48 HOURS IN LUCCA

By the Serchio river within Renaissance-era walls, Lucca's gastronomic treasures are set to delight, as ANASTASIA MIARI discovers.

POSTCARDS FROM UDINE

Off the radar in northeastern Italy, the provincial city is rich with la dolce vita.

BERGAMO OR BUST

Concealed between sophisticated Milan and glamorous Lake Como, beautiful Bergamo is Lombardy's hidden gem, discovers ANNA HART.

Coast with the most

Food writer AMBER GUINNESS transports us to the shores of Italy's Tyrrhenian Sea by way of delicious helpings of pasta, fish and limoncello.

SALUTE

Explore the warm Mediterranean waters and fresh flavours of Sardinia with these recipes from Brisbane's Pilloni by chef PIETRO SEGALINI.

Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

The alimentari, or small Italian food store, is a treasure trove of continental delicacies to inspire and delight. We hit the shops, exploring row after row of specialty Italian goods, as the starting point for these delightful trattoria dishes.

Everyday

JULIA BUSUTTIL NISHIMURA shares simple dinners, elegant tray bakes and easy entertaining dishes with an Italian lean.

The golden rules of pasta

Melbourne's modern-day pasta god ANDREAS PAPADAKIS, co-owner and executive chef at Tipo 00, shares his knead-to-know playbook.

Italy by train

Station to station, town to town, ERICA FIRPO experiences poetry in motion on board vintage locomotive, the Treno Natura.

SEARCHING FOR Venice

The key to unlocking the essence of this most romantic of Italian cities is to get lost in it, writes LEE TULLOCH.

Tour de tiramisù

In Treviso, the probable birthplace of the famed Italian dessert, DIANNE BORTOLETTO discovers the origins of tiramisù are trifled.

THE SMOKING CAMEL

Each month we explore the origins behind some of Australia's signature drinks and learn how to recreate them.

MEET THE MAKER HELEN XU

As she swings open the doors to a new restaurant and hotel at her Yarra Valley vineyard, we check in with the Helen & Joey Estate winemaker to talk science, Sichuan and the wine brand she runs with husband Joey Zeng.

Fuel to the fire

From chilli to wasabi, there's an art to pairing drinks with spicy foods. SAMANTHA PAYNE breaks it down.

Sri Lankan hoppers

Chef TRAVIN DE HOEDT of Sydney's Kurumba shares his family recipe for this South Asian staple.

The art of...thoughtful feasting

It was a Moroccan tagine that taught ANNA HART to relax her ethics and eat, drink and be merry like a local.

THE NEW COCKTAIL CAPITAL

Mexico City is in its golden era of cocktail culture. Once home to a small handful of recognisable names, today the capital is heaving with globally renowned drinking destinations. And it's leading the charge for North America on awards lists such as World’s 50 Best (last year, Mexico City landed four bars on the list, compared to three in New York City).

Golden age

Time travel may not be possible but JOANNA HUNKIN discovers the next best thing when she pairs the Eastern & Oriental Express with a journey through Veuve Clicquot's private cellar.

48 HOURS IN PHUKET

Beyond beaches and resorts, Thailand's biggest island is a treasure trove of culinary gems. DANI VALENT gets the inside scoop from restaurateur Merica Charungvat.

LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE

Fireplaces, slowness and country scenes. Holidaying hits differently in winter

What is curry?

Cuisine or construct? RUSHANI EPA retraces the history of the saucy, spicy dish across the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora.

AUNTY MARGRET

Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we meet Dhainghutti Djirringanj Elder, business woman and IYORIA board member, Aunty Margret.

Cloves

This spice has a history as rich as its unique aroma

JO MALONE

The perfumer on the food and travel moments worth bottling, moving to Dubai, and her return to the fragrance world.

RUMI

The third version of a modern Middle Eastern gem makes all the right moves

EDDY + WOLFF

Hidden in the backstreets of Robina on the Gold Coast, this intimate Vietnamese-leaning bar has beer flying under the radar

PARWANA AFGHAN KITCHEN

Community and connection emerge at this enduringly good family affair

MATKIM

A fire-fuelled Korean crash course with a flair for the dramatic arrives at Matkim,

GOOD AS GOLD

Australian saffron is difficult to grow, expensive to buy and completely, utterly captivating,

RISING TIDE

A new wave of fun, fragrant and regionally specific Thai food is upon us. Meet Thai Tide's MERICA CHARUNGVAT as she shares her favourite recipes.