Cari Amici di Sotto Sopra,  

We didn't send out a newsletter in August because Sotto Sopra was super busy organizing Restaurant Week.It was the most successful Restaurant Week in our history. We've extended lunch and dinner dining deals through Sunday, September 4^th in honor of Baltimore's inaugural Grand Prix Race. Remember, we are not in the race's way and you can reach us through St Paul or Cathedral/Maryland Avenue (south) and Mulberry or Franklin (east or west) and there is always free valet parking.  

We're back; the whole family is back from Italy! Our trip to Italy was beyond memorable! Puglia is a fantastic region. We ate in grottas, under olive trees, and by the sea. Ostuni, Gallipoli, Alberobello, Santa Maria di Leuca, and Biscelie, are the cities we liked the most.

We made friends, ate a ton of great food, mainly fish; crudos and sea urchins.The beauty is that after the unbelievable amount of food I ate, when I returned I weighed 2 pounds less! Go figure. Great food and the right environment can make a difference.

One thing I realized is that the quality of the seafood and vegetables I ate in Italy is way impossible to find here. In my professional life I never tasted fish so fresh and intense. If you want to experience pure perfection in seafood quality I urge you to make Puglia a destination sometime in your life. You will thank me!

If you weren't sure we were back the fact that the earth moved, the sky sent sheets of rain and the winds blew - you should have said I bet Riccardo, Amelia and Monika are home. Seriously, we hope that you and your families came out of Hurricane Irene and the earthquake unscathed.  

We hope your summer went well and you took the time to relax.

Sotto Sopra will start the Fall menu soon. Figs anyone? I' m glad to be back, cooking again with new inspirations for the new Fall menu.

 Riccardo , Monika & Amerlia