Andy Gavin's Blog, page 9
May 24, 2025
Happy Hibi
Restaurant: Hibi
Location: 1234 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019. (323) 123-4567
Date: August 15, 2024
Cuisine: Japanese Korean
Rating: Really creative
_Hibi, a notable addition to the Los Angeles dining scene, opened its doors in 2021, quickly establishing itself as a culinary gem in the heart of the city. Owned by a passionate team of chefs and restaurateurs, Hibi embodies a commitment to seasonal and sustainable ingredients, drawing inspiration from both traditional Japanese and Korean c...
May 7, 2025
Eating Naples – Palazzo Petrucci
Restaurant: Palazzo Petrucci
Location: via Posillipo 16 b/c, Naples, 80123, Italy
Date: August 11, 2024
Cuisine: Seafood Italian
Rating: Fabulous food and setting
_Our final dinner of the trip was at this Michelin 1 star in Naples. They didn’t have a direct email so we were worried about the dietary restrictions, but it turned out not to be a problem.
Palazzo Petrucci is the restaurant with the best view of the Gulf of Naples . On the beach of Posillipo Bay , it is nestled between Vesuvius, ...
May 4, 2025
Eating San Foca – Aura
Restaurant: Aura
Location: Via Lungomare Matteotti, 157, 73026 San Foca LE, Italy. +39 0832 700433
Date: August 10, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Hotel restaurant
_My wife always likes to try the hotel restaurants — even when I’m a bit skeptical. We compromise with just once per hotel. Some hotels in Europe do have great restaurants, but we don’t usually pick the hotel on that basis.
The Aura Restaurant is set in an intimate location with breathtaking endless view on the Adriatic Sea. “Well b...
May 1, 2025
Eating Otranto – ArborVitae
Restaurant: ArborVitae
Location: Via G. M. Laggetto, 38, 73028 Otranto LE, Italy. +39 0836 806816
Date: August 10, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Excellent more “classical” Italian
_We wanted to visit the lovely town of Otranto at night and so chose this place, probably from TA.
Telling the story of Sirio Paiano means also and above all telling the story of a city, Otranto, and its sea, the Adriatic.
These two living elements have contributed so much to his education and his idea of cooking,...
April 28, 2025
Eating Lecce – Gimmi
Restaurant: Gimmi
Location: Via S. Pietro in Lama, 23, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy. +39 0832 700920
Date: August 8, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Unusual format, but very nice meal
_The location was unusual.
We were told there was a concert going on in the cloisters here, which led to a brief confusion about where to enter the ancient structure.
Gimmi is the gourmet restaurant at the Chiostro dei Domenicani in Lecce open to hotel guests and the public. The cuisine, led by executive chef Donato Epi...
April 25, 2025
Eating Lecce – Varius
Restaurant: Varius
Location: Via Giovanni Presta, 5, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy. +39 320 263 4936
Date: August 7, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Modernizing local classics
_Due to a combination of factors, we ran out of Michelin’s that were open on this particular night or were willing to deal with the complexity of our Gluten Free guest’s “rules.” It’s noticable how much less flexible top places have become post pandemic.
In any case, I picked this as it was the #1 place in Trip Advisor — yes, givi...
April 24, 2025
Eating Lecce – Duo
Restaurant: Duo
Location: via Giuseppe Garibaldi 11, Lecce, 73100, Italy
Date: August 6, 2024
Cuisine: Modern Apulian Italian
Rating: Great and creative
_For dinner, another Michelin restaurant.
Duo Restaurant offers elegant and versatile spaces, in order to adapt to the needs of your small events. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for a few guests or a special event for a larger group, we can provide bespoke solutions to create the perfect atmosphere.
Fabiano Viva: I am 46 years old...
April 23, 2025
Eating Lecce – Doppiozero
Restaurant: Doppiozero
Location: Via Guglielmo Paladini 2 Centro Storico, 73100, Lecce Italy. +39 0832 521052
Date: August 6, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Great bright flavors
_We were sent to this place by our hotel and it turned out to be just what I was looking for: authentic casual food from Puglia.
They had a huge interior but we (and nearly everyone else) sat outside.
Interesting.
Piazza patio.
The menu.
Bread. This wouldn’t be Puglia without breads.
Acciughe del Cantabrico e st...
February 18, 2025
Eating Torre Canne – Autentico
Restaurant: Autentico Wine & Restaurant
Location: Via Appia Antica, 32, 72015 Torre Canne BR, Italy. +39 338 265 0233
Date: August 5, 2024
Cuisine: Southern Italian
Rating: Decent for a this kind of hotel resteraunt
_My wife likes to eat at the hotel at least once at beach hotels. I’m not always such a fan as this kind of hotel, while great as a hotel, doesn’t usually have the best resteraunts.
We had drinks and snacks first.
Spritz bianci.
Pimms cup.
Aperol Spritz.
These were SO ADDICTIV...
February 14, 2025
Eating Torre Canne – Beach
Restaurant: Beach Club
Location: Torre Canne BR, Italy
Date: August 5, 2024
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Not bad for the beach
_We caught this meal at our “local” beach club.
Packaged, but these are still delicious.
Octopus.
Salmon Carpaccio.
Orecchiette Pomodoro.
Seafood pasta.
Weird cute packaged desserts.
Had the freezer taste.
Not bad for the beach.
