St. Moritz


St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engardin valley in Switzerland.  The highest point in the Eastern Alps, the Piz Bernina lies a few km south of St Moritz.  It's a popular snow and ski resort and is famous worldwide as playground of the well heeled and jet set.

The town was first mentioned in he 12th century, was named after St Maurice, an early Christian saint from southern Egypt said to have been martyred in 287 in modern Saint-Maurice-en-Valais (Roman Agaunum), Switzerland when he and his fellow Roman soldiers from the Theban Legion refused orders from the Roman Emperor Maximian (250-c.310) to kill off Christian villages in the area.

The account of St Maurice's martyrdom was reported by Bishop Eucherius of Lyon (380-449).   The Bishop had lived within 100 years of the martyrdom so the events were 'fairly recent' and therefore the account was deemed to be more reliable.   St Maurice who has been portrayed as a indigenous African knight, was so highly venerated that he became the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms: of Alpine troops, armies, armourers, Burgundians, Austria, House of Savoy, infantry men, Lombards, Piedmont, Papal Swiss Guards, Germany, swordsmiths, weavers, Holy Roman Emperors and the town of Saint-Maurice-en-Valais, and of course, St Moritz.

Gondola up Piz Nair


Scenic view from St. Moritz town. The St. Moritz SUN face symbol is on lower right corner.


St Moritz is our snow and ski holiday destination, but as Milan is only a 3-hour drive away, it was our best starting point to get there.  St. Moritz is about 175-km north-east to Milan.  Hence, we were in St Moritz, via Milan.

However, in terms of food, culture, and shopping Milan is still our city of choice!

View of snow runs from Piz Nair (3,057m), highest point.

The goat on top of Piz Nair Station




Short uphill climb from the lift at Chantarella (2,005m, in photo), towards Salastrain (2,048m)

Weefie at Salastrain cafe
Salastrain



View of St. Moritz Dorf from road to Salastrain
As can be seen in the photos, even over the Christmas weekend, there was no fresh snow. Most of the snow in the mountains were man-made or artificial snow.   Strange that when we spoke to the "local" people, almost everyone said "good snow" albeit artificial snow!

So its quite unique that we were actually in winter, but were actually enjoying the late autumn weather and scenery.  Maybe 2015 will slip into 2016, from late autumn to early spring, at least that's what we heard that some plants are blooming early, tricked into thinking its spring already!

Direction signs on Signal (2,130m). Signal is the destination of the gondola from near our apartment at Via Giovanni Segantini, St. Moritz Bad.

Anticipation! Preparing to fit boots at the Signal gondola Ski shop.

The store manager registering our boots, snowboards, and skis.



The gondola from St. Moritz Bad, where we rented our skis and stuff, goes directly up to Signal (at 2,130m).  We had to ski a short stretch from Signal to Salastrain for our orientation lessons.  The ski down from Salastrain is the blue run all the way back down to St. Moritz Bad.

Hugo at advanced training class

Hugo on Piz Nair

Hugo standing on top of Swiss flag pole.
Doing weefies at class


Two friends up Corviglia (2,486m)
Trouble on blue run from Signal
Ski trail map



St. Moritz town map


Cross country skis at St. Moritz Bad, near Kempinski.




The old Catholic Church of St. Charles in St. Moritz Bad where we spent some quiet moments on Christmas morning.  Via Sela 1.


The quiet and reverent atmosphere inside the 18th Century church.

Nativity scene in a corner of the sanctuary





St. Moritz Dorf - main shopping district


Main street Via Maistra at St Moritz Dorf - jewelers, watch shops, fashion apparels

One of many fashion shops

Our favorite bus #3 into and from St Moritz Dorf.  This stop is in the heart of the shopping area.




Swiss Alps Bernina Express

From St. Moritz in Switzerland there is a train travelling through a UNESCO World Heritage site via the Bernina Pass, through the Engadin valley (Swiss Alps), to Tirano in Italy.  From Alp Grum, we could see the Morteratsch Glacier.  There is also a famous spiraling viaduct at Brusio.

