A Deep Dive into Chiara De Iulis Pepe’s Philosophy and Practices

At Casa Pepe, nestled in the Teramo countryside of Torano Nuovo, wine production has been a tradition since 1899, handed down through five generations. At 30-years old, Chiara De Iulis Pepe, embodies the spirit of this, now, predominantly female run family business. The daughters and granddaughters of Emidio Pepe navigate production between the fields and the cellar. She shares her grandfather’s passion for the robust expression of the indigenous Trebbiano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines, as well as biodynamic production and philosophy,  which their winery was among the first to champion. 

Health and Innovation by Heinz Beck

Heinz Beck, the German-born chef who has been at the helm of La Pergola for 30 years, brings a new-level of  lightness of touch to traditional Mediterranean ingredients. La Pergola was the first restaurant in Rome to be awarded three Michelin stars, and it remains the only one in the city to hold this accolade. In this interview, we delve into his philosophy on cuisine, health, and hear about his latest venture.

Ura: Japanese Hospitality in Miami

Miami is about to get just a little closer to Japan with the upcoming opening of Ura, a 1700 square-foot members-only club led by renowned Tokyo sushi master, Hidefumi Namba. Meaning “back” or “reverse side” in Japanese, Ura aims to offer a one-of-a-kind experience combining Japanese aesthetics, relaxation, and entertainment, all centered around the art of authentic sushi crafted by a top shokunin. Entrepreneur brothers Samuel and Jose Tcherassi have brought this vision to life, with the design by Colombian firm, 5 Sōlidos, featuring a listening lounge, bar, and a lush Japanese garden. The highlight is the ten-seat counter dining room by Sushi Namba, a US counterpart to Namba-san’s Tokyo 8-seater, as well as a four-seat private dining room. Set to open this fall in Allapattah, a burgeoning artsy neighborhood, adjacent to Miami Design District, Ura promises a truly unique experience, and I am thrilled to be a part of it from the beginning.

The beauty of imperfection by Japanese glass artist Yukito Nishinaka

Repair is rebirth for Japanese glass artist Yukito Nishinaka, who highlights the beauty of imperfection.

Offering a unique interpretation of the Japanese mending technique developed in the 17th century for tea bowls : Yobitsugi, Nishinaka san is dedicated to glass and the art of repairing broken objects. The Yobitsugi technique traditionally used lacquer mixed very visibly with powdered gold, silver or platinum as glue to join the broken parts together and gold leaf finishing, poetically enhancing the imperfections. Nishinaka’s distinctive take involves, either using urushi lacquer and molten glass to join the broken parts and incorporate fragments from other objects, purposely leaving the repair visible. Or fusing fragments from a broken vessel onto the surface of a free-blown glass core, around which sheets of gold and silver leaf have been wrapped.

Palazzo Fiuggi, a wellness retreat like no other

No coffee or wine! This is not my usual way of enjoying a few days away. Yet my recent stay at Palazzo Fiuggi was one of intense enjoyment, incredible food and full relaxation. 
This health and medical resort takes wellness to a whole new level and my recent 4 day stay allowed me to recenter on my body in a holistic and intelligent way. From the exquisitely delicate, yet delectable natural food of Heinz Beck, the German chef at the helm of Rome’s 3-Michelin starred La Pergola for the last 30 years, to the next-level medical and wellness equipment and technology and all this nestled in Fiuggi village, 50 minutes from Rome and at 700 metres it offers the kind of air purity that encourages digestion and revitalisation.