Showing posts with label Café. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Café. Show all posts

Friday, August 8, 2014

Pardo Way - another way to enjoy the Locarno Film Festival

Pardo Way is a selection of top bars and nightspots in town, the optimal itinerary to recharge your batteries between the screenings. During the Festival (6-16 August) this exclusive group of venues offers a series of gastronomic and entertaining initiatives linked to the Festival’s culture. Starting from breakfast, snacks, lunch and aperitif, Pardo Way goes on with thematic tastings, shows, concerts and nightlife that are going to amuse our festivalgoers and keep them busy. It’s been a few years since the Pardo Way label has became a synonym of quality of service, originality of entertainment, extended closing times and Festival spirit. This long-term success brought the initiative to grow and welcome three new members for the 2014 edition. Starting from the very heart of the Festival, Piazza Grande, and getting to Ascona, the members of Pardo Way keep their commitment to give sparkle and taste to the Locarno area.

The typical day of the early bird among the festivalgoers starts at the feet of the Sant’Antonio church, at the Tea Room e Pasticceria Marnin. This enchanting spot, one of the three new entries of this year, welcomes the more courageous of our visitors, starting from 5AM, for a delicious breakfast.

By continuing on the via Borghese, you will reach the Caffè al Borgo. This suggestive café litteraire in the heart of the old town, is characterized by its idyllic courtyard and its furniture that smells of ancient times: here one can read its way through several international newspapers, before starting the day with the first screenings.

If you set out to the Piazza Grande, pulsing heart of our Festival, you will get to the Fashion 2Shé, charming venue known for its music and delicious cocktails to help our guests start their nights after the screenings. This bar also turns out to be an ideal stop for a quick lunch, between one movie and another. From 6AM to 1AM, Fashion 2Shé benefits from an always-open kitchen.

For a more relaxing atmosphere, on the opposite side of the Piazza, under the walls of the mythical Rivellino, you will find the Rivellino Garden. In its idyllic courtyard behind Pardo Bar, besides a refreshing moment, one can enjoy excellent drinks along with some delicious snacks.

In the early afternoon hours, behind the Spazio Cinema (Forum), our festivalgoers can enjoy some calm moments in the enchanting lounge inspired by the exotic Orient, the Oasi Casablanca. Between its colors, scents, ethnic flavors and relaxing sounds, this venue offers refreshment to the tireless traveler of film.

After the afternoon screenings, it is time to head back to the Piazza Grande, which is slowly welcoming the first spectators. Not very far from here, Caffè Bartolomeo offers refreshing cocktails, ice creams and snacks, whereas for lunch, daily menus delight the hungry visitors.

When evening takes over, the stomachs of the festivalgoers start to grumble: before rushing to Piazza Grande, it is time for a nice dinner. Happy Carrot Project, is a meeting point with an ethnic, natural and creative flavor. Starting from 6PM, in the magnificent setting of the Piazza St. Antonio, it offers homemade cuisine and local products for sensitive appetites.

The visitors that long for more genuine and ordinary flavors, are welcomed at Negromante. This charming and relaxed atmosphere, just a few steps from Piazza St. Antonio, will enchant you with its rustic kitchen, that mixes both American and local flavors and traditions, and with its authentic Ticino charme.

Continuing your journey through the old town, you may stop at the Bistrot Teatro Paravento. From 6PM onwards, this charming spot welcomes you in a special atmosphere where you can taste natural food and good drinks, accompanied by exquisite music and live performances. This year they also present two exclusive art shows, as well as a selection of independent short films.

At 9.30 PM the lights in the Piazza Grande slowly fade out, and silence overwhelms the main square of our town. It is time to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of this main venue, while allowing oneself to be carried away into the fantasyland that is film.

After the screening in Piazza Grande, the festivalgoer can relax in the Cinebar Swisscom, film lounge in Largo Zorzi, right behind the big screen. Here you can enjoy refreshing summer drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. Entertainment is assured by live concerts and shows.

More live shows continue at the nearby Bar Magnolia @ Spazio RSI, where live radio shows and music programs will delight your evening.