The train runs 144km through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, and was build in 1896-1904.

The train station at Pontresina, St. Moritz, Switzerland

The waiting room on the train platform - a welcomed respite from the cold wintry air outside.

The waiter in "viewing gallery" train

Alp Grum Pass on the Bernina Express


We saw several MTB dashing down the road on the right.

Pat checking that we re-enter the right carriage




Alp Grum Pass with Morteratsch Glacier in background.



The start of the climb....

The spiralling viaduct at Brusio


The white lake from the Bernina Express (Lago Blanco)
Beautiful views reflected on the waters of the lake
This part of Switzerland is the province of Poschiavo, and has a village of the same name.

Relaxing in comfort and warmth

Milan

Milan is an old city, reputedly first founded by the Celts and then by the Romans.  For many years, it was ruled by the Dukes of Milan, first the Viscountis and then the Sforzas.   There are many references to the Sforzas in the city.   The ancient castle which is now a major tourist attraction is called the Castello Sforza.   After the Habsburgs and Napolean, Milan continued to be jostled in turn by the great powers of the French, Spanish and Austrian.  These were the equivalent of the superpower nations of that time.


The Duomo in Milan (Milan Cathedral)
 The Duomo was 700 years in the building, and is a magnificent cathedral. Construction began in 1386.   It is the center of Milan, from which the whole city radiates out.







At roof top of the Duomo

Inside the sancturay


The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery at the Piazza del Duomo, which houses many of the retail food and fashion houses
Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza


Many Christmas stalls set up around the Duomo.




Heavy police presence throughout the Piazza


Duke Francesco statue at the Castello Sforza
There was a fortified wall encircling the city offering protection to all within.  The Duomo is in the center.   The castle is strategically positioned on the north wall....supposedly then all the "powerful" threats were from that direction.
The Sforza coat of arms at one of the castle side gates.
Close up of the coat of arms


Because of the concentration of wealth and power in the city, the arts, theaters and museums have flourished through the years.   The famous Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci and the works of many Renaissance artists can still be found in the city.


At the Pinacoteca of Brera, Milan's art museum

St Peter (with the keys) and other saints with Mary and Christ child. "Triptych of San Domenico in Camerino" by Carlo Crivelli.
Beautifully painted ceiling







Theater La Scala entrance

La Scala has hosted performances by many great opera stars, one that we recognize readily is Maria Callas.  Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis left Callas, before he married Jackie Kennedy the widow of US President J. F. Kennedy.

Some of the stage props on display - exciting battle scenes!

More stage props - medieval shield emblazoned with Milanese cross


Milan is the second most populous city in Italy, and is also a major industrial, commercial and financial center.   



Restaurants and cafes in Milan


Below are the restaurants we had the privilege of trying out in Milan.

Gran Caffe Cimmino, via Larga

We had our first breakfast here.  Its near our hotel.   It's a popular breakfast place with many customers walking in to buy their breads and pastries "to go".   They have wide selection of pastries and sweet breads.






Biting into a doughnut


Great for coffees, teas and hit chocolates too.


MAIO restaurant, La Rinascente (shopping mall), 7th floor, Piazza del Duomo

The restaurant which provides a fantastic 7th floor direct view of the Duomo's decorated saints and motifs, offers alfresco dining for customers wanting to enjoy the cool wintry air.  We waited for lunch orders to start at 12pm.  We ordered a bottle of Vulcania Sauvignon white from Veneto with some light savories while waiting.  Combined with weather, the Veneto white, and crackers and olives really made the "waiting" a very pleasurable experience.

We have been to this restaurant many times including our last visit 3-4 years ago.

Enjoying Sauvignon white from Venice


Vulcaia Fume 2012, a Sauvignon white from Veneto.


Pat had her favorite octopus salad, and Hugo's was cold cuts.

