A couple of weeks ago my husband and I did something we had not done in a while; we went out for dinner on a Wednesday night. We picked a relatively new restaurant in our neighbourhood on the basis of a couple of reviews we had read (and their website) and we were so pleased with our choice!
Pane e Acqua is a very small restaurant opened by chef Francesco Passalacqua when he decided that the experience he had accumulated over the years working in the best Milanese restaurants was enough to start playing solo. The cuisine is delicious — a modern and elaborate take on traditional Piedmont recipes. The people who work with Francesco are all young and friendly; you can tell they enjoy what they do.
What also helped me fall in love with this place is the décor. It’s so not Milanese I’m afraid… it’s so young, understated and cool, not flashy but vibrant and colourful. It is a clever mixture of old, new, rich and poor!
I keep recommending it to everyone I talk to, and I can’t wait to go back!
-Michela
p.s. photo by studio Calatroni
Michela in Milan
Jan 05, 2009
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The New Year started extremely well! Kristin gave birth to a healthy son, Quinn, who was born with a head full of hair on New Year’s Eve in New York City.
We’re so extremely happy for you, Kristin! Enjoy those first precious days, and when you feel up to it - we’d love to hear all about Baby Quinn!!!
Love!
Esther in Amsterdam
Jan 05, 2009
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Over the holidays we went to visit our family, and of course my toddler son (who was already severely covered in chicken pox) got the worst cold attack. A blocked nose and nasty cough kept him from sleeping, the poor little guy. Of course I didn’t have any cold medicine handy –shame on me– and all the shops were closed over Christmas! Thankfully my sister-in-law knew of an old, tested-and-true home cold remedy: just put an onion cut in pieces in the corner of the bed or on the night table! The sulphury fumes will relieve head congestion; breathing will become easier and a blocked nose begins to clear.
Effective, cheap, and always readily available!
xxx Esther
P.S. The smell is not that bad…
Esther in Amsterdam
Jan 05, 2009
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My son would hate me for saying this, but his blue plastic lunch box (with a shark on it) isn’t the cutest thing in the world. Not to mention, the clasp constantly gets stuck, and I’m just not a huge fan of anything plastic. I was on the look-out for a more earth-friendly alternative when I got an e-mail from Rebecca of Print Pattern Paper.
My problem is solved: Rebecca creates the cutest cotton lunch sacs for kids. Better than a paper bag because they’re reusable, and cuter than the plastic alternatives, these lunch sacs are made from organic and fair-labor cotton, and include Rebecca’s cute designs on them. (I might even be able to convince my son that the design is cuter than a big-toothed shark!)
Print Pattern Paper also sells beautiful cotton totes with lovely sayings and designs, cute stationery, and a large selection of art prints. A very cute website; you can’t go wrong!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
Jan 04, 2009
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I do also read more serious books, but I have to admit I have a passion for the food-lit (and I had a brief passion for chick-lit and a not so brief one for the mummy-lit). Some of my favourite books in the field are Kitchen Confidential, A Cook’s Tour, The Man Who Ate Everything and It Must Have Been Something I Ate.
The one I’m reading at the moment is How I Learned to Cook: Culinary Educations from the World’s Greatest Chefs, which is a collection of 40 short stories written by some very famous chefs (not necessarily the world’s greatest) about how they understood that food and cooking was to become the most important thing in their life.
I find it really enjoyable because of the diversity of experiences and because it offers a behind-the-scene portrait of these famous people you often only read about in magazines and restaurant guides. It’s also interesting to find out how different styles of cooking emerged from different experiences.
And I have to admit, reading this makes me want to cook more… which is something that will make my family happier!
-Michela
Michela in Milan
Jan 03, 2009
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No, this is not Michela writing from Milan, but Natalie from Sydney. The thing is that I love the idea of my little one speaking Italian. I started lessons about seven years ago. And while I’d love to say that I’m fluent, I’m not because the lessons have only happened in fits and starts due to one very disorganised Italian teacher. But I do try to speak to Charlie in Italian whenever I can and I have a few Italian playmates lined up for him. So when it came to his first Christmas I wanted to give him a gift that was something that would allow us to spend quality time together. And I’m a sucker for anything that’s educational, too. That’s where this great little book came along. Each double page in First 1000 Words in Italian
by Heather Amery has a different location – such as the home - and lists the objects you find there in Italian. The book is part of a series that also has books in French, Spanish, Greek, etc. Perfect, for him and me!
-Natalie
Natalie in Sydney
Jan 02, 2009
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Why some kids are born with a shock of hair and others completely bald, I have never understood. I am so jealous of parents whose kids have flowing locks at 8 months instead of my little girl who is as bald as Yul Brenner.
