tsp Ground Pepper

1 tsp Hot Pepper Sauce

1 Garlic Clove, minced

Prepare the Banana Flower by pulling off the outer leafes and reserving them to use as 'Boats'.

Into a large bowl add the juice of 1 Lemon and 1 tsp Sea Salt. This will help prevent the Banana Flower from oxydising (going black)

Peel back layer by layer and discard the stamens (the baby bananas) under each leaf.

Shred the Banana Flower Petals finely and drop them into the Lemon Water. Leave to steep for 10 minutes.

Then drain and combine with the Onions and the dressing. Just before serving mix in the Basil and Mint leaves.

Drain the marinade off the Beef and reserve. Stir fry the Beef in a searingly hot Wok for a couple of minutes to leave them medium rare in the middle. Add the reserved marinade and toss it together with the Beef.

Rest them in a bowl for a few minutes.

Place the Salad into the 'Boats' and nestle a couple of pieces of Beef on top of each one.

This will make a fabulous Appetiser for a dinner Party, but I'm enjoying them just as much right here right now and I am very pleased with my new discovery .