Special for the day - fresh oyster risotto

Salmon salad

Juicy hamburger



Selection of cold cuts

Octopus salad

Veal Bosco cutlet

We had mainly risottos and salads. I ordered the chef's special, risotto with fresh oyster which is served with glass of red wine.....yummy!





Paper Moon, via Bagutta

This is a highly popular new style Italian restaurant. This recommendation was from a friend.

We wanted to order a variety of pastas etc to share and the restaurant was happy to oblige.  The
favorites were the truffles pasta and the octopus salad!  Very good.


Foccacia

Salami pizza

Parma ham with...


....honey dew


Rabbit ragu pasta

Truffles pasta with safron

Cheese risotto

Barbaresco 2011 by Cerrato


The other great food offerings we ordered the minced veal with olive oil pasta, the rabbit ragu pasta, salami pizza, cheese risotto, foccacia, etc.  We had a barbaresco by Cerrato to go with the great food.

Custard cream



For desserts we had caramalised apple with ice cream, custard cream, and tiramisu.


Bar Camparino, Piazza del Duomo

This is another historic caffe, but with Campari as an anchor appertiff.  Campari is a alcoholic liqueur made from infusion of fruits and herbs in alcohol and water.








Free flow of sweet breads, chips, olives



Campari Orange


Campari Prosecco with olives

We ordered the Campari Orange, Campari Prosecco and a refreshing Fruity cocktail.  The children had milk shakes and it was so good that they raved about it!


Il Luogo di Aimo & Nadia, via Privata Raimondo Montecuccolo.

We had to travel across town to get to this 52-year restaurant that has existed from this same location.  It took our taxi 45 minutes in peak hour traffic. The restaurant is brightly litted and its walls generously decorated with abstract artworks.  The chef is famous for serving Italian-style cooking using the best local seasonal produce.  Another friend had recommended us this restaurant.

We chose the tasting menu which was encouraged as it allows the chef to showcase his special cuisines.    We started with four varieties of starters which were accompanied by dried crunchy chilly peppers, more sweet than hot. Next we were served burrata cheese in mash of artichoke.

A colorful modern art piece welcomes dinner guests to the restaurant

Chef's appetizers

Chilly peppers

Lightly seared mussel with truffle crust, etc.


Burrata cheese in mash of artichoke

The spumante


Raw crispy cuttle-fish, lemon marmalade, smoke cheese and beetroot

Risotto with olive oil, shrimp, tomatoes, oregano & capers


Raw sea bream with citron, pistachio mayonnaise, green celery and water-cress

Barbaresco Rabaja 2011 by Bruno Rocca

Etrurian soup with vegetables of the season




Rice with olive oil, shrimps, tomato and oregano and capers

Tortelli filled with assobuco of veal and marrow


Tenderloin of veal Fassone, light camonile and red onions, with carrot and raspberry vinegar


Pre-desserts

Lime foam which is poured on the lemon cream below

Sorrento lemon cream

Almond milk to drink when savoring the lemon cream and lime foam

These three make up the main dessert of the tasting menu!

Caramelized orange peel, chocolates and nuts crusted biscuito

The "cheese and crackers" of the tasting menu






The 3rd dish was of lightly seared raw cuttlefish soaked in a lemony sauce.  Next we were served again lightly seared mussel with a thin truffle crust.   A "Etrucian" vegetable soup based on a 40 year recipe comes next, with a proud claim by staff that there is no stock used in this soup. Its all natural flavours that comes through.

Next comes a little bit more carbo in the risotto with olove oil, shrimps, tomatoes, oreganos, and capers.  Then the first of the mains, lightly seared veal with reduction of stocks of marrow, saffron and parmigiano, followed by tenderloin of veal served with light flavours of camomile, red onions with carrots in raspberry vinegar.
 
Cheese with raisin bread and chutney was next to change the taste buds, and we moved onto the predesserts, of mushroom soaked in truffled foam. The final dessert was lemon cream, lime and "loomi" powder to be eaten with almond milk.

Selection of chocolates, caramalised orange peels and nuts crusted biscuits, came as the final dessert.

