Escaping The Blizzard In Verbier, Off On The Train To Milan

Quadrilatero della Moda

photograph by Susanne Childs

Of course, the first we know about Milan, it's a  fashion enthusiast and shopaholic's paradise.  In the Quadrilatero della Moda (rectangular grid style area for high end fashion shopping)  every big Italian name brand has at least one store; for example, Prada has six in the area. Even the seemingly indifferent shopper may succumb after being unable to avoid that Prada handbag or coat! Browsing in itself is pleasurable and good exercise, we achieved over 14,000 steps in one day!

There are numerous wonderful dining places as well.  We ate in Bice in Via Borgopesso,12 (near the Versace store) which was wonderful.  Service and food in most well known establishments are very good, even if the portion size can be intimidating, specially with multiple courses. Of course, one has to tuck into the old favourites, Osso Bucco (slow cooked cross cut veal shank) and Risotto Milanese (cooked with bone marrow, wine, parmesan and saffron). Don't miss the Cotoletta alla Milanese, which is basically a Wiener Schnitzel cooked bone in and cooked in clarified butter. But you shouldn't have a big starter or you'll have to share it with someone else.

Cotoletta alla Milanese

There is also the Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone which is just off the main drag (Via Montenapoleone) on a side street where Valentino is.  It's a beautiful restaurant in a wonderful setting and the food, too, is lovely.  

Salumaio de Montenapoleone

If you fancy a drink in a great bar, look no further than Bar Martini.  Beautiful layout, wonderful snacks (gratis in bars) and of course, delicious cocktails. It's very hip.

We also tried the Armani hotel Bamboo bar which has a Campari menu but still consider the Martini bar a much more pleasurable experience.

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Armani hotel Bamboo Bar campari with snacks

After a most enjoyable 48 hours in Milan with my friend Susanne, it's back to Verbier and more snow! By the way, if taking the train from Milan to Verbier, be careful that you are on the right train when you switch.  I took a local by mistake (saying Martigny, as well, my connection location) and spent another couple of hours waiting for the next train since I arrived later than expected. Thank God for BBC Iplayer.