Bulletin Board 3

a savory gimlet, my new favorite layering piece, and staying on the wellness track

WELLNESS DISPATCH

Photo by Roberto Salomone

I have made some very strong efforts to maintain my fighting weight after my late January visit to Buchinger Wilhelmi (I wrote about my first visit here, and stay tuned for a post on my most recent stay). I left Buchinger feeling fit and lean and realizing the work that it takes to stay that way. This has made me, my doctors and my tailors all very happy. I have to be honest with myself that I’m not 25 anymore and the efforts to stay fit require more attention. I am just back from Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy where I was lucky enough to be invited to participate in a Le Sirenuse Hotel retreat called Dolce Vitality, a week of intense hiking, yoga, reduced calorie/gluten-free/vegetarian diet, and alcohol free. Thank god there was coffee! The hikes were intense—four hours of mostly vertical climbs on the stairs and trails around and above Positano. Luckily these hikes started and ended at the lovely Le Sirenuse hotel. Unfortunately there were no Negronis waiting post-hike, but there were daily massages (I never needed a massage so bad in my life), sauna/steam/cold plunge, yoga (6am & 6pm), and ice packs (for these old knees).

We were a group of around 20 (Yolanda included)—all pretty fit ranging in age from mid 20s to early 60s. We were lead by a very likable band of Italian guides who have walked (and run) these stairs, paths and trails all their lives. Each morning we started off around 8am on the endless stone and cement staircases that lead you out of the center of Positano and then onto the ancient stone paths and wooded trails of the surrounding mountains called the Monti Lattari (translation-mountains of milk workers - where many of the region’s dairy cows graze and produce cheese like the mozzarella called fior di latte) We averaged around 1000 meters (over 3000 ft) of vertical climb each day and I’ve never been so excited for an apple and 8 almonds in my life, on our mid-hike stops! The pace was brutal—I pushed to stay in the lead group led by our guide Giovanni and a group of 3 very determined Icelanders. The weather was in our favor and stayed dry and cool with a mix of sun and morning fog. My gear performed well—merino T-shirt (Devold), shorts (Lululemon 5”), 3/4 zip polar fleece (Beretta), merino wool socks (Bombas) and a pair of trail running shoes (Salomon). I was pretty beat and sore after day one but by day three I was feeling very strong. I was never winded (thank you cardio training) but doing hundreds of stairs followed by rocky goat trails and paths took its toll on my legs like I haven’t felt in a while.

I’ve been to this coast of Italy many times but the views from the top of these hikes were breathtakingly magical. I finished the week strong (5 days total in hiking) and a few kilos leaner. The last night at Le Sirenuse was fueled by a couple of well deserved gin martinis and over all I just loved my time there, but I promise you my next visit will be firmly planted at the pool, Campari spritz in hand, plotting my lunch choice of spaghetti!

HAPPY HOUR

On a recent trip to Edinburgh, our daughter Clara suggested we eat at Dishoom, an excellent Indian restaurant in town that is an outpost of the original in London. The food was incredible, but the real standout that caught my eye was the India Gimlet on their very clever bar menu— a savory gimlet which has its base in London dry gin, good old Rose’s Lime, and with the surprising addition of celery bitters and dill. The gimlet paired beautifully with the spicy dishes and made for a nice alternative to my normal beer or wine order that I usually have with Indian food. They have a great cookbook which I’ve ordered and can’t wait to dive into—to make some of their signature dishes and other drinks at home. Here’s a how-to video of the gimlet if you want to make one at home, and skip the flight to the UK.

TIS THE SEASON

It’s that time of year again—not quite Barbour season, not quite puffer season, when you’re trying to figure out the correct outerwear, and be geared up correctly. I’ve been layering light sweaters with my favorite Vietnam-era Jungle Jackets—my latest addition is a 1965 epaulette, exposed button, Jungle Jacket, given to me by Alessandro Squarzi of Fortela in Milan. I have coveted this early version of the Jungle Jacket for years and it finds itself at the head of the pack of my collection that includes woodland camo versions too! PS: Perfect for summer as well—worn with a polo, striped tee, or nothing underneath with rolled up sleeves just like my favorite GI’s did.