We ordered a spumante Giulio Ferrari 2004 and a Barbaresco Rabaja 2011 to accompany the more than 10 courses we enjoyed!

Spumante Guilio Ferrari 2004




Pasticceria Cova, via Monte Napoleone.

This is Milan's oldest pasticceria and confetteria, having been founded in 1817.  Originally the pasticceria was located near the Teotro alla Scala, but had to moved to its current location in the stretch of Monte Napoleone where all the big fashion labels are at, some with more than one shop.

Cova was a favorite meeting place for the Milan elites and intellectuals, and reputably played this role during thr First Italian War of Independence in 1848, against Austria.




Mozzarella with tomatoes

Ham sandwich


Melted cheese on toast



Pastries - only pay for what we eat

Window display of sweet Santas




We ordered sandwiches - mozzarella with tomatoes, ham, egg, melted cheese etc..   Enjoyed the teas - camomile and darjeeling, coffees, and of course vanilla milk shakes for the chikdren.


L'Isolotto Ristorante, via Gustavo Fara

We last visited this restaurant about 3-4 years ago and had recalled raving about the freshness of their seafood and cooking style.   The same people were serving us.....


Crispy appetizers

Grilled octopus tentacles


Squid with tomatoes

Lobster pasta

Clams Vongole


Sauteed mussels and clams. Very delicious!

Baked grouper

Barbera d'Alba 2009 from Gianni Voerzio

Chocolate dessert



Naturally we ordered what we liked best, the grilled octopus tentacles, and the lobster pasta.  These did not disappoint us.  We also ordered clams pasta, mushroom pasta, baked grouper and sauteed clams in white wine sauce.  This was accompanied by red Barbera d'Alba 2009 by Gianni Voerzio.   For dessert, we shared a tiramisu.


Ristorante il Coriandolo, via Dell' Orso

This was our first night back in Milan after St Moritz.  The restaurant was recommended by Fabio our hotel concierge.  A quick trip advisor check shows that this was a good Italian food restaurant.    Interestingly they have a center piece of a large elephant on the bar at the entrance.

They started by serving us a complimentary glass of prosecco, and then we started on their menu with  octopus salad, clams sauteed, and parmagiano eggplant.  For the mains, we had the lobster pasta, clams vongole, sliced beef with artichoke.  Desserts were chocolate cake, tiramisu, apple struddle, and rich chocolate ice cream or gelato.




An elephant on the bar counter


Octopus salad

Sauteed clams in great gravy laced with wine, with toast bread

Also octopus salad

Parmagiano eggplant

2009 Rosso di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura by Banfi

Lobster pasta 

Lobster pasta again!



Clams vongole



Roast beef with artichoke



Chocolate cake

Tiramisu

Rich chocolate gelato & ice cream


We enjoyed a bottle of 2009 Rosso di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura by Castello Banfi.


Ristorante da Giacomo, via Sottocorno 6

This is a highly recommended old world trattoria with ornate wall panelling in green, and upscale Italian food and presentation.  This was also recommended by a friend.

As you enter through the turning doors, there is a generous dusplay of fresh sea food on ice  and wines on a mantle before you.  The menu and wine list are printed on yellow (old) paper in stylised characters.   The large hanging lamps appear to be made of translucent "marble" or "shell",  I can't be sure.  The mood is "old world charm".






Wines and fresh seafood greets diners stepping in from the entrance





The ceiling lights looks like its made from translucent marble

Old world charm 

Chef's compliments - small pizza slice

A 2010 Brunello from Casanova di Nero

Fettucine with prawn and pesto

Crab pasta. A great dish!!

Vongole

Carbonara

Veal cutlet

Octopus salad

Roast beef

Spaghetti lobster

Roast beef with black cabbage (winter)

da Giocomo plate

Taking orders for dessert

Strawberry tart

Torta della nonna, or "Grandma's cake"


Dessert cart


They started with a small complimentary slice of pizza, probably to placate the hungry diners snd get them to wait patiently for waiters' attention.  The restaurant  was busy even at 7.45pm and we had to wait a but.

