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Only four entities in the history of the world have successfully launched a rocket into orbit and returned it to earth: The United States, China, The Soviet Union, and now, Elon Musk. Well, to be fair, it’s not just Musk, of course it’s the entire team of engineers and poached NASA astronauts that he’s assembled at Spacex headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. In just two weeks from now, Spacex will attempt to become the first ever private company to launch a rocket ship that rendezvous and actually docks with the International Space Station (ISS)*.

But simply sending cargo to the Space Station is just scratching the surface of Elon Musk’s grand plan: to build a self-sustaining colony on another planet; namely Mars. That’s right–people. People living on Mars. And this is something Musk discusses very candidly discusses in his interview with Jon Stewart (at 0:16 in part 2) (Interview part 1, and part 2). And in the meanwhile, until there actually is a human colony on Mars, Spacex will undoubtedly be sending astronauts and likely common tourists to space.

But wouldn’t you imagine Musk would be worried that this audacious venture is goinna be like really, really hard to to do? His response to that: “(If it fails) then the worst-case scenario is that the light of consciosness is not extinguished.”  Instead, Musk prefers to focus on the positive potential of the project. Pursuing a human colony on Mars would, in his words, “create a forcing function for improving space transportation technology and ensure the continued existence of humanity and consciousness.” These are some heady words. These are clearly the words of a guy who is in this for a whole hell of a lot more than money. Such esoteric words are reminiscent of the late Steve jobs. Musk firmly believes that the sheer aspiration of such big dreams are directly linked Human Kind’s innate desire to explore and evolve our collective consciousness. Hard to argue with that.

Elon Musk will soon be as much of a household name as Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates. And it’s entirely conceivable that he is one day on an Albert Einstein level in terms of sheer impact on science and humanity. The world seems to always have at least a few truly revolutionary entrepreneurs alive at any given time. But Musk stands out for me. He’s got a lot of things going for him: he thinks on the biggest scale, he follows his intuition, and he’s incredibly persuasive without exuding any sense of marketing gimmickiness or salesy vibe, and perhaps most importantly, he’s likable. His dreamlike fasctionation with the world and humanity muddled with his clearly brilliant business intuition draws out the 5 year old in me–or perhaps the 25 year old int me who recently spent 4 hours carefully arranging 150 glow in the dark stars on my bedroom ceiling in imaginary constellations.

And at just 41 years old, Musk has already achieved more than an entire career’s worth. Musk co-founded PayPal, eventually selling it to Ebay for a cool $1.5 Billion in 2002. He then went on and started Tesla motors (luxury electric cars) and Solar City (solar panels). Then of course there’s this whole Spacex thing. That means he has dominated the worlds of online payment, electric automobiles, solar panels, and hopefully soon he’ll be able to add space travel/transportation to that list. Why did he choose these different particular industries? In college, Musk believed that there were 3 areas during his lifetime that would most affect the future of humanity: the Internet, sustainable energy, and space exploration. Whatever the project du jour for musk, he’s someone to watch, to say the least.

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*The mission’s purpose is straightforward: Spacex’s Dragon vehicle must successfully deliver cargo to the crew on board the ISS. This, mind you, is no small feat. In fact, it’s celebration-worthy enough that Spacex’s Dragon and Falcon rocket ships were able to pass NASA’s mandatory safety requirements check. After all, the International Space Station (ISS) is a $100B asset. Plus, of course, the lives of astronauts on board and the entire importance of the ISS…it’s understandable why such a big effort is put forth in the safety compliance arena.

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The pigs head for 4 at The Cannibal

Kuma Inn - Asian tapas – Lower East Side – BYO – Cash Only – I’ve eaten everything on the menu…many times over…and it’s all unbelievable. Be sure to get the chinese sausage and the rice crepes. Figure like 2.5 tapas per person when ordering.

Caracas - Arepas (arepas are Venezuelan dish…doughy corn cakes topped with insanely delicious things) – Lower East Side – No reservations, so go to a bar in the area while waiting – Might be cash-only – GET EVERYTHING ON THE MENU. YOU CANNOT GO WRONG. God, I love this place so much.

The Breslin - ACE Hotel (29th & Broadway) – Classic fatty English food – This place is quite pricey, but I never go there to order anything expensive, that is, I only go there for the famous lamb burger (best $21 you can spend in NYC). You don’t need anything there besides this burger and the fries that come with it. It’s perfect.

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This past April, my buddy Matt Glazier a.k.a. Matty Leftovahs (of the infamous Roman Restaurant Bible) called me and asked if I had any interest in going on a road trip of epic proportions. 8 days of driving around an unexplored part of the country, taking in some great nature, and eating at the best local joints with one of my best friends from home? Sign me up.

