Review: Saveur's Easy Italian Cookbook

The recipes for my favorite Italian meals ? that?s all my mom asked for as I headed to Sicily. It seemed like a simple request. But I don?t speak Italian, and I?m no chef, so I returned home with a collection of kitchen disasters.
And then I discovered Saveur?s Easy Italian cookbook for the iPad and iPhone. Its 30 recipes show that many of Italy?s most satisfying foods are also the world?s simplest. Find tips, wine pairings and a breakdown of the lore of Italian food without leaving home ? did you know minestrone means big soup? Cook up pasta with lamb and almond pesto, and you too can pretend to be in Palermo shouting ?Mangia! Mangia!
$4.99 on iTunes saveur.com 

Ruka Kuusamo Lapland Ruka skiing

How To: Be a Lush in Park City

From dirty martinis to dive bars, Park City is a place where both the refined and the rowdy can converge to party and do a little skiing. Here are some libations and locations that are not to be missed in a town that rages?despite being located in Utah.

Ruka holidays Ruka ski holidays Finland Lapland holidays

EU takes summer bite out of mobile phone roaming charges

Smartphone price for a megabyte capped at 58p in time for holidaysCuts in mobile phone roaming charges are on the way this summer ? the latest move by the European commission towards reducing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates almost to zero by 2015, with the rates protected until June 2017.The cost of data services on smartphones will be capped at ?0.70 a megabyte, far less than most carriers in the EU charge. Prices on voice calls will also be capped, falling from ?0.35 to ?0.29 in July and ?0.19 in 2014. Text message prices will fall from ?0.11 to ?0.06.Maximum rates were first imposed on mobile network operators five years ago to tackle what the commission called the "roaming rip-off". Operators were said to be making excessive profits by charging more than triple the normal rate for calls made while in another EU country, and up to five times for calls received.Today the gap between domestic and "roaming" call charges has fallen by about 75% compared with 2007. Now, after talks between MEPs, EU governments and the commission, final agreement is expected in May from the European parliament and member countries for further cuts from July.The move is the culmination of a lengthy struggle between Brussels and mobile carriers, who say they will have to raise prices for other services. Cross-border charges are reckoned to generate up to 5% of revenues.Some carriers welcomed the move. A spokesman for Three said: "This move by EU policymakers is great news for consumers and will help end the gulf that exists between what people pay at home and what they pay when they are abroad in Europe."But Everything Everywhere, which in the UK owns Orange and T-Mobile, said: "We are disappointed ? as we feel competition, not the continued use of price caps, is the most effective way to bring down, and keep down, international roaming pricing. Data roaming prices have dropped by 78% over the last three years, and this was achieved without a regulatory framework in place."The international roaming market is only in the early stages of development, and regulation of retail roaming prices will result in lack of competition from new entrants. In addition, the regulation may well lead to the scaling back of essential investment in UK mobile networks."From 2014, customers will be able to sign up for different carriers in different countries while retaining the same phone number.The EU commissioner for the digital agenda, Neelie Kroes, who took on the sector when calls for voluntary reductions were considered insufficient, said: "Consumers are fed up with being ripped off by high roaming charges."The new roaming deal gives us a long-term structural solution, with lower prices, more choice and a new smart approach for data and internet browsing. The benefits will be felt in time for the summer break ? and by summer 2014, people can shop around for the best deal."Kroes voiced frustration earlier in the year that all operators are sticking to the high end of the call charges ceilings, in effect blocking wider competition that should drive down prices even further.From July, consumers travelling in another EU country will pay no more than: ? ?0.29 (24p) a minute to make a mobile call;? ?0.08 to receive a call;? ?0.09 to send a text message;? ?0.70 per megabyte to download data or browse the internet while travelling abroad, charged per kilobyte used.A commission statement said: "These regulated price caps will progressively go down so that by 1 July 2014, roaming consumers will be paying no more than 19 cents per minute to make a call, a maximum 5 cents per minute to receive a call, maximum 6 cents to send a text message and maximum 20 cents per megabyte to download data or browse the internet whilst travelling abroad".The Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, Giles Chichester, who took part in overnight negotiations with EU officials said he hoped the charges shake-up would encourage the mobile industry to introduce more competition: "It is outrageous that consumers are still paying exorbitant prices when using their phone abroad. Many are still scared to use their phone for simple pleasures like checking websites or using phone apps."He said soon mobile users would be able to sign up to one company for domestic calls and another for calls and downloads while abroad, all using the same mobile, as a further boost to competition. "Mobile roaming charges are being forced down but it regrettable that it always requires EU legislation, rather than action from the industry itself."Mobile phone companies will now have to compete for roaming customers like they already compete for domestic customers. With the costs of just about everything going up, this is a rare piece of good news for consumers this summer."Fiona Hall, leader of the Liberal Democrat MEPs, said: "This is another important step towards ending rip off charges for mobile phone usage abroad. These new rates will apply just in time for families heading off for their summer holidays."Mobile phonesTelecomsSmartphonesEuropean UnionEuropean UnionEuropeTelecommunications industryEverything EverywhereOrangeT-MobileCharles Arthurguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

