An amazing guy in Florence. Oh, the pipe!

(By the Sartorialist.)

The beach isn't the only thing heating up sunny Southern California this July. Angelenos and those of us lucky enough to visit L.A. can now enjoy the full, orange-croc experience from Ital-celeb-chef Mario Batali. Osteria Mozza, from the Batali, Nancy Silverton, Joseph Bastianich team behind Pizza Mozza, opened on Melrose Place July 13th. The sleek interior is similar to the pizzeria but centers around a mozzarella bar where Silverton herself prepares fresh dishes. The rest of the menu includes pasta, salumi and seafood. Verdict on the food is still pending, but given the capable restaurateurs behind this venture, we're sure they'll deliver.

For reservations call 323-297-0100.
(Photos courtesy of la.eater.com)

There's a new generation of amazing winemakers in Italy--and they happen to be women. These rising stars on the Italian wine scene are producing some of the best wines today. Italian Wine Merchants in Manhattan is hosting a tasting event this Saturday, July 21st, from 1 to 3 PM. Guests will taste six Italian wines from leading female winemakers, along with regional food pairings. $50/person. Reserve a spot here or call 212-473-2323 x106.

This summer, we will be drinking Lambrusco, the sparkling, fruity red wine from Emilia-Romagna. Frowned upon by traditional wine snobs (since the version made popular in the 1970's was syrupy and mass produced), Lambrusco has yet to enjoy traditional fame. Nevertheless, we think today's much-improved Lambrusco is the most refreshing drink around. Toby Cecchin and Eric Asimov from the New York Times agree. Salut!

Need a boost to get you through the sweaty summer days? Chef Scott Conant (of the three-star L'Impero and acclaimed Alto) has a solution in his new cookbook. Bold Italian focuses on simple Italian dishes with an American flair. The salads, pastas and entrees are solid basics (such as Ricotta Raviolini with Anchovy Butter and Zucchini) that focus on showcasing quality ingredients. He even includes a recipe for Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil--basic, yes, but according to Conant it's less than ideal if made incorrectly. And our mouths were watering when we saw the recipe for Rocher (Crispy Chocolate Bites). Yum. We love Conant's hands-on approach to everyday Italian cooking.

After studying under master glassblower Pino Signoretto in Venice, designer Caleb Siemon opened his own studio in southern California. We're so glad he did. The lovely blue swirls in his summer 2007 collection remind us of Venetian canals.

On this very American holiday, a photo from a very Italian photographer, the legendary Massimo Vitali.

Drew Barrymore has just been named the new face of Gucci jewelry. We loved ET and , so we support the choice of Ms. Barrymore (despite the fact the only Italian thing about her is an ex-boyfriend). And, while we're on the subject of jewelry, how much do you love this Gucci ring?

Is New York ready for another Italian restaurant? For us at bene the answer is simple. Of course! Gemma, the next-to-impossible-to-reserve Italian restaurant just opened quietly--i.e. unannounced to the public--in the new Bowery Hotel. Taavo Somer's (of Freeman's fame) interior is a lofty, high-ceiling take on the Italian farmhouse. The breezy space is a welcome change from the overcrowded eateries typical of Manhattan. We're sure the food will match up to the surroundings, but we're excited to find out in person.
(Photo by Joseph De Leo for bene)

He goes by the name Scott Schuman on earth, but he's the "The Sartorialist," in cyberspace. Since September 2005, the veteran fashion photographer has used his sharp eye to spot well-dressed people in Florence, New York, Paris, Milan and other fashion-forward cities. Luckily for us, he posts his photos on his blog. Our favorites, of course, are the inspiring dressers of Milan and Florence.

It's official. June 21st was the first day of summer, and we want to celebrate with seasonal beauty products. Our favorite place to turn is Santa Maria Novella, the legendary Italian brand founded in Florence. Their Weekend Travel Soaps are small enough to stuff in a suitcase but last longer than ordinary soaps. Plus, they're aged for sixty days in ventilated cabinets in the old-fashioned way. What a great host gift for weekends away with friends.

What strikes us most about this commercial for Parmigiano-Reggiano is not the infectious jingle, the actors clad in full-body vegetable suits or Fred-Astaire-esque choreography. It's the fact that at the very least, a ROOM full of professionals thought that this commercial would sell cheese.

We don't know if the grass actually is greener on the other side, but now we can find out. Homeexchange.com connects a huge network of homeowners who can literally swap their houses during their vacations. Italy is the site's "Top Pick," offering thousands of coastal palazzos and historic apartments to card carrying exchangers. One hundred dollars a year and a willingness to offer your own home to fellow members is all you need, and the world is yours. (The home pictured here is on Lake Como and can sleep 8. Not bad!)

