Roving IQ: Mario and Linguine

Photo: Epicurious

In my effort to cook more and to cook more traditionally Italian recipes, I purchased Mario Batali's Molto Italiano: 327 Traditional Italian Recipes to Cook at Home on a recommend from a friend. I've just begun thumbing through the recipes and delicious-looking photos, but a few have already been added to my "must make" menu. In search of more from Mario, I found this Linguine with Clams recipe from epicurious.com and decided it seemed like something I could pull off without massive amounts of culinary know-how. Now, I just need some of these signature orange Crocs and clams - where do I find those in the Midwest? 

Linguine con le Vongole (Linguine with Clams)

Ingredients: 

• 3 tablespoons kosher or coarse sea salt
• 1 pound linguine
• 12 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 pound New Zealand cockles or 24 Manila or littleneck clams, scrubbed
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 (14-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes in juice, juice reserved and tomatoes coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

Directions: 

In large pot over moderately high heat, combine 8 quarts of water to boil and salt. Bring to boil, then add linguine and cook to 1 minute short of al dente according to package directions (pasta should still be quite firm).

Meanwhile, in large sauté pan over moderately high heat, heat 6 tablespoons extra- olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add garlic and sauté until just golden, about 30 seconds. Add clams and 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes and sauté 1 minute. Add wine, tomatoes and juice, and 1/2 cup parsley and simmer, uncovered, just until clams open, 7 to 8 minutes.

Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain linguine and add to pan. Simmer, tossing occasionally, until linguine is just tender, about 1 minute. If necessary, add some of reserved cooking water to keep moist. Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and extra-virgin olive oil, tossing to coat. Transfer to serving dish and serve immediately.

Roving IQ: Casa Mariantonia, Capri

Positano is a mere 13 miles from the island of Capri. But after driving from Positano to Sorrento, returning the rental car, hauling the entirety of our luggage a mile or more through the streets of Sorrento down to the harbor in the 90 degree heat, catching the hydrofoil to Capri and taking a taxi to Anacapri, I was relieved beyond belief to walk through the front gate of Casa Mariantonia.  

Stylish, simple and sublime, Casa Mariantonia is a relaxed oasis residing at the top of another long-established oasis in the Mediterranean, the island of Capri. Its location, in the shadow of Monte Solaro and the iconic chairlift, make Casa Mariantonia as convenient as it is chic. 

At check-in, we were greeted by genuine Italian hospitality, elegant surroundings and a bowl of the largest lemons I have ever seen, grown on the property. 

After being shown our lovely, lemon-scented room, we finally landed poolside for the remainder of the afternoon. The morning's marathon transfer to the island was more than enough to warrant some down time in the sun. Lucky for us, invitations to relax were everywhere. Lounge by the pool, in a hammock in the lemon tree grove or on your private terrace. 

Breakfast was served al fresco near the pool and offered a serene start to a summer's day on Capri. 

ALL PHOTOS: Casa Mariantonia

When returning from dinner each evening, Casa Mariantonia appeared welcoming and inviting, its softly lit exterior highlighting the property's best features. 

Understated. Unassuming. Elegant. Casa Mariantonia shines as a moderately-priced Mediterranean retreat. 

Roving IQ: Recipe for a Roman Lunch

A little hungry and a lot heart broken, we arrived in Rome for our last night in Italy before our return trip home. Lunch was on the immediate menu and we set out to find a suitable spot. Seated in a sidewalk cafe, my eyes wandered to the next table where a Scandinavian couple was enjoying a simple salad comprised of a combination of ingredients that could only equal perfection. One lunch order later, I learned I was right.

My last afternoon meal in Italy has translated into a small obsession for me. Since coming home, I've prepared my new favorite "recipe" no less that 7 times - 75% because I love how the flavors and textures combine together, 20% because it's so darn easy and 5% out of wistfulness. 

Here it is, modified slightly from the above photo:

• 4-5 slices of prosciutto
• Fresh arugula
• Shaved Parmesan cheese 
• Cherry tomatoes
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Cracked black pepper

Layer a dinner plate with prosciutto slices. Pile with arugula. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pepper to taste. Enjoy!


Do you have a favorite recipe that you brought back from a trip? 

Roving IQ: Acing it in Portland - Hotel Review by The Veda House

Ace Hotel
Portland, Oregon
Photo: The Veda House

Today's Roving IQ features a guest post from my dear friend Cassie from The Veda House. On her recent vacation to Portland, she stayed at the helplessly hip Ace Hotel. I couldn't have picked a more perfect place for Cassie to stay. Its vintage style, repurposed materials and unique room designs are right in line with Cassie's personality and interests. Check out her brand new vintage store, Market 203 for some great finds from the past! 

"When Julie asked me to write a hotel review for the Ace Hotel (Portland), I couldn't resist sharing my amazing experience. I've never been happier with a hotel choice and our hotel stay only added to our overall vacation experience. If you've ever been to Portland, Oregon you know the atmosphere is extremely laid back, people are wrapped up in their cozy clothes, and every one is huddled together in the nearest coffee shop. I wanted a hotel that felt like that. I didn't want to have to leave the hotel to get the "Portland" atmosphere and the Ace Hotel was the perfect solution. 

Situated on one of Downtown's most popular streets, the Ace Hotel is surrounded by quality restaurants, cafes and shops. Some of my favorite restaurants from the whole trip were located right next door. Very convenient for late night outings or rainy days when you don't want to stray too far. As you walk into the hotel lobby, you feel as if though you are in walking into the most comfortable living room you could dream up. Take a seat on the large wraparound, extremely loved, worn out couch, and read the variety of coffee table books at your disposal. You could plop yourself down and not move for hours if that's what you choose. If sitting and relaxing isn't your thing, grab a friend and take some pictures in the photo booth! Oh, did I mention how friendly and helpful the hotel staff was?

