JuneAnn

I'll be taking a week long Amalfi Coast culinary tour in February with 3 girlfriends. We'll be staying in Vietri Sul Mare and we are trying to find really good restaurants for 4 dinners. Since we are 4 people, taking taxis will in our budget.

ekscrunchy

JuneAnn: I have not been in a long time, but am researching food-related topics for a trip this spring. The town of Cetara, not far from where you will be, has a reputation for some of the best eating on the AC. Two places I have noted, both in Cetara, are:

Il Convento

Acqua Pazza www.acquapazza.it

You may already know that Cetara is the center for anchovy fishing and many tourists visit it for that reason..you can go out with the fisherman if this sort of thing interests you..

I am interested on what else you have planned in the culinary area..

ekscrunchy

Here is an article from the NY Times on Cetara:



http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...53C1A9659C8B63

vincenzod

I agree obviously with Acquapazza in Cetara and I add at Marina di Vietri the restaurant Sapore di Mare. And, listen, after Vietri, on the first hills, there is a town named Cava de' Tirreni and a very nice restaurant whose name is "PAPPACARBONE".
Then at Seiano, in Penisola Sorrentina do not miss "TORRE DEL SARACENO" whose chef and patron the "big" Gennaro Esposito is one of the best and most famous chef in Italy.
But, first of all, please you'd try to rent a car and do not take taxi every day.
About a culinary tour in Penisola Sorrentina and Amalfi Coast I suggest to read the funky story "Gambine & Zuccheri" but, you have to know, there is only the Italian version.
Have a lovely trip.


Vincenzo

SeaUrchin

Listen to Vincenzo! He is the man!

ekscrunchy

Hi Vicenzo! thank you for the good eating tips. Where can I find that funky story? (I can stumble through the Italian..)

I will be in Amalfi in the spring and wonder if you have any restaurant suggestions in Amalfi itself or nearby..I would love to hear them!

Many thanks!

vincenzod

Hi, I can send the story as attachment of an e-mail if you send me your e-mail address. Anyway I want to tell you more and more that the story is written in Italian and sometimes even not so easy to understand because of Neapolitan words. At the end of the story there is a list of good places where to go in Amalfi Coast, Penisola Sorrentina and Naples. If you want I can send you only this list: as you like.
Ciao.

Vincenzo

JuneAnn

Thanks very much for the info.
What do you think of La Caravella in Amalfi?

ekscrunchy, I will get you some of the info from my tour tonight or tomorrow. I'm at work right now and the info is at home.

Juneann

ekscrunchy

JuneAnn: thanks..I would love to see the tour plan!

Vicenzo..I would also love to see the story and the restaurant tips. But I am nervous about posting my e-mail here..is there any way you can provide some kind of a link so we all can attempt to read..??

Also, do you have any opinions on hotels in Amalfi? What do you think of Luna Convento? Residenza del Duca? Any other ideas?

Molto grazie!

CasaDelCipresso

thanks for the Cetara link! (I love Cetara) It's a perfect choice from Vietri...I'm totally blanking on it...but there is another excellent place (sea food)...right near to Il Convento...I'll let you know when my mind is working again!

CasaDelCipresso

Also should add...in Amalfi, I like Da Gemma...Il Tari (but I think Il Tari is shut until feb.15th or so...Da Gemma should be open) and I love Il Teatro for very casual dining/pizza

vincenzod

In Amalfi, between LUNA CONVENTO and RESIDENZA DEL DUCA, my choice would be the first. But, really, THE HOTEL in Amalfi, if wallet is not a big problem the only choice is SANTA CATERINA.
You will enjoy it, I am sure !
Ciao.

Vincenzo

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Vicenzo! I think Santa Caterina is a bit too much money! Because we do not have euro!!

Will it be an easy walk to the town of Amalfi from the Luna Convento?

Casa I am glad you enoyed reading the link about Cetara; maybe the other restaurant is San Pietro (??)

CasaDelCipresso

yes! was thinking of San Pietro
http://www.sanpietroristorante.it/
We had a really great meal there in August - didn't make reservations until that day and they were barely able to squeeze us in...would assume not nearly as much of an issue though off-season. (and they were extreamly accomodating - my son didn't like what was on the menu and they offered to cook him whatever he wanted)

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Casa. It appears as if Cetara is a real eating mecca! I only hope the logistics of visiting the town from Amalfi, where we plan to stay, work out for me!!

(I am going to post a query about hotels in Amalfi soon)

CasaDelCipresso

Cetara is a stop on the SITA bus from Salerno Amalfi and vice versa -very easy to get to...as for an eating mecca...hmmmm...it is a VERY small town...the restaurants listed are wonderful...but they are also pretty much the only ones in town (!) Food was great...my kid liked the quiet beach...was nice to stroll around in the evening...but expect winter to be very quiet in Cetara.(hot spots like Amalfi are quiet as well though)

JuneAnn

ekscrunchyi, I located some of the info you asked me about. These are a few of the places we'll be going to, either for cooking demos or tastings: Le Tore farmhouse, Vannulo farm houe, Al Convento, Gio Sole. I hope this will be helpful.

June

ekscrunchy

Thanks, June. It looks like Il Convento is the restaurant in Cetara. I looked up Gio Sole which looks to be an agriturismo in Capua, near Caserta.

Would you mind telling us who runs this tour; it sounds interesting! And more important, I hope you will give us the full details when you return!

JuneAnn

This tour is run by Club ABC. They are located in the NY/NJ area. This one is the Neapolitan Table, Deluxe. We are staying on the Amalfi Coast, near Salerno, Vietri Sul Mare. You can look up the details at www.clubabc.com and I certainly will write a report after my trip...February.