Here at bene, we agree that size matters...the smaller, the better. For some reason, miniature versions of ANYTHING are just more fun, including computers (blackberries), iPods (nanos) and humans (babies). The new Wine Whisk is no exception, allowing on-the-go wine enthusiasts to enjoy aerated wine without waiting for it to "breathe" in a decanter. Just give your glass a whisk, and enjoy the flavor the way it's meant to be.

Italian men are well known for hyper-aggressive flirting and oft-unsightly banana-hammock swimming trunks. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Italian women now have the option of visiting the country's first all-female beach this summer. The testosterone-free hideaway on the Adriatic coast promises less groping, less disco music and even a lighter, more health-conscious lunch menu.

We love this pendant lamp from Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani. Available in orange, red, blue and white, the lamp's shade reduces glare and appears slightly iridescent when lit. Personally, we think it would go perfectly in the middle of the bene office (hint, hint, bene bosses)--just enough color to lift our moods when we are feeling the pressures of approaching deadlines.

This past Sunday, a 22-year-old American tourist thought he'd show off his physique, taking a late night skinny-dip in the 17th-century Baroque fountain at the foot of Rome's Spanish Steps in front a group of red-faced tourists. Shortly afterwards, he was led away by the police. What can we say, sometimes a man's just gotta swim.

A fight is a-brewin' in the kitchens of Italy, as chefs debate the legitimacy of garlic in Italian cuisine. While many argue that garlic serves as the cornerstone of their national fare, a growing number of chefs claim that garlic is nothing more than an onion's ugly (and olfactorily offensive) cousin. For example, Sicilian chef Filippo La Mantia says garlic overwhelms delicate flavors; he is one of many supporters of a campaign to make Italian food garlic-free. As journalists, we choose to remain neutral and objective on the subject. That being said, without the delicious vegetable, garlic bread would be reduced to, well, bread. Bummer.

Ever wondered where the word "brutal" comes from? Well, it's your lucky day. Start with the ancient tale of Julius Caesar's assassination: Back in 44 B.C., enabled by his growing power in the Roman senate, Julius Caesar appointed himself Dictator for Life, spawning a conspiracy again him. Brutus, one of Caesar's most trusted friends and allies, whom Caesar had mercifully spared after a previous insurrection, was party to the conspiracy and subsequent assassination, a betrayal which would go down in infamy. It is from Brutus's notorious reputation that we get the adjective "brutal," which means "wicked, cruel and vile."

We can't get enough of the sights and sounds of Italy--but what about the smells? The new perfume Bois d'Ete features fresh bergamot peel from Italy. Its concentrated solid form (versus a spray) helps the aroma last from your breakfast cup of espresso to your late-night glass of Chianti. Don't be surprised if everyone at the bene office smells like bergamot this summer.

When packing a picnic, we know our readers wouldn't trade buffalo mozzarella for string cheese simply because they dine al fresco. So why would you compromise on utensils? The always innovative Pandora Design brings you a plastic set modeled after fine silverware, adorned with a floral motif reminiscent of nineteenth century Italian cutlery. Classy.

This week's Time Magazine features a Q&A with legendary actor Al Pacino in which he sounds off on how the media portrays Italian-Americans. Kind of.

Says Pacino: "Explain to me what Italian-American culture is. We've been here 100 years. Isn't Italian-American culture American culture? That's because we're so diverse, in terms of intermarriage. Most everybody who's Italian is half Italian. Except me. I'm all Italian. I'm mostly Sicilian, and I have a little bit of Neapolitan in me. You get your full dose with me."

First of all, um, what? Secondly, here at bene, we take exception to the idea that centuries of rich Italian culture have been lost over a few generations of breeding in the New World. Apparently, Mr. Pacino has taken some liberties with the old melting pot concept. Harumph.

When it comes to cooking, most Italians will agree on the importance of starting early. Luckily, the website Spatulatta features two young, Italian sisters in instructional cooking videos designed for kids. Liv and Belle Gerasole, 9 and 11 respectively, teach viewers how to chop onions and shred cheese, as well as the ins and outs of family recipes, such as Grandma Patti's Bruschetta and tortellini with peppers.

In the United States, our lawmakers tend to employ the time-honored tradition of throwing money at a problem. Italian senators Rocco Buttiglione and Albertina Soliani, in a lovely Italian twist, want to throw ice cream at the problem. The senators argue that serving gelato in the cafeteria would improve overall quality of life and lead to a more efficient senate. Brilliant!

