Over time and travels I've been finding some interesting places to eat and shop... I always wanted to share with you some of them. In the packing effort as I have to clean my pin board and probably throw away the visit cards of the places I've pinned there - here a few of my memories.
BREIZH Café (Paris / 109 rue vieille du temple - Marais)
La crêpe autrement: Crêperie bretonne with amazing salty and sweet combinations. Very cosy design (all wood) and atmosphere. Small place, maybe worse to book.
ANTICA FOCACCERIA S.FRANCESCO (Milano / Via Castaldi 37 - Porta Venezia)
Cucina popolare siciliana dal 1834: Genuine traditional sicilian kitchen mostly based on sardine and bread. Else you have a lot of fried antipasti options. Interesting, especially the daily plate on week days. Never tried the sweet treats but there is the canolo siciliano or some other sicilian pastries.
ICE CREAM in MILAN:
Gelato in Italy is always very good... and competitive! We usually take away as a break or dessert as only a few frozen desserts are usually proposed at restaurants. From good to exceptional depends on your taste. I like GROM (for Crema di Grom and Gusto del mese (a new receipe every month)); VENCHI (more chocolate & nuts based, from a famous Torinese chocolate-maker) in Stazione Centrale and behind the Duomo Via Mengoni 1. bClose to my place, i.e. Porta Romana/Lodi I've found GELATERIA ARTIGIANALE N22 (Corso Lodi 22) and one on Via Cadore but can't find it on Google where you also have mini frozen desserts.
LE PARADIS DU FRUIT (Paris / 32 avenue Wagram - 8e)
As its name already announces, a good options for fruits/vegetables when you're on business trip for a while (especially over the week-end) and need something fresh and different. Service not always very appreciative, but that's Paris isn't it?
LE COMPTOIR DES PETITS CHAMPS (Paris / 17 rue des Petits Champs - 1er)
absolutely everything I like!!! just the kind of places making it worth eating outside. I found it randomly one evening close to my hotel. Very good price/quality and simple yet innovative menu. Offering lunch and dinner menus, else you can take . Cosy and intimate place, yet roomy. They do speak English and are patient with foreigners (2 Japanese girls when I was there).
OH MON CAKE (Paris / 154 rue Saint Honoré - 1er)
Lunch Bakery very yummy cupcakes and an easy nice salty quiche-cake-bagel shop (where you can also sit upstairs) for lunch
CA'CONTAGLIO (San Omobono Terme, strada per il Santuario della Cornabusa)
Specialità Selvaggina is the kind of local countryside italian restaurant or osteria you should always look for. This one is located in a valley north of Bergamo.
PLACE MINUIT (Milan / Corso Garibaldi 127)
In Milan it's hard for me to find a place I say I like to browse. This one is an exception. They have their own collections of ready-to-wear and shoes I love. I've heard they can produce on request, the color, the model you want (have seen brides to be really happy about that). Never bought anything but almost did, they didn't have my size anymore :( Have a look during sales time!
IL SALVAGENTE (Milan / Via fratelli Bronzetti 16)
my favorite outlet in Milan. Not too far, very nice brands, prices ok (and discounted!!!) All sorted by product typology and sizes and colors, so it's quite easy to quickly find you are looking for. Found a few dresses, rain coat, shirts, etc there. Only issue, it closes at 7pm on week days and they have no basket to store your articles so after a while it becomes inconvenient...
COTTON FACTORY (Milan / Viale Umbria 3)
An outlet for Petit Bateau + other underwear/night and babywear (Liabel...). Very good for newborns and small kids.
BASSETTI Outlet (Milan)
There are several of them, one close to Porta Romana (via Carlo Botta). For bed linens, towels and every home clothes you could possibly imagine.