hiking hiking holidays Finland hiking holidays Kuusamo hiking

Country diary: Lanteglos, Cornwall: A spring stroll along the coastal path from Lantic Bay

Lanteglos, Cornwall: Streaks of silver gleam across the sea and, beneath vertiginous cliffs, waves and turquoise water lap the deserted beach of pale sand with its strand-lines of seaweedThe coconut scent of gorse wafts up the cliffs and skylarks are singing above steep pastures overlooking Lantic Bay. Streaks of silver gleam across the sea and, beneath vertiginous cliffs, waves and turquoise water lap the deserted beach of pale sand with its strand-lines of seaweed. Violets and stitchwort flower beside the coastal path. Towards the shelter of the headland opposite Pencarrow, stunted ash trees lean landward, surrounded by leafy elderflower bushes, blackthorn in blossom and patches of stinking iris plants.Unseen warblers burble within a prickly thicket of yellow gorse and the Gribbin, Dodman and Cornish alps ? china clay country ? come into view, shadowy against the afternoon sun. Near Polruan, lime-green umbels of alexander flourish around St Saviour's Point, beneath the coastguard lookout and on the rocky promontory of the blockhouse (which guarded the narrow entrance to Fowey harbour in the 15th century). Yellow mooring buoys and vacant holiday lets await visitors at Easter, though some houses are scaffolded and still being refurbished.The incoming tide ripples the glassy green water of the estuary and floods up Pont Pill. Primroses edge the muddy way on the southern side of this winding creek, and next month the wooded slopes will be awash with bluebells. The sound of wind in tree tops has replaced the swish of waves, although the sea is only half a mile away across the intervening ridge. Gaps in the trees allow glimpses of narrow stretches of blue-green water below the lichen-covered woodland opposite. Sailing barges used to come up-channel on rising tides bringing coal, fertiliser and limestone inland to this rural parish, and loading agricultural produce back downstream. At the head of the navigable creek, the expanse of glittering high water is already ebbing, leaving shoals of bladderwrack. Near a derelict lime kiln, nailed to the wall of a holiday cottage, are displayed the dues from 1894 for carting goods across then busy quays. Timber was charged at 3d a load, grain 1d per quarter and manures 3d per ton.CornwallRural affairsCoastlinesVirginia Spiersguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Kuusamo hiking holidays Ruka Kuusamo Lapland

Matsuri Restaurant and Hiro Ballroom give people a chance to own a piece of New York City history

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Luxury TravelFor those who have enjoyed delicious steak and seafood dishes at Matsuri, or late night dancing in the Hiro Ballroom, there's sad news. These two popular New York venues in the Maritime Hotel, which have hosted guests like Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Karl Lagerfeld, are set to close their doors for good. Luckily, the owners have decided to give people the chance to take home a piece of the Big Apple's hospitality history.