(via Slashfood)

This summer, we want to help our valued readers avoid the painful blisters, obnoxious clicking and inevitable breaking of the traditional flip flop. The fine folks at Premiata shoes have created a stylish plastic Italian version that will not self-destruct and leave you hopping on one foot down a hot-tar beach-access road. The square toe invokes a far-east flavor, and a suspended, perforated sole lends the comfort of an athletic shoe. View the whole line here.
(via Cool Hunting)

Leave it to the Italians to bring the kitchen into the bathroom--the Al Dente shower head is inspired by a colander. Designed by Mattia Vitori, Davide Bordin and Nicola Gibertini, the shower head diffuses water that streams through a steel spout. Not to be missed if you love high-end Italian design or are a shower-loving water baby, like us. Available at Moss for $370.

To accompany your fair-trade coffee and organic strawberries, you can now order an environmentally-friendly pizza. The Fort Lauderdale-based franchise Pizza Fusion, which launched this year, serves 98 percent organic pizza, focaccia sandwiches and desserts. The restaurant's green approach doesn't stop with its menu: It sends its staff's organic cotton uniforms to eco-friendly cleaners, and gives discounts when customers bring back pizza boxes to recycle them. Pizza Fusion is currently based in Florida, but with twenty stores planned to open this year, expect to see hybrid delivery cars hitting your local streets soon.

(Photo by Jon Sullivan)

Interior designer David Hecht's fascination with Italian fabrics began during a year-long stay in Milan during the 70's. While working as an interior designer at Abitare, he maintained contacts in Italy and finally decided to bring his love of Italian fabrics to the public: Today, his furniture collection combines one-of-a-kind vintage Italian fabrics with American shapes. For example, the blue and red rose fabric on this ottoman was given to Hecht by Gianni Versace himself. To purchase and for more information, contact Hecht at 718-784-0958.

Elizabeth Gilbert's latest book Eat, Pray, Love should be stuffed into your beach bag immediately. In her memoir, the author recounts her journey, after a divorce, to explore her life and spirituality in three countries--the three "I's" as she puts it--Italy, India and Indonesia. The first third follows Gilbert on her travels through Italy and, mamma mia, it's a delight. Ready to fall in love with the country, she settles in Rome and embraces the food, language and local people. Through Gilbert's vivid prose, you can almost smell the vegetable gardens and taste those rich Roman meals. And trust us, when you get to her travels in Naples, her description of the Pizzeria da Michele will make you want to pack your bags and drive to the airport as fast as you can.

No one likes traveling to a foreign country only to stand out among the masses as an obvious tourist. While language tapes can teach basic vocabulary and grammer, we'd rather learn the slang that native Italians actually use. On this helpful site, travelers can find mild idioms and colloquialisms. For more daring types, the website also offers translations for phrases such as "idiot" (scemo), "Gross!" (Che schifo!) and "I don't give a damn!" (Non me ne frega niente!). And to recover from a butchered Italian sentence, the phrase Ho detto una cazzata ("I said something stupid") will impress your eyerolling companions.

(Photo by Brooks Dierdorff)

One of NYC's most beloved home decor shops has opened a new location: smack in the middle of the web. Since 2006, the Brooklyn store Abitare - the name translates to "to live in" - has been the place to go for home accessories that are equal parts form and function. Problem was, until now, you had to trek to Brooklyn Heights to sample the wares. Not anymore. This month, Abitare launched its much-anticipated website, featuring a rotating selection of its products, which can be ordered by phone or e-mail. We love the Renzo Piano salad tongs (above) and this stainless steel trivet shaped like fish.

We can't wait for this summer's Shakespeare in the Park production. At the outdoor Delacorte Theatre, our favorite tearjerking love story, Romeo and Juliet, will be performed in Central Park for the first time since 1968. Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose will star as Juliet and Oscar Isaac as Romeo. Performances will be Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m., through July 8. Ticket info after the jump...

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From June 6th to 14th, the Film Society of Lincoln Center will present Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, a festival showcasing the best in contemporary Italian cinema. This year's series will feature twelve films and a selection of shorts. Buy tickets here. Be sure to grab a copy of bene at the door.

BONUS: Open Roads is offering an exclusive giveaway for 6 lucky bene readers. E-mail chris@benemag.com with the answer to the question below, for a chance to win a pair of movie tickets.

What classic Italian mob flick features scenes set in Sicily, the Italian region explored in our winter issue?