Moving on up to floor 1.5, you arrive at a landing with a balcony overlooking the lobby. Here you'll find more cozy couches, book cases, an over sized computer table, large card catalogue display, wall mural, and lots of mood lighting. I think this area is commonly used by Portland locals who need a nice quiet place to get some work done. 

Our room was on floor 2. In my opinion it was the best floor because it was easily accessible without using the SUPER slow, rickety, and questionable elevator. I guess you could say the elevator added to the charm of the old converted apartment building.  Our room overlooked Stark Street where you could see all the hustle and bustle of the people passing by. We even had the occasional street car pass by! Each room in the Ace Hotel has its own character and style. After looking at several rooms online before arriving, I was very pleased with the one we were given. As you walk into our room, you see a large "headboard wall" that was completely covered in torn out pages from an old history book. On top of the book pages was a painted mural of a fox with birds flying overhead. Side tables were crafted out of stacked encyclopedias and a computer table built from reclaimed wood sat by the window! Other notable details of the room were the vintage alarm clock, claw foot bath tub, old crates and bins to hold snacks and other goodies, clever signage throughout, and the characteristic fire escape out the window. It took us the entire week to soak in all the unordinary details. 

At the reasonable price of $150 per night, the Ace Hotel is worth every penny. If I'm ever in Portland again, I know I'll be staying at the Ace. Every room is different, so you never know what you're going to get, but I bet it's going to be a little slice of heaven." 

Photos: The Veda House

For more on the Ace Hotel, visit today's The Veda House post. Then, stick around and explore! It's a beautifully designed blog and store. A big thanks to Cassie for sharing her review and thanks to you all for reading! 

Roving IQ: The Art of Travel

I've been eyeing these vintage-inspired travel prints from JHill Design in Boston since last fall. Each city print is based on an "imaginary vacation" taken by the designer. The repeated, iconic visuals combined with destination details encapsulate the location simply, succinctly and beautifully. 

Of course I selected two Italy prints to show, however there are multiple locations available - both big names and lesser-known locales from Pondicherry, India to Pittsburgh. You can get them here and start your imaginary vacation tomorrow. 


A SPECIAL NOTE: A portion of each purchase of the blue-hued Block Island, Rhode Island print will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. 

Roving IQ: Top 5 Road Trip Vehicles

My husband is a true gear head - the kind of person who can tell you what kind of car is coming down the road just by the engine sound. He knows the performance numbers for almost every vehicle and how they’ve changed each model year. He even knows how many quarts of oil they take. Freaky, freaky stuff.

In almost 10 years of marriage, we've owned 24 vehicles. Stupid? Very. Educational? You bet. We've become experts on traveling by car. So today, we're sharing some of our hard-earned wisdom with the world. I'm thrilled to introduce my husband, Scott, in his first guest post. The below reviews are his honest opinions about realistic road trip cars. (Much to his dismay, he was forced to take the Ferrari off the list.)

Jeep Wrangler: Scott says: "True all-around, on and off-road capabilities. Top down. Check. Doors off. Check. Lowered windshield. Check. Name another vehicle you can do that with. I didn't think so."

Honda S2000: Scott says: "When your spouse or significant other won't allow you to take a trip on a motorcycle, this is your second best choice. If you are looking for a two-wheel experience with four wheels, this is a close as it gets. This is the perfect vehicle to carve canyon roads or drive up the 101 with the top down, the motor singing at 9,000 rpms while you row through the gears of one of the best transmissions ever built. There's even room in the boot for a bag or two." 

BMW 5-series: Scott says: "Comfort, technology, style and speed wrapped in one package. I'd pick the M5 so I could play with the 500 horsepower under the hood, but any 5-Series choice would be the right one for a road trip."

VW Golf Diesel: Scott says: "It's not as hip as the GTI, but it gets great gas mileage and has all the comfort bells and whistles one can ask for. Besides, there is not another car manufacturer who makes as nice of an interior as VW at nearly any price point. So keep the hybrids for the movie stars in Hollywood, as this is the car that gets nearly 550 miles to a tank of gas in comfort and style."


GMC Explorer Conversion Van: Scott says: "This is not your mom's mini van. This vehicle, more than anything else on the road has more luxury and comfort features. People driving Escalades may think they are in the know, but you know better. Up to six captain chairs, multiple TV screens, and enough lights and mirrors to throw a dance party in the back. You'll swear your staying in a high-priced luxury suite at the Bellagio in Vegas. A Dodge Caravan minivan can't hold a candle to this baby."

What's your road trip vehicle of choice? 


Sorry for the late post! Thanks for reading!

Roving I Week One: My New Passport Stamp

Last week, I entered a new territory. I'm a blogger now. One week into this journey, I feel like I have earned this stamp. I'm quite proud, actually.

But, while traveling by the seat of your pants can be fun, sometimes it's good to have a plan. I think that rule can apply to blogs too.

Here's the Roving Itinerary: 
Monday:
Roving I Recap - A trip report of sorts, focusing on current or past trips, depending on where I'm writing from.

Tuesday:
Roving Pic - A photo feature from the family album.

Wednesday:
Roving IQ - Tips, gear and advice from travel pros.

Thursday:
Roving I Finds - A destination deal that's worth booking on the spot, with a focus on living large with a small to moderate budget.

Friday:
Web Roves - Travel sites, blogs and writing that inspire me and my passport.

Saturday and Sunday:
Roving I Standby - I may get on, I may not. Either way, I'll try to keep it interesting.

Hopefully, you'll want to stop by to check out what's new and share your adventures, tips and comments with me. After all, it's a big world. It's nice to know you have friends out there.

Happy Roving!