We ordered the tagliolini with crab meat, fettuccine with prawns & pesto, vongole, linguine with cubed tuna (alla carbonara), veal cutlet, octopus salad with black olives pate, steak, spaghetti with locus lobster, saute of mussels and clams, roast beef with cabbage.  For desserts we had strawberry tart, torta della nona (grandma's cake), and chocolate cake.

We also enjoyed a Brunello di Montalcino 2010 by Casanova di Nero.


Ristorante  La Verandah, Hotel Four Seasons, via Montenapoleone

This is the finest restaurant we had tried.  The service is impeccable.  The restaurant came from recommendations from not one, but two friends.

For starters the chef offered us fish carpaccio with rice.  We ordered minestrome souo, lobster pasta, Cautorarogni pasta with rabbit ragu, leeks & olives, scalatielli pasta with safron, beans & lobster , artichoke salad with parmesan cheese &  rocket salad, steamed egg with cream of  artichoke sauce, and for mains we had roasted loin of venison with chestnut cream, brussels sprouts & pomegranate, apricot stuffed quail with roasted goose liver escalope and celerac, Milanese veal cutlet with roasted potatoes, rocket salad & tomatoes , and stewed croaker fish with vegetable soup and field chicory.




Chef's compliments - fish carpacio with rice


Raisins bread were exquisite

Minestrome soup

As described below

Scalatielli pasta with safron, beans & lobster

Pesto pasta

Artichoke salad with parmesan cheese & rocket salad

Steamed egg with cream of  artichoke sauce

As below

Roasted loin of venison with chestnut cream, brussels sprouts & pomegranate

Milanese veal cutlet with roasted potatoes (rocket salad on the side plate)

See below

Stewed croaker fish with vegetable soup and field chicory



Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 from Coltibuono. Chianti are affordable and very popular wines in Italy.  The Classico are top end Chianti.

Chocolate with ice cream

Baba
Pavlova


We had a 2009 Chianti classico riserva by Badia & Coltbuono.  For desserts we shared a chocolate cake, baba (small yeast cake soaked in rum) , and pavlova (similar to meringue).


Pina @ The Duomo


Club sandwich and lasagna

We had two quick lunches at Pina

Original American Street Food, near Santa Monica restaurant in hotel alley

Quick bites from alley near the hotel

We bought hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato fries from here over several days.


Ristorante Jubin, via Paolo Sarpi 11

We did not have dinner booking for after our Como day trip, so took concierge Fabio's recommendation to try Ristorante Jubin for our first chinese meal since we arrived 12 days ago.

First on our list of chinese food deprivation remedy was the szechuan hot & sour soup.  That was good!   We then tried the fried beef with ginger, fried vegetables, fried prawns with sliced onions, roast duck, tofu with bamboo shoots, fried egg plant and fried cuttle fish.



Hot and Sour soup

Beef fried with ginger.

Fried vegetables

Fried prawns with onions

Roast duck

Huge Chinese Tea pot

Tofu with bamboo shoots

Egg plant with mushrooms

Cuttle fish

We saw many dogs accompany diners, quietly sitting at the foot of owners.

Sauces tray


The glass tea pot was huge, with a metal tea leaves cage - interesting. Including a bowl of tempura soba, the  dinner was value for money at €110 for all 8 pax. A strong tummy may be needed though.



Restaurants in St. Moritz

Our first meal, a quick lunch in St. Moritz was at Eisarena, a simple cafe at ice-skating rink.

We were able to get bookings some of the best St. Moritz restaurants.

Restaurant Mono, Hotel Monopol

This was our first dinner in St. Moritz.  Mono is an Italian style restaurant.  The booking was made from Singapore.

We took the chef recommendation and ordered the squid ink with prawns, and the others we ordered were spaghetti bolognese, breasted duck, lasagna beef and lasagna lobster, and tenderloin beef, plus sharing we had beef carpaccio, salad with sliced salmon and scallop lightly steamed with crispy shrimps.