Remarkable as both a cookbook and a peek into the Italian lifestyle, Viana La Place's My Italian Garden offers a seasonal approach to Italian cuisine. Finding inspiration in the garden of her San Francisco backyard, La Place provides recipes using the produce that her garden features during each season. Four variations on the Caprese capture this spirit perfectly: Instead of insisting on the traditional Caprese salad--mozzarella, tomato and basil--year-round, La Place recognizes that the original version is at its best only in the summer, and she substitutes such ingredients as radishes and almonds in other seasons. Her delicious pastas, main courses and desserts follow this from-the-garden doctrine, as well.

Dear bene,
I'll be attending a language school in Florence this fall. I'd like to stay in a nice hotel that won't be chock-full of American tourists. Any advice?
Mary

Dear Mary,
We have the perfect place for you! Residenza Santo Spirito is in the Oltrarno, the residential neighborhood of Florence across the Arno river from the city center. The lovely hotel has just three rooms -- green, gold and silver. Two of the rooms overlook the Piazza Santo Spirito, which can get rowdy with Italian twentysomethings in the summer, but is a nice place to hang out in the fall, where you can enjoy dinner at a nearby Florentine restaurant. (We recommend Cavolo Nero.) The rooms feel much fancier than their 120-euro rates would suggest--with frescoed ceilings; terracotta floors; sparkling bathrooms, and breezy terraces. Writing about our favorite hotel makes us miss Florence -- have a great trip, Mary, and eat some gnudi for us!
Love, bene

* E-mail editors@benemag.com with all your wine, food and travel questions. *

We're loving the white-rimmed sunglasses trend right now. This pair from Gucci is striking, glamorous and summery. Doesn't it make you want to, oh I don't know, jump on a yacht in Capri?

Olimpia Zagnoli is a 23-year-old illustrator in Milan. Her website says she likes pirates and peanuts, but we wanted to know more about this charming artist on the rise. Here, she talks to us about her passions.

Bene: We hear you've had a crush on Picasso when you were four. How did you first see his work?
Olimpia: As a little girl I attended a day-care center called Pablo Picasso, which was full of his work. What I like the most about Picasso is that despite his great technique, his work was spontaneous and innovative. His creative power is expressed in everything he did, including his private life.

What's your favorite of Picasso's work?
Obviously I love the majority of his work, but I'm most inspired by his sketches. "Personal" drawings, complete with notes and color drafts, are what make the artist less heroic and more "human."

What do you most like to draw?
Bottles and glasses. I'm not sure why, but every time I pick up a pencil, that's the first thing that I happen to draw.

More from Olimpia after the jump...

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Dear bene,
I recently had some friends over for dinner and spilled a glass of Barbaresco all over my favorite shirt. So embarrassing! Do you know the best method for removing red wine stains from cotton clothing?
Desperate for your help,
Nervous Nelly

Dear Nervous Nelly,
Fear not, because while spilling red wine on your shirt may not have been your finest moment, there are simple solutions to this common mishap. While ideally you should blot the stain with paper towels immediately after the spill, removing a set-in stain is still possible.

Read on after the jump....

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Here at bene, we're all about following the footsteps of our Italian forefathers. We're also into looking good. Thus, we want to share one of our beauty secrets: Olive-oil soap. Olive oil is naturally chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants and does wonders for the skin. The ancient Romans were onto the oil's anti-aging power, applying it daily as a skin conditioner. Today, Gori 1919 Soap Works produces a line of soaps and facial products made from pure Tuscan olive oil, marrying its nutritional benefits with rich aromas to create the perfect bar of soap. Find it here.

Some things never go out of style--Brioni suits, Pucci prints and breakfast shots of espresso. The same can be said for widely lauded Italian chairs. Here are three iconic designs from the boot...

Designed by Mario Bellini, this all-time classic has been hailed as a piece of modern sculpture. The Bellini chair has garnered a laundry-list of accolades including the esteemed Compasso D'Oro in 2001, yet is sturdy and affordable enough to punch up any home or office. $110

Conceived in 1969 by Italian design-giant Vico Magistretti, the Selene chair features the renowned, S-leg curve, which Magistretti describes as the "key." Beloved by furniture enthusiasts worldwide, the piece is now included in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent design collection. $185

Designer Harry Bertoia claims his Bertoia collection is "mainly made of air, like sculptures." The chairs are composed of bent steel rods, and their elegant, filigreed appearance mask their durability. The collection has been lauded for its design and versatility, and has been used in large scale projects including the Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. $384