Written by Alexandria Hilton
December means something different to each of us.
I’ll argue, though, that to us all the month brings a season of abundance in full swing. In many of our favorite wide-open and wild places south of the equator, rains signal that summer has properly arrived and is here to stay; an abundance of greens and new species come with December. Many of us will take this one month out of the year to soften into the idea that abundance and excess are inevitable; some of us may feel compelled to create abundance for others, using our resources to be generous and create unforgettable holiday memories.
Here in the ATI office, abundance flows in the form of deep experiential knowledge; any time I get the chance to be in the same room as or even just interact in the group chat with all of the experts that make up this team, I am struck by our collective understanding of the world of luxury travel.
This week, I asked the team to reach deep into their abundant arsenal of knowledge for their favorite restaurants and most memorable dining experiences, knowing that December for me means an abundance of yummy food! Many publications have Spain taking the cake this year as the country with the highest number of highest-ranking restaurants but our hearts (stomachs?) are still stood firmly across the Mediterranean; if you’re wondering what to get the entire office for Christmas, proper Italian food is a safe bet!
*We list the following in no particular order. We love them all dearly.*
1. Lori Ann’s Pick: Taverna Trilussa
For herbivores, life as a traveler can be difficult. Being on the road requires all sorts of flexibility; picky eaters and vegetarians as well as folks with specific medical and dietary requirements may actively avoid traveling because of the ways it will surely throw their routines and shock their nervous systems. At this Roman Taverna, vegetarians need not feel limited in the slightest. Leave it to these professionals to use some salt and pepper to land themselves in our top ten! There is that truism about doing ‘simple’ well…
Find Taverna Trilussa in Rome’s lively Trastevere area and order the Cacio e Pepe. Lori Ann claims it is the best she has ever had!
Image Courtesy of https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/cape-town/dining/nobu
2. Jolene’s Pick: Nobu at One&Only Cape Town
Making another appearance here on the blog is the One and Only Cape Town, a shock to none, I’m sure! This time, though, we are greeting the team at the grand entrance, pausing for dramatic effect just before the first set of lobby steps, gazing past the bar and through the floor-to-ceiling windows out at Table Mountain; we’re skipping the Cap Classique this time (see our Best Bars entry for more on that glass) and trading it in for a carafe of sake. For good reason, there are more than 50 Nobu restaurants in the world and the company has made their way into the luxury hotel market. The quality is consistent, the atmosphere is epic and (Jolene may even agree) the wagyu is worth it.
Find it inside the One and Only Hotel in Cape Town and order the tasting menu. (Going with a group is my favorite cheat code to trying as many menu items as possible if the tasting menu isn’t your style)
Image Courtesy of https://tswalu.com/a-tour-of-klein-jans-root-cellar/
3. Isabelle’s Pick: Klein Jan
Klein Jan at Tswalu is high on the list for the lucky few in the office who have had the chance to experience it. South Africa’s first Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrick van der Westhuizen started this project in 2021 as an artistic act. Having earned the prestigious “International Hidden Gem” award among many others, the venue and service are unable to be adequately represented by words on a screen, to a greater extent than many others as a simple fact of its culinary ingenuity. The team prepares and serves authentic South African cuisine and elevates the concept of “farm-to-table” tremendously.
Find it somewhere out in the Kalahari and eat whatever they put in front of you.
Isabelle also recommends you check out Reverie Social Table in Cape Town.
Image Courtesy of https://www.kimosmaui.com/hula-pie/
4. Michelle’s Pick: Kimo’s
Evidently fond of a table with a view of the sea, Michelle’s most memorable meal has taken us to the islands. 46 years ago, her husband proposed at a table on the railing at a restaurant called Kimo’s. Kimo’s claims to be famous for something called Hula Pie and I forgot to ask Michelle about this one but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a celebratory slice or two shared that night. A casual spot beloved by locals and travelers alike, Kimo’s suffered great damages in the Maui fires of 2023 and has not yet reopened for business but plans to do so next year.
Find it on Hawaii’s Maui (next year) and ask about Legacy of Aloha and their rebuilding efforts!