Ferrari Perle 2006 Trentodoc, a popular Italian sparkling wine

 A 2011 label of Dell'Ornellaia, a major wine maker in Bolgheri

Scallops seared with crispy shrimps

Beef carpaccio

Salad with salmon

Squid ink with prawns

Spaghetti bolognese



Tenderloin beef

Beef steak with brocolli and mash

Lasagna

Fish soup



View of the Hotel Monopol


We started with spumante by Ferrari Perle 2006 by Fratelli Lanelle, and a red Le Serre Nuove 2011 by dell'Ornellaia.


Chesa al Parc, Hotel Kulm

We booked Chesa Al Parc from Singapore. The restaurant is located in the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz.

Their Sunday's special menu is something akin to the steamboat we have back home!  We never expected that.   We were served raw slices of beef, veal, chicken, and prawns, cubes of tuna, assortment of vegetables, etc to  put into the boiling pot before eating.   The menu also came with dim sum made by the chef. We enquired and were informed that the chef is Swiss.  Interesting offerings.

The front entrance of Chesa Al Parc


Sauces and condiments




Dim sum ala Swiss

"Dim sum" a la Swiss




The "boiling pot" or steam boat





Taking the beef slices out of steam boat

The lamp shade is cloth-sewn and so rustic


A 2010 Giacosa Fratelli Barolo from Piedmont

A "fruity" Swiss white. 2013 Mont-sur-Rolle by Chatagnereaz in Vaud, Switzerland

The bar counter next to the restaurant entrance



We had a Swiss "fruity" white Chatagnereaz 2013 and a Giacosa Barolo 2010.


Conditorei Hanselmann, via Maistra 8

This is primarily a pastry cafe serving a wide selection of Swiss food. We were there for lunch.

Pat ordered a ham sandwich and a an apricot tart from the front pastry counter and I ordered a bratwurst served with french fries.  Decent offerings at decent price.






Ham and tomato sandwich

Apricot tart


Bratwurst served with french fries

Nice pictures adorn the walls 


We top it off with two coffees a Passuggen carbonated water.  Nice light lunch, and then we continued our tour of St Moritz Dorff.


Veltlinerkeller restaurant,via dal Bagn 11

This was Christmas day and our last night's  dinner in St. Moritz and we thought whats more appropriate than having our dinner at this Swiss restaurant.  The restaurant is located in the hotel of the same name, and was just down the road from via Segantini.

Feels like being in Han's but with a seemingly very earthy Swiss flavour.  We ordered the sparkling water Rhazunse.



Restaurant menu and photos

Many of the ceilings are ornately carved wood






We had two orders of fries


A Swiss Merlot 2013 from Selezione D'Ottobre

Skewered beef and bacon


Pork cutlet


Lasagna

Beef steak with fries and potatoes


Tea served in tea bag

Tiramisu

Restaurant setting

The lock on the door looks incredibly ancient


We ordered the pork chops with fries, carrots and  spinach, skewer beef and bacon, steak with fries and carrots, lamb chops, bratwurst and lasagna.  The red wine was Swiss, a Merlot by Ticino,
Selexione D'Ottobre 2013.  Quite light and easy to drink. It was interesting that the fries are served with packets of mayonaise and ketchup, rather  quaint.

Pat's Kitchen @ Chesa Maurus. via Giovanni Segantini 10

Since our accomodation had good cooking facilities and good COOP supermarket, Pat cooked dinners for 4 nights, and these were the dishes:

Pork strips ala char siew, on rosti

Mee pok

Har Cheong Kai






Penang Assam Laksa


Fried Noodles

Curry chicken

Fried vegetables with mushrooms

Bak Kut Teh


Penang Prawn Noodles

French beans with blachan


The bottles we consumed over 4 dinners.
These were Cava Chardonay Brut Reserva by Castel D'Age, Gran Reserva I Rioja 2001 by Fastino, Amarone della Valpolicella Comte di Valle 2009 by Palazzo Mallei, Champagne Taittinger from Reims, Admiral de Beychevelle 2011 St Julien, Rhone CDP 2011 by Chateau Saint-Andre, and Champagne Franck Bonville Blanc de Blanc Brut.


