Welcome to The place Cooks Eat on Trip, a column through which cooks inform us what they ate on a current journey.

“Once I go on any journey, I am meals centric in the best way that I do issues,” says Philly-based restauranteur and cookbook creator Michael Solomonov. It may appear apparent for a James Beard Award-winning chef, however his strategy to consuming, a lot within the vein of his full of life Israeli eating places (K’far, Laser Wolf, Zahav) is centered on an general nice expertise, versus simply what’s on the plate. 

“I am not hypercritical and, from a cultural and anthropological standpoint, I respect no matter it’s that we’re consuming,” he says of his trip mindset. He desires to know what meals can let you know about a spot and its residents. So, when Solomonov traveled together with his spouse by Southern Italy on their honeymoon final 12 months—tracing the shoreline from Naples to Sorrento and Amalfi—it was not solely the flavors of vibrant lemons and spicy pizza that burned themselves into his reminiscence, but in addition the steep, sweaty hikes, Mediterranean boat rides, and view-filled drives it took to achieve them. 

Once I hopped on the cellphone with Solomonov, he was prepared with the highs, lows, and tacky but improbable moments of the journey. Amalfi? Completely touristy, sure, however the lemons: “Distinctive.” Naples? “Consuming pizza within the birthplace of pizza is an expertise.” Sorrento? “In my view, the unsung hero of the Amalfi Coast.”

And although there are some overcrowded spots he may keep away from on the subsequent journey (sorry, Capri), there is a bucatini he can nonetheless style, and a waterfront restaurant that encapsulates the whole lot he strives to be. “There are highlights, however it’s the sum of the elements that made this expertise nice,” Solomonov says. 

Beneath, the chef shares his trip meals diary with us—and yeah, you are going to need to save these pins in your Google Map. 

What was the very first thing you ate whenever you bought off the airplane?

We rented a automobile and drove from Rome to Naples and pulled over at an Autogrill for wonderful mortadella sandwiches. Then, in Naples, we ate at Pizzeria da Attilio, which is a Katie Parla advice, and it was sick. 

Did you’ve gotten a go-to breakfast order all through the journey?

Casa Angelina was the resort that we stayed at in Priano, which is in between Positano and Amalfi, and the hotel breakfast was out of this world. It was very heavy with fruits, like citrus and berries, and greens, and the pastries had been unbelievable—there was an almond cookie, like an almond shortbread. All of the elements had been pristine, however it wasn’t overcomplicated or filling in a foul means. Having an elaborate brunch solely to make sure that you’ll must move out afterwards was not what we had been going for.

What was your most anticipated meal—and did it stay as much as the hype?