Image Courtesy of https://www.theleela.com/the-leela-palace-new-delhi
5. Alexis’ Pick: Cafe at the Leela Palace
Is it true what they say about the most important meal of the day? Passionate about good ingredients and her morning brew, Alexis’ pick is takes us somewhere altogether new! We’re heading to India. After just one breakfast at the Leela Palace, she has some choice words for the chai at the local café here in Florida. “Chai” is the Hindi word for “tea” and is used to describe a traditional spiced black tea beverage ground with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and black peppercorns and if you think you are just “more of a coffee person,” we suggest you reserve any further comments on the subject until you try this cuppa.
Find it at the Leela Palace, New Delhi and order the chai, obviously!
6. Molly’s Pick: L’Olivo
Molly’s first choice is at home where her personal chef (talented husband) can throw on an apron and toss fresh pasta in a wheel of Parmesan, laid on its side and hollowed out like a big, sticky bowl. Second to that is the Michelin star restaurant at Capri Palace called L’Olivo. It’s no secret that “choice” and “luxury” are almost synonymous; this restaurant offers a mineral water menu “that was about 20 pages long.” Overall, it was the attention to detail; the stool just for her handbag, the attentive sommelier, and the unexpected gifts seamlessly tucked in and around the experience; that made this dinner more of a journey for Molly than a meal.
Image Courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/kebabgy1985/?hl=en
7. Mal’s Pick: El Kababgy
If you know Mal personally, you probably know how much she likes chicken! She nominated El Kababgy in Cairo to the list, insisting that I include the following quote: “best damn chicken in the world.” I’m not sure much else needs to be said… This restaurant seems to be so off-radar that we couldn’t find a picture on the internet! All the more reason to go see for yourself, right?!
Jolene would like to add here that the Four Seasons Nile Plaza has the best homemade falafels in the world.
There are quite a lot of big claims coming from this crew… would anyone like to volunteer as fact-checker?
Image Courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/p/CzefQUvL8Ex/
8. Katie’s Pick: Le Grottelle
You knew we couldn’t stay away from Italy for too long… Katie’s favorite restaurant in the world is Le Grottelle, an establishment ripe with opportunity to sit for a midday meal that somehow turns to dinner that somehow turns to a nightcap under a bright moon. What’s not to love about a long lunch? It’s hard not to linger when the view is this good. Plan to order one of everything and budget to order an extra portion (or two) of grilled seafood as you overlook the sea.
Find it on the island of Capri and whatever you do, do not skip the Caprese!
9. Alex’s Pick: Focaccia in Aix-en-Provence
One of my favorite dinner-table-conversation-starters goes something like this: “so… what is your death-row meal?” Just something to keep the mood light and easy breezy! You know?! And you didn’t ask but my answer to that question doubles as my answer to this one. In 2023, I tagged along on an ATI trip to France and found myself at a stranger’s sweet country cottage, drooling over freshly baked focaccia. The house just a drive from Aix-en-Provence with a Matisse hung high on the wall, the setting sprung straight from my Pinterest board. The recipe was handwritten. The sun was high. And the smell? If I couldn’t have the corner piece (or two) fresh out of the oven as my last meal, the scent alone would suffice.
You might get close but you’ll never get it exactly right. Maybe it’s worth a shot! And Aix-en-Provence is absolutely worth the trip!
Image Courtesy of https://lamuccaballerina.com/pizza-pasta/
10. Something Local!
For any Sarasotans on the hunt for a tough reservation, La Mucca Ballerina is a new favorite of mine. Because we had to include something close to home and since it’s apparently impossible to talk restaurants without talking pasta, pizza, and parmesan, I’d like to nominate my new favorite Italian spot in town! I celebrated my birthday one week late with two dear friends of mine; we cleaned our bowls spotless and delighted in the surprise Tiramisu as we closed up shop, badgering our server with questions (as he probably just wished we would finish our wine and leave already!) about what it could have possibly been like to move from Rome to Sarasota.
Find it on Main and order the cacio e pepe! Remember what I said about doing ‘simple’ well?
Happy Holidays! We hope you are sinking deep into all the abundance this season brings. And now that you have an abundance of inspiration, send us your favorite restaurant in the world! Why is it so special? How far away is it? Is there a restaurant worth the plane ticket?
Ask about an invite to our Beli, a platform we are using to compile a list of the world’s best restaurants.