A live auction, as well as several previews, will be facilitated by Michael Amodeo & Co. Participants will have the chance to bid on items such as flatware, original artwork, walnut flooring, and giant handmade Japanese lanterns. Even the men's urinals, which were also handmade in Japan, are being auctioned off. The event dates are as follows:


Monday, April 2, 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Preview

Tuesday, April 3, 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Preview

Wednesday, April 4, 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Preview

Wednesday, April 4, 2:00 p.m.- all items sold. Auction

While smaller items can be purchased and brought home the day of the auction, larger items must be brought home by Thursday, April 5. The Maritime Hotel is located at 363 West 16th Street, off 9th Avenue.Matsuri Restaurant and Hiro Ballroom give people a chance to own a piece of New York City history originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

hiking holidays Finland hiking holidays Kuusamo hiking Kuusamo hiking holidays

Amsterdam's street dandies

Which are the coolest places to shop, drink and people-watch in Amsterdam? The founders and creative team of clothing label OntFront let us in on their secret hauntsThis blogpost first appeared on the Amsterdam Magazine blogTomas Overtoom and Liza Koifman are the founders and creative team of clothing label OntFront (ontfront.com).How would you characterise your style? We put together this concept with hip-hop in our minds. When we started five and a half years ago, the things you could buy in stores were t-shirts and jeans or business suits. We decided to launch items for men that are exactly in between casual streetwear and more tailored, quality garments.In terms of fashion, what stores or brands really stand out? Of course Patta shoes are what Amsterdam is famous for. Filling Pieces, which we have in our store, is an Amsterdam shoe brand that does really well. Tenue de N�mes on Elandsgracht has Japanese denim and denim-inspired looks. They're young and really good at what they do. In the south, there's 1, which takes the purity and practicality of the heritage style and makes it fresh. They have classic English hunting jackets, which are bought by kids who listen to hip-hop.Where can you go to hear new music? Normally we go to the Sugar Factory, Bitterzoet, Studio 80, Club Up, and places like that. Chicago Social Club is a new club night held in Boom Chicago. In terms of music, it's similar to Bitterzoet. It has everything from new soul to experimental, so the feel of it really depends on the line-up. For hip-hop, Cafe Struik on Rozengracht also has nice music playing. It's a small cafe that kind of resembles Cafe De Duivel [ed: now closed], which was more hardcore, but this is more soft and easy-going.Where do you go to grab a good drink? Door 74 is an intimate a cocktail bar. It has a living-room atmosphere with private tables. The girls who work there are amazing mixologists. Vesper is another bar that's really good with cocktails. It can get quite crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. Go when it's not too busy, because they don't have many places to sit.Any places for fashionable people-watching in Amsterdam? The thing about Amsterdam is that it's small, so every subculture mixes together here. You've got Toko MC at the MC Theatre. It's a restaurant but they also do some club nights. Their food is fusion Surinamese that's much more refined than anything you can get from a take-away place. The theatre does a lot of multicultural exhibitions and performances with artists from Suriname or Aruba. On Monday mornings you can go to Noordermarkt. You can have coffee on the square and watch the people. It's a vintage market, so everyone that comes there is usually well-dressed or creative.Where do you go to find artistic inspiration in Amsterdam? Usually we go to openings, not to big galleries or museums. There's a really cool shop called Precinct Five, run by a DJ called Mr. Wix. It's in an old police station across from the flower market. We also go to Foam a lot for photography.AmsterdamNetherlandsguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Finland Lapland holidays Lapland skiing holidays Travel

7 incredible videos from space

Groundbreaking footage of space travel from 1946 to the present.

Ruka ski holidays Finland Lapland holidays Lapland skiing holidays