Our Chesa Maurus apartment

Chef Pat



Dining table


Entrance to apartment
My spacious "office"






Lake Como


We visited the scenic and very quaint Bellagio in Lake Como and decided to stop over at Como for lunch.  This was a day trip out of Milan, and our second time in Como and Bellagio.

Bellagio

Map of Como the city, and Bellagio (Courtesy of Google maps)

Bellagio has remained much unchanged since we last visited.  Houses built on steep hillside with lots of steps to climb, and for tourists mainly interesting crafts and souvenir shops.
Bellagio, Lake Como



An eatery with long history - its a walk up the steps




Narrow streets, a pizzeria shop

Houses lined the narrow streets

Shop selling wood crafts and chess sets

Waiting for shopping to be done

Bellagio's jetty and car parks

 Bellagio steps up to the shops

 Como

Our lunch venue in Como. Monti.

Hamburger

Lasagna

Pizza

Ham and tomato sandwich


Not being overly hungry then, we decided on a quick lunch at Monti, a restaurant at the corner of the main street.  We ordered duplicates of hamburger, ham and tomato sandwich, pizza, and lasagna.  Actually two of each except for just one order of the pizza.

Then we continued walking round the Duomo area shops, including Coin mall for some shopping.

With David our guide and driver on Como trip. We thought he resembles Luca of La Brasseria in Singapore.


Tirano


Tirano is in the northern tip of Italy and was the destination of the Bernina Express.  Because it was all about the scenic views offered by the Express, we were happy return in the train back to St. Moritz.

Our lunch at Sale & Pepe in Tirano, Italy

Sale & Pepe Restaurant

The Bernina Express from St. Moritz Pontresina Bahnhof took us to Tirano at around 12.30 pm, and it was time for lunch.

But just a quick lunch before the return train to Pontresina, St. Moritz.

We quickly settled for a restaurant Sales & Pepe, just across the road from the train station.  We ordered carbonara with bacon, ravoili with cream and ham, lasagna, penne arrabiatta, parma ham with honey dew with parma ham.

We did catch the return train at 2.26pm, on time.



Carbonara

Nicoise salad

Ravioli

Lasagna

Penne arrabiata

Fresh Parma ham





Personal Insights....


The skiing was a bit of a let down because of the lack of snow fall but made up by artificial snow.  Personally, I found that the lack of choice green slopes at the lower elevations a hindrance as my left knee cannot take strain from deep slopes, and buckle.   It was quite intimidating to ski down the mountain side's narrow ledges peeping over the steep drop off (onto grass and rocks) below!  There was also a tunnel under a road to go through...er...not much room to manoeuvre!  The last part was a steep slope down onto a bridge, or wide "longkang" if you miss...

Perhaps there could have been easier runs had there been more natural snow falls...but I will never know.     However from my subsequent conversations with friends who have been to this and other ski resorts, they opined that St. Moritz is one of the more challenging ones!   That makes me feel better..


The food in Milan is classy and superior, and our favorite restaurants were Da Giacomo and La Verandah at Four Seasons..... good value and service.  La Verandah is fine dining and the service staff extremely pleasing and professional.    Service at Da Giacomo was generally congenial and friendly, but attention to customers was patchy when the place started filling up.

Paper Moon & Coriandolo were also very good.   Paper Moon was so good that we tried to go again but it was closed till the New Year.  These two restaurants are the most value for money.

Il Luogo di Aimo & Nadia was very fine dining, but it cost us 2.5X our average bill for all the other dinners. I supposed that's becsuse we took the tasting menu.   The high price outweighs the otherwise great presentation, culinary history, and the tastes of their food.

L'Isolotto as a personal favorite because its seafood is extremely fresh and presented with super tastes and minimum fuss.  But seems prices have been creeping up.