Kefalonia Travel Tips from Corina Nika, Greek Designer & Islander

Designer Corina Nika is an islander at heart, which comes as no surprise since she has roots in Greece – the country with about 6,000 islands. Her Instagram life is one of chasing azure waters and spending languid days in the endless number of vacation spots on Kefalonia. Corina reveals where to go for shrimps in Sami, her favourite beach in Greece, and why you should never pass up the Ionian islands.

Photo: Corina Nika

What do you love about the Greek islands?

Their traditional architecture, unique colours and pure beaches!

What do you feel defines Greek cuisine?

The light, fresh and healthy ingredients. Anything we can pull from local stores or farms.

What are some local dishes you feel travellers can’t leave Kefalonia without trying?

The Kefalonian meat pie for sure! It’s THE traditional dish of the island, so you definitely have to try it before leaving.

Photo: Corina Nika

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Kefalonia?

There’s a couple that I can’t live without. One is in Argostoli by the bay named Palia Plaka. You’ll find home cooked comfort food there with traditional Greek dishes. My second favourite is Karavomylos, in Sami, where you should really try their shrimps!

Photo: Corina Nika

What would you recommend travellers do to experience Kefalonia as a local?

Hmmm. Perhaps go buy a fish at the bay where the fishermen are with their boats in the mornings and cook it! It’s one of my favourite things I get to do living here.

What do you love about the Ionian islands?

For me, the Ionian islands are full of green, which is something the other islands lack. I haven’t visited all to be quite honest though – only Santorini and Zakinthos. But for me, green and blue is what stands most and what makes my heart happy!

Photo: Corina Nika

Name your favourite beach in Greece

Pessada! It’s a small little gem. Literally one of the smallest and most secluded beaches I’ve ever visited. The colours of the sea are out of this world and it really feels like a private paradise.

Where in Greece is your favourite vacation spot?

If I still say Kefalonia, would that be bad? I feel like every day is vacation here. Before moving to the island, it was my favourite place for vacation and still is. I recently visited Santorini as well and it blew my mind away. So for a second option, Santorini is beautiful!

Photo: Corina Nika

WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA

Palia Plaka

Where: I Metaxa Street, Metelos, Ι. Μεταξά-Μέτελος, Αργοστόλι, Argostoli 281 00, Greece

For: Traditional Greek food

Karavomilos Taverna

Where: Karavomilos Lake, Karavomylos 28080, Greece

For: Shrimps

Sydney Travel Tips from Julia Trotti, Aussie Fashion Photographer

Conversations with Locals

You might know of Aussie-born Julia Trotti for her dreamy fashion photography for labels such as Suzi Rose Designs and Bride La Boheme. When she’s not shooting for work, she shoots dreamy landscapes on the side, which have brought her to some of the most beautiful views of the Australian outback. In this interview, Julia shares her favourite Sydney suburbs to get the local experience, why an Australian coffee is not to be missed, and where to get that perfect cup of Joe.

Photo: Julia Trotti

Where can we go to see your favourite view in Australia?

Kangaroo Valley is my favourite place in Australia. I could spend days exploring the countryside and driving the winding roads up and down mountains. One day I hope to own a little cottage there.

Photo: Julia Trotti

Name one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Sydney without trying

This isn’t a dish but I will always tell someone visiting Sydney that they can’t leave until they’ve had a cup of locally brewed coffee! If there’s one thing that Sydney does right, it’s coffee.

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Sydney?

The list could be endless, so I’m going to keep it to my favourite two. Flying Fajita Sisters in Glebe for some delicious Mexican, and the Coogee Pavilion in Coogee for some beachside lunch.

Photo: Julia Trotti

What is a typical Australian breakfast for you?

I love eating local organic plain yogurt with some fresh blueberries, strawberries, kiwis and bananas for breakfast. I’ll occasionally add some granola if I’m going to have a big day!

Name your favourite spot in Sydney for a good cup of coffee

Like I mentioned before, one of the things that Sydney does best is coffee so you can pretty much walk into any place that makes coffee and it’ll be a good cup. If you’re in the city centre, a good place to get coffee is the Workshop Espresso in the Queen Victoria Building.

Photo: Julia Trotti

As a local, where would you recommend travellers go to get the true Sydney experience?

While Sydney is known for its Harbour, where you can see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, I would recommend that you explore the smaller suburbs on foot to experience Sydney more like a local. Suburbs like Newtown, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst have so many amazing local restaurants, coffee shops and Australian designer clothing stores to explore.

WHERE TO EAT IN SYDNEY

Flying Fajita Sisters

Where: 65 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia

For: Mexican food

Coogee Pavilion

Where: 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW 2034, Australia

For: A casual meal by the beach

Workshop Espresso

Where: 500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

For: Locally brewed coffee

WHERE TO GO IN SYDNEY

Newtown

Where: King Street and Enmore Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

For: Vintage shops and cafés

Surry Hills

Where: Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

For: For art galleries and boutiques

Darlinghurst

Where: Darlinghurst NSW, Australia

For: For restaurants, bars and clubs.

