Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM
Copyright all rights reserved
The suave and debonair Travelling Gourmet TM goes to say Ciao to the Queen of the…
MARE Adriatico…and where else should someone who appreciates “la dolce vita” stay…but the historic and luxurious Hotel Danieli…
NOT one, not two, but THREE palazzi (palaces) comprise the marvellous hotel. They date from the 14th, 19th and 20th centuries. Palazzo Dandolo in Venetian Gothic style, once home to the noble Dandolo family. The Palazzo Casa Nuova was previously the city’s treasury. and Palazzo Danieli Excelsior was redesigned by Jacques Garcia, and features sumptuous guestrooms with balconies overlooking the lagoon on its upper floors. Views are panoramic and spectacular!
The three interlaced palaces house An outstanding and rich collection of precious art and objets d’art liked inextricably to the history of Venice are the city’s history are harmoniously blended with 21st Century contemporary comforts. The preferred hotel for the sophisticated global travellers and the rich , powerful and famous…
The Danieli’s new Executive Chef is modest, humble and hails from Treviso near the Dolomiti. I had the honour of meeting him recently. Wearing trendy stripey spectacles and with his bright light brown eyes, Chef Alberto has a good aura…believe me, I know these things. Stay tuned for my exclusive interview with Executive Chef Alberto Fol! >>>
Executive Chef Alberto Fol is a kind and modest gentleman who speaks frankly and is not arrogant. I have friends in high and low places…and bright and dark places and I know a good Chef when I meet one. One of Alberto’s signature dishes is Scallops alla Cacciatora where sea products (scallops) are combined with mountain products (potatoes and cacciatore sauce).
Chef Alberto: We do not use palm oil and I want to recreate the authentic Venetian recipes of my famiglia and my home…
The Travelling Gourmet: As far as possible are sustainable products used?
Chef Alberto: Artichokes rom St. Erasmus, Asaparagi from Bassano, local products as much as we can..
The Travelling Gourmet: Are you using only healthy oils and NO palm oil that causes cancer and deforestation?
Chef Alberto: Si, senz altro (of course), pumpkin seed oil, grapeseed oil, No palm oil, peanut oil…
The Travelling Gourmet: Wahat are your favourite foods and herbs to cook with?
Chef Alberto: Carletti, wild asparagus, bruscandoli…basilico…
The Travelling Gourmet: What are your thoughts on molecular gastronomy??
Chef Alberto remarked frankly: I tried…the concept, but NOT for my kitchen.
I nodded in full agreement, and said, “I couldn’t agree more. As Master Chef Georges Blanc told me, “it is passe.” “
The Travelling Gourmet: What nuovo idea (new ideas) do you have for the Danieli? I asked him the 64,000 dollar question…
Without hesitation, Chef Alberto elaborated, “First, primo, la qualita (the quality) must be the best. Second, the health…very important. Third, design the dish!
The Travelling Gourmet: Si, d’accordo!! Forty years ago people ate less sugar but now they eat TEN times more! take Coca Cola with 35g of sugar in a 330ml can! Too much white poison like sugar kills…in more ways than one.
Commander James Bond MI6 Intelligence officer 007 played by handsome Roger Moore and CIA deep cover Intelligence officer/NASA Scientist, Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles), in one of the splendid suites in Hotel Danieli…:-) “Perhaps this would be a good time to pool our resources…” Oh Madonna!!
I played this song when I was the very FIRST gourmet in the world to match Mooncakes from the Marriott’s premier Chinese restaurant Wan Hao with wines, in the 5 Star Singapore Marriott at the heart of Singapore’s “Bond Street”…
The Tourist…
Mayhem, Murder, Mystery, Mystique, Magnificent settings were all to be found in…
another big Hollywood hit movie called “The Tourist”. Starring superstar Angelina Jolie before her double mastectomy (OUCH!), and jolly Johnny “Pirates of the Caribbean” Depp, in a terrific tale of treachery, intrique, love, revenge, humour, glamour, elegance and much more…much like Romeo and Juliet’s tale set in Verona, the city that is also famous for VINITALY every year!
One of the ‘stars’ of this movie which I simply adore is the “Danieli”, a historic hotel beloved of the rich, powerful, influential and famous…Next to the Palazzo Ducale that is next door, this was the Doge (Ruler) of the Venetian Republic’s palazzo (palace). Many of the crucial scenes of ‘The Tourist’ were filmed in the Hotel Danieli. The cast including the ex-husband of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, dined a lot in the Terraza Danieli restaurant on the top of the hotel. Believe me, I know these things, because you see…I have friends in very high and very low places…
The DANIELI
LUXURY Grand Hotel of Venice
Castello 4196
Venice 30122
ITALY
Tel: +39 041 522 6480
Dinner in the Terraza Danieli restaurant on the rooftop…
Nota Bene
Janus is an ancient Roman, composite god who is associated with doorways, beginnings, and transitions. A usually two-faced god, he looks to both the future and the past at the same time, embodying a binary. The concept of the month of January (the beginning of one year and the ending of the end) is both based on aspects of Janus.
It was sunny but there was a slight drizzle of cool rain…as my Turkish Airlines jet took off SAS – smooth as silk…this song played in my mind. Ciao Ciao bambina, Queen of the Adriatico, I will see you again…soon.
Thank you for staying tuned or as they say in Italy…a piu tardi 🙂
The Travelling Gourmet 