Up in the Lakes Region of NH for the week, pillaging my grandma’s garden to make fresh basil pesto, pasta primavera with zucchini, eggplant and squash, plus gorgeous green salads with tomato and cucumber. Summertime in New England is pretty glorious, I must say.

Buongiorno miei piccoli mangiatori! (Hello, my little eaters?) Here we have a dispatch from Milan, where my sister @cgpurple has enjoyed what appears to a fabulous room service sesh. What is most interesting about this here breakfast shot is il caffè…You see, my sis is an avowed tea drinker, who has been known to refer to my beverage of choice as “nasty,” but in reference to the photo above, she quips “I don’t drink coffee except in Italy. It’s [expletive] irresistible.” As they say, when in Milan…

If you haven’t gotten my Christmukkah gift yet, might I suggest a zillion dollar gift certificate to Eataly? Yes, I know, Eataly is old news — thoroughly devoured by the food media upon its opening in September. I only went for the first time today for lunch, and not because I’m a lame-o, but because I *can’t* stand being jostled by crowds while I food shop (don’t ask how I survive the coop). Hence, I don’t hit up hotspots on opening month if I can help it. Admit it or not, shopping for food is full-on sensual: You eat with your eyes, smelling and touching your way to deciding whether or not you want to consume something. It’s a full-body/mind/soul process and when there is someone ramming a stroller into my shins, screaming into their cell phone or otherwise getting in my personal space, I get primally angry. So I waited for the buzz to die down a bit, finally checked it out, loved it and can’t wait to go on a proper Eataly spree ASAP.

Here we have a chicken parm sub from Sheepshead Bay’s Circles Bistro, a resto known as much for the red sauce specialties as the Betty Boop-inspired decor.

One more Chelsea Market post and I’m done…treats at Buon Italia, Chelsea Thai Wholesale, The Filling Station, The Nutbox, People’s Pops and Manhattan Fruit Exchange.

Also as part of my trip up north, me and grams went to the Italian Farmhouse, part of the Common Man New Hampshire restaurant chainlet that I so love. Us two Gaimaris ordered calamari and manicotti and went arrivederci with full bellies and leftovers to boot.

Like any red-blooded guidette, I am enthralled by the Situation et al, and would never want to do anything to jeopardize a dinner invitation at the Shore House, particularly not on chicken cutlet night. Scroll to the bottom to watch him tell it like it is. And for the record, @mikesituation, I am on your side. thx @GlennBelverio for the link.