WHERE TO GO IN AUSTRALIA

Kangaroo Valley

Region: New South Wales

Where: Kangaroo Valley NSW, Australia

For: Great views

Tuscany Travel Tips from Giulia Scarpaleggia, Tuscan Cook & Blogger of Juls’ Kitchen

Conversations with Locals

Giulia Scarpaleggia is no stranger to the ins and outs of Tuscany, having lived in the region for more than a decade. It has been evident that she has been cooking up a storm from her kitchen, based on the sheer number of bone fide Italian recipes coming out from her blog Jul’s Kitchen. To this cooking instructor, Tuscany is a lot more than just the overcrowded squares of Florence and Siena. In this interview, Giulia left no stones unturned as she reveals her favourite eating spots, what a proper Tuscan meal is, and the other hill towns that you should visit apart from the obvious.

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

What do you feel defines Tuscan cuisine?

The Tuscan cuisine that we know know is deeply influenced by cucina povera – peasant cooking of the previous century. Seasonal vegetables, beans and bread are staple ingredients. Stale bread is smartly reinvented in hearty recipes such as pappa al pomodoro, panzanella and ribollita.

What are some local dishes you feel travellers can’t leave Tuscany without trying?

It is strongly related to season. In Autumn, do not miss bruschetta – a char grilled bread rubbed with garlic and doused with olive oil. In Winter, ribollita is a must – a thick soup of stale read, beans, cavolo nero and other vegetables. Spring is all about fresh vegetables, like piselli alla fiorentina – peas with pancetta. Summer is the season of tomatoes, do not miss pappa al pomodoro and panzanella.

Tuscan panzanella with tomatoes and mozzarella. Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Tuscany?

The cuisine of Agriturismo il Rigo in Val d’Orcia. Sbarbacipolla Biosteria and Bel Mi Colle in Colle val d’Elsa, Osteria Vecchio Mulino in Castelnuovo Garfagnana, Gino Cacino in Siena. So many great places.

Name one Tuscan dining etiquette most travellers miss

Do not eat pasta with your meat. They are two separate courses!

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

When is your favourite time of the year to visit Tuscany?

My favourite months are October and November, when there are less tourists and the countryside is simply stunning. Plus it’s time for chestnuts, pumpkin, grapes and new olives. Nothing better!

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

What would you recommend travellers do to experience Tuscany as a local?

Shop at a local market, listen to what the vendors are suggesting and cook according to the season.

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Where are your favourite Tuscan hill towns?

Casole d’Elsa near Siena, Barga near Lucca and Pitigliano in Maremma.

Name one best kept secret of Tuscany

Osteria Livornese, in Montelupo Fiorentino, is an amazing restaurant to eat fish near Florence.

Where can we go to see your favourite view in Tuscany?

It’s the view from my bathroom, in the countryside of Colle Val d’Elsa. So fun! All my friends and all the guests of cooking classes love it!

What makes Italian cooking so unique?

The cooking style is extremely simple, the ingredients are left to speak for themselves. There’s no need for overcomplicating with sauces or too many ingredients. Recipes are inspired by seasonality.

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Fried eggs and buristo. Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

When it comes to food, where in the world is your favourite destination?

Except from Tuscany, I love London, where you can experience possibly any cuisine in the world. I’m a big fan!

Photo: Corina Nika

Photo: Corina Nika

Photo: Corina Nika

Photo: Corina Nika

Photo: Corina Nika

WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA

Where: I Metaxa Street, Metelos, Ι. Μεταξά-Μέτελος, Αργοστόλι, Argostoli 281 00, Greece

For: Traditional Greek food

Where: Karavomilos Lake, Karavomylos 28080, Greece

For: Shrimps

Photo: Julia Trotti

Photo: Julia Trotti

WHERE TO EAT IN SYDNEY

Where: 65 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia

For: Mexican food

Where: 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW 2034, Australia

For: A casual meal by the beach

Where: 500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

For: Locally brewed coffee

WHERE TO GO IN SYDNEY

Where: King Street and Enmore Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

For: Vintage shops and cafés

Where: Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

For: For art galleries and boutiques

Where: Darlinghurst NSW, Australia

For: For restaurants, bars and clubs.

WHERE TO GO IN AUSTRALIA

Region: New South Wales

Where: Kangaroo Valley NSW, Australia

For: Great views

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Tuscan panzanella with tomatoes and mozzarella. Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

Fried eggs and buristo. Photo: Juls’ Kitchen

WHERE TO EAT IN TUSCANY

Region: Val d’Orcia

Where: Loc. Casabianca, 53027 San Quirico d’Orcia SI, Italy

For: Organic farm food

Region: Colle val d’Elsa

Where: Via Bartolomeo Scala 11, 53034 Colle di Val d’Elsa SI, Italy

For: Vegan food

Region: Colle val d’Elsa

Where: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 56, Colle di Val D’Elsa SI, Italy

For: Local Tuscan food

Region: Castelnuovo Garfagnana

Where: Arch 5, Voyager South, London SE16 4RP

For: Pastas

Region: Siena

Where: Piazza Mercato, 31, 53100 Siena SI, Italy

For: Meats and panini

Region: Montelupo Fiorentino

Where: Viale Umberto I, 2, Montelupo Fiorentino FI, Italy

For: Fish

WHERE TO GO IN TUSCANY

Region: Siena

Proximity to major cities: South to Florence

Region: Lucca

Proximity to major cities: Northwest to Florence

Region: Grosseto

Proximity to major cities: In between Florence and Rome

Region: Siena

Proximity to major cities: South to Florence