The one advantage is that most bald kids really look cute in hats. This is a blessing as in our cold European winters, headgear is a necessity not an accessory.
I recently got this super-cute little Monster hat for my little girl from the Papou shop on Etsy. It is a perfect little hat for her. My little monster looks as cute as a button with her hat on and she cannot pull it off her head, as it ties neatly around it.
The hats are each made by hand and exist in different sizes and colours. You just need to send an email to Papou with the colour and size you would like. Give it 2 weeks and voila – a hat will be ready for you, especially made to keep your little one’s head toasty.
-Emilie
Emilie in Paris
Jan 01, 2009
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HEMA is one of those shops (or concepts really), that is almost impossible to describe. If you’ve ever set foot in a HEMA, you understand. In fact, you get the concept immediately, and you’re a fan instantly - no denial possible! And you just understand why we, Dutchmen, are all raving about it, and why this chain of shops is what we miss most when we move abroad…
So, what is HEMA?
HEMA is a Dutch chain of shops that only sells HEMA-brand products. No luxury products, but products that are meant for daily use and that are functional yet fun. The assortment is wide and prices are low (we like that in the Netherlands), designs are trendy and fresh, simple and colourful. The quality is good, and overall the products are seriously so much fun that you can’t help bringing home yet another cool tea-towel, notebook or cute cookie-cutter set for the kids! (more…)
Esther in Amsterdam
Dec 31, 2008
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As hard as I try to stay stylish in my skinny jeans while pregnant, there comes a moment when you just feel more comfortable in a pair of stretchy, low-on-the-tummy, casual black pants. As I am now more than half way through this pregnancy, this moment has come.
Thankfully, I’ve discovered the maternity essential pant from Zobha. The V-like waist fits really low below the belly, and the stretchy cotton material is really flattering on my ever-growing bum and hips. They’re ultra comfortable and yet they’re really cute. I even dressed them up with a cute pair of flats and a fancy top for a holiday party the other day and no one would have guessed that I was wearing yoga pants!
Zobha is a US company, but they ship internationally.
-Courtney
via Cool Mom Picks!
Courtney in London
Dec 30, 2008
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Some days you want your kids to just look like babies and feel cozy — that is exactly what I thought when I saw the Rattled range of clothing: simple, organic cotton basics in vibrant colours!
They offer 6 styles in 12 colours to let you mix&match and layer. This firm was conceived in the summer of 2007 by two friends in South Carolina who decided to start a new business venture with some ethics in mind. Not only are their products organic but they give back 10% of their profits to children in need.
I went for a mix of purple and acqua for my one-year-old baby girl and I just love seeing her crawling around in these soft, colourful clothes. They are ideal for lounging at home on cold winter days!
At the moment they ship only to the US but they will soon have retailers and will start shipping internationally.
-Michela
Michela in Milan
Dec 29, 2008
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A Christmas blizzard meant one thing to my boys: a big, huge snowman.
Isn’t he cute?
My favorite thing about him is what he’s made of:
-Chocolate malt balls (for the eyes)
-Carrot (for the nose)
-Black licorice whips (for the mouth)
-Portobello Mushrooms (for the buttons)
-Hat and scarf (for the accessories)
Happy Holidays!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
Dec 28, 2008
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I have a new addiction and it is the food from my new favourite Cookbook: Leon.
Lets wind back a few years when we were all living in London. I was working in Soho and deploring the fact that it was almost impossible to get good take-away food. Try as I might, I never managed to get up in time to prepare sandwiches to take in with me. So my options were greasy spoons and sandwich chains that put so much mayonnaise into their sandwiches that it was had to figure out what else was in the sandwich.
Then, one fine day, Leon opened: fresh salads, soups, wraps… all I ever could have dreamed of was suddenly available just around the corner from me! I never went anywhere else…
Finally my favourite take-away has published a cookbook and I am loving making my own take-away food (The family is loving it too, by the way)!
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
Dec 28, 2008
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We’ve recently discovered the range of Bullyland soft and squishy animals, and my kids love them!
With realistic hand-painted details, they are made to look like the real thing. They’re made from PVC-free synthetic rubber, so while they look like they would be hard and heavy, they’re soft and light and fun to play with.
Bullyland is a German-based company founded in 1974, and is one of the only manufacturers in the world that uses neither dangerous phthalate softeners nor PVC for model and figurine production.
A great range of Bullyland soft play animals are available from Kites Tails Toys in the US.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
Dec 27, 2008
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The other day I was at my friend, Miriam’s house. Miriam is an architect, like me. In fact, we studied together, and lived in the same students’ house!