The Locarno hub, La Rotonda del Festival, maintains its usual strength and attraction points: from 6 PM to 3 AM it is lightened by lights, music, ethnic flavors and entertainment, offering our festivalgoers four main Areas of fun: Area Villaggio (food, beverage and market), Area 621 (where the nightlife of Locarno starts), Area Lounge Garden (for a more sophisticated atmosphere), and Area bambini (where fun is guaranteed also for the little ones).

The Pardo Way and its nightlife do not stop in Locarno: thanks to the free shuttle bus you can enjoy your nights in Ascona as well. The Lido Patriziale di Ascona, located on the lakeside, offers a modern atmosphere, DJ sets, cocktails and parties until 3AM.

The last stop of Pardo Way is the Club Seventy7, a nightclub open until 5 AM, on the main Piazza of Ascona, which welcomes party people with great music and special guests. All the Pardo Way venues 2014 are indicated on the Festival official map and have an official sign at the entrance.


Good luck and enjoy!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Lugano's fresh produce market

"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables.  They probably get jet-lagged, just like people."  Elizabeth Berry

This morning I took myself off to the fresh food market. The Lugano market offers the typical food products of small farmers that sell their goods directly. Bio fruits and vegetables, free range eggs, home cured meats and fresh parmeggiano cheese all at my finger tips. The market takes place in the city centre every Tuesday and Friday from 8 to 12 am. Go have a look for yourself and get inspired! Stop to have a cappuccino at Comis Caffé or Bar Divino and ....ENJOY YOUR MORNING!!!!!


Bio (organic) fruits & vegetables


Ideas for my herb garden


I'll have a bit of each, please!


A serious piece of Parmeggiano...


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sisterhood of the Macaron


Legend has it that two Benedictine nuns, Sister Marguerite and Sister Marie-Elisabeth sought asylum in the town of Nancy during the French Revolution. They paid for their housing by baking and selling macaron cookies and thus became know as the Macaron Sisters.

This post is dedicated to all my girlfriends who absolutely adore Ladurée macarons.

Like so many bloggers before me I could not resist to write a post about the lovely French Macaron. When in Paris you cannot miss a visit to the Ladurée shop for a cup of tea and a taste of their ever so famous macarons. Beware of Pierre Hermé who's macarons also look divine and taste amazing. Hermé's window display is even more spectacular than Ladurées.


But since I claim Switzerland to be my home, I must insist that the prize for best macarons goes to Sprüngli in Zürich. Their "Luxemburgerli" are a delicacy that resemble the macarons but are a wee bit smaller, just like a little sister of the macaron. These mini-macaroons with their delicious fillings have become not just a symbol of Confiserie Sprüngli, but also an emblem for Zurich as such.

The success of the Luxemburgerli began more than 50 years ago. At the end of 1950s a young pastry chef from Luxembourg, with whose employer the Sprüngli family were friendly, was spending some time in Zurich learning his trade. Here he began to produce the speciality of his Luxembourg master confectioner, and because no-one could come up with a name for the new product, this airy delicacy was simply named the "Luxemburgerli" after its country of origin. As Luxemburgerlis became more and more popular the Sprüngli pastry chefs in Zurich made it their ambition to improve and refine the little macaroons.

Nowadays there are more than 30 different kinds of Luxemburgerli, and every month Confiserie Sprüngli creates a new taste experience for its Luxemburgerli connoisseurs. You can find macaroons almost anywhere – but for Luxemburgerlis you have to go to Sprüngli!

My favourite one? Champagne , of course!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

X-mas shopping in Lugano

After a though morning chasing X-mas gifts there are 3 places where I love to refill my tired batteries. All 3 are a must if you live in Lugano. I’ve added their websites to my link list.
Gran Café al Porto in Via Nassa
Bar Gabbani in Via Pessina
Tea room Vanini in Piazza Riforma


View onto the lake of Lugano 

Christmas tree in Piazza Riforma

Christmas market down town

Chocolate X-mas tree by Grand Café al Porto

Gingerbread house by Münger

Delicatessenstore Gabbani

The one and only department store in Lugano
World famous MANOR


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