TUSCAN GETAWAY: No Passport Required

What are you planning for Memorial Day weekend? Houston’s own Italian renaissance hotel is tempting us to avoid the hassles of airports and the sticker shock of road trip petrol: Hotel Granduca, the sprawling villa by Giorgio Borlenghi in Uptown Park, has a suite special Memorial Day weekend hovering in the 200 buck-a-night range.

It’s special because it doesn’t just include the grand 825-square-foot Granduca suite with a fully-equipped kitchen. You also get a $50 food and beverage credit to be used in Ristorante Cavour, Bar Malatesta or in-room-dining. Of course, the deal includes the use of the luxurious outdoor pool and cabanas, state-of-the-art fitness center, comp WiFi and private courtesy transportation within a three-mile radius of the hotel.

Italian chef Renato De Pirro is known for his risotto Milanese, which is creamy-rich and glowing in a saffron hue. It’s an absolutely wonderful counterpoint to the artful heirloom tomato salad. De Pirro has recently added Italy’s famed Piedmontese beef to his dinner menu. Piedmontese is known for its tenderness, small marbling, low fat content and rich Omega 3s. DePirro believes Ristorante Cavour is the only restaurant in Houston, and possibly even Texas, that serves the prized beef.

Dishes we can’t wait to try: Piedmontese beef filet with fresh berries, sautéed asparagus and pickled chanterelles or Piedmontese New York strip with caramelized pearl onions, radicchio and Gorgonzola cheese fondue. Speaking of cheese, there’s also a new artisan cheese menu that includes Italian selections not readily found in local markets like Brescianella and Cacio al Tartufo. De Pirro has a knack for pairing these gems with classic Italian wines, and his staff is well versed in describing the flavors and history of the cheeses. Accompaniments to the cheese course include truffle honey, homemade jam, raisin bread and vincotto (an Italian condiment made from grapes, something like balsamic).

Love Italian food and wine? DePirro will be one of nine local chefs cooking in the Who’s Your Chef? cooking competition at the upcoming Houston Italian Expo, June 3-5, at the George R. Brown. Besides 150-plus Italian wines to sample and Italian food from local restaurants including Valentino, Quattro and others, the Expo features Italian tourism, fashion, jewelry, sports cars and of course, sublime gelato and espresso. Ciao!

RISTORANTE CAVOUR AT HOTEL GRANDUCA, 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., 713-418-1000