Miriam’s daughter Myrthe is exactly one week younger than Pim (our son), so it is cute to see them together. Of course, we’re constantly joking that one day they might end up getting married…
Well, I think Pim should definitely consider this, because Myrthe is already working on a fantastic dowry — she owns a chair that makes her future MIL (me) green with envy: a Rietveld Crate chair!!
Rietveld is one of the Netherlands’ most famous designers/architects. He designed this chair in 1934, and because his ideology was to design beautiful things within everybody’s reach, he used packing materials (old crates) to create this chair, and also, in a pre-Ikea way of thought, sold it in do-it-yourself kits.
Rietveld’s grandson and great-grandson (who oddly are the same age) recently re-developed the crate-chair in kiddie size - a third of the original size. How cool is that! A wonderful chair for my grandchildren, I would think… 
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
Dec 26, 2008
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Merry Christmas from a very snowy Lake Tahoe!
Hope you have a cozy holiday…
-Courtney
Courtney in London
Dec 25, 2008
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I know it’s totally commercial, plus it’s always the same drink, but I just love this special holidays tram that travels around Milan these days. When you spot it on the street at night it really looks like a magic chariot!
Merry Christmas from Milan!
-Michela
Michela in Milan
Dec 25, 2008
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I don’t know why, but I really want my kids to have a little doudou (as little cuddly toys are called here). I kind of like the idea that they have a little thing with them that gives them security. My eldest daughter is completely uninterested; she has never been attached to anything in particular. But the youngest one is a completely different kettle of fish. From about 2 weeks old she started sucking on her thumb and she visibly calms down when she is falling asleep with something to cuddle.
Being a typical middle class, post-2000 mother I love the idea of anything and everything organic, which is why I am so happy that my daughter has officially opted for the organic cotton cuddly sheep by the traditional German toy manufacturer Käthe Kruse. She obviously has excellent taste… it is super soft and a lovely simple design. (more…)
Emilie in Paris
Dec 24, 2008
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Living only a five minute walk from world-famous Bondi Beach presents some interesting decorating dilemmas at Christmas time. I haven’t worried so much about what trinkets and festive fare to indulge in during previous years because I’ve always been too busy celebrating Sydney-style at friends’ places, parties and picnics – it is the summer social season, after all. But this year is different because this is the first time I will experience Christmas with my baby boy, Charlie. And so I want to make a little more effort.
Well, thankfully I have a great shop down the road that will provide me with many decorating options. After all, it is a little tricky to get the right Christmas look when you’re woken by summer sun (not snow) and a post-lunch activity is more likely to involve swimming in the ocean than riding on a sleigh. Caravan Interiors (02 9365 0500) on Hall Street, Bondi, is a must-visit shop. And its decorations are the most beautiful, beach-inspired ones I’ve seen yet. Wreaths are made of driftwood and shells and there’s not a strand of tinsel in sight. Oh, they also have a small but very carefully edited kids’ section, selling everything from clothes to toys to decorations.
-Natalie
Natalie in Sydney
Dec 23, 2008
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For the second year running Milan will have its own Christmas Theme Park — the Villaggio delle Meraviglie. It all takes place in the lovely surroundings of the Giardini Pubblici Montanelli, one of the nicest parks in the very centre of Milan.
From the 6th of December until the 6th of January a fairytale village inspired by everything Christmas will be put in place for the entertainment of children and adults together.
There will be Santa’s house where children can meet Santa Clause and hand him their Christmas letter. After Christmas his place will be taken over by Befana, an old witch-looking lady, who flies on a broomstick and brings sweets and presents to well-behaved children on the night of the 6th of January. Next to Santa’s house there will be a toy factory where children can draw their favourite character and then see an animation of it.
Under the Ice Palace (though not really made of ice) there will be entertainment for the very little ones, a circus school and face painting.
One of the biggest attractions for children will be a rollercoaster in the shape of Santa’s sleigh that will ride along on mountains of snow. For a quieter and more tranquil ride, one can choose the “Park Express” train that will take adults and children on a tour of the park where they will meet the fairytale characters that live in it. (more…)
Michela in Milan
Dec 22, 2008
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My baby’s due date is quickly approaching, which is why I find myself continually readying the apartment, the hospital bag, and my first son for the imminent changes headed our way. Among the many steps my husband and I have taken to prepare Oscar for the arrival of his baby brother, we decided a gift exchange between the two would be a nice idea and might help to soften the anticipated blow. So, I landed at the designer children’s clothing store, Estella, where I found a great assortment of hand-crochet stuffed animals made by local artisans from Peru. Among the many animals was a super cool T-Rex, sure to appeal to my dinosaur loving 2½- year-old. And for the baby to be, I selected a little baby elephant rattle. But, it was hard to stop there at this very special children’s boutique. (more…)
Kristin in New York
Dec 22, 2008
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