I feel like the quintessential cross-country roadtrip is something I’ve often talked about but never actually done, so I was super excited. As the saying goes, this trip was about the journey, not the destination–and the journey started months ago when we brainstormed our route and places stop along the way. We settled on an itinerary that started in Chicago and ended back in Madison, would last 8 days or so, span some 3,307 miles (53 hours of driving), and bring us to places across the Mountain West that we’d always wanted to see. From there, we split up the remaining logistics. I was in charge of car details, and planning the Boulder and Yellowstone portions of the trip. Glazier was in charge of Cheyenne, Big Sky, and Jackson. And we would share the restaurant planning responsibilities–perhaps the most important part of the trip, and thus the most exhausting topic of research.

Chicago, IL

2:30 am: The Roadtrip Begins

The road trip starts off at 2:30 am when we decided we were too restless to go to sleep, and would just rather be on the road already. Obviously I was going to be the MVP of the trip, and in true MVP style, I took the first driving shift as Glazier slept peacefully in the front seat. Before we knew it we were in…

 

 

Omaha, NB

Lunch at Dixie Quicks

Dixie Quicks proudly boasting Guy Fieri at the front of the restaurant

No offense, Omaha, but there just isn’t much goin on there. The only reason we stopped there was because a) it was on the way, and b) Omaha is home to Dixie Quicks, as featured on Food Network’s popular show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. It didn’t disappoint. In fact, this was one of the better meals we had on the whole trip. Glazier had a ridiculous omelet with brie, green apple, and bacon. The tart green apples were julienned, which was a great touch, and cut perfectly into the creamy melted brie, and the whole thing was rounded out with the smoky thick-cut bacon. I had the cactus scramble simply because I’d never tasted cactus and was curious. It tasted sweet and vinegary, and went well with the black beans perfectly cooked eggs, which I then wrapped in the warm corn tortillas. The biscuits were also perfect–flaky, warm, homemade, and obviously slathered with butter. Great start to the trip. Thank you for that, Omaha.

 

 

Boulder, CO

Dinner at Mountain Sun

Another 8 hours of driving and we crept up on Boulder just as the sun was melting into the mountains. If you haven’t been to Boulder, please go. It’s got a bit of everything–the youthful energy of a college campus, great food, great beer, great music scene, and a friendly and perfectly quirky population. It reminded me a lot of Madison and Austin. We met up with Sam and Lindsay, my longtime friends from home who have been living in Boulder since graduating from college. We started off with a great meal at Mountain Sun, which is known for its great beer and burgers. Glazier got a great burger with bacon, cheese, sauteed mushrooms and onions, and a roasted garlic mayo. I got an awesome portabella mushroom burger and we split the blackened chicken quesadilla.

Breakfast at Lucilles

We woke up and went to Lucille’s for breakfast. Best meal of the trip in my mind. Glazier got the blackened salmon special which came topped with 2 perfectly poached local eggs. I got the special omelete with fennel sausage, zuchinni, and pepper jack, topped with cinnamon syrup. The biscuits were the best I’ve ever tasted. The side of cheesy grits was absolutely unreal. And to top it all off, homemade catsup, pepper jam, and blueberry jam. Literally one of the best breakfasts of my life.

Hike at James Peak

me overlooking the lake atop the James Peak trailhead in Rollinsville, CO

It was time for a hike. The James Peak trailhead at the Moffat Tunnel opening in Rollinsville, CO was where Sam tipped us off to. A little off the beaten path (about a 25 minute drive from Boulder), but completely worth it. It was a Monday, and we were the only ones on the trail. We were told it would take us 5 hours roundtrip, but athletic specimens like Glazier did it in under 3 hours of actual hiking. The trail took us through the forest and up a mountain, ending at a pristine lake all to ourselves. We sat for a bit, played some music, and went back down. The air was thin, but really we were just out of shape, so it was an exhausting but worth it start to the day.

 

 

 

Movie on the rocks

The Goonies at Red Rocks

Every Monday night at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater, they invite 2 local bands to play during sunset and then roll out a gigantic screen and play an epic classic movie. We were lucky enough to be in town when they played The Goonies, one of my all-time favorites. I had heard about Red Rocks for years, and the Dave Matthews Live at Red Rocks is one of my favorites, so seeing it in person was a dream come true. It lived up to the hype, though. Really an absolutely beautiful place to take in a show. Great acoustics and just a ridiculously good looking setting with huge red rocks on both sides and a view of downtown Denver in the background.

 

 

A Fork in the Road of Life–sorry to get poetic on you

I found out that night that I got the job in NYC I’d been hoping to get. What a boost to an already amazing trip. We had jokingly said going into the trip that the purpose of the trip was for Glazier to talk me out of moving to NYC, but clearly now this was the move. Sorry Madison. I love you and the last 6 years has been amazing, but I’m moving on.

Cheyenne, WY

The road trip was off to an awesome start, and already it felt like we’d done a week’s worth of stuff in just over 24 hours. So that Tuesday morning we packed up our stuff (including our newly purchased cowboy gear), said bye to our friends, and headed north to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Turns out Cheyenne is only a 1.5 hour drive from Boulder, and after a 16 hour drive, I felt like I could crush a 1.5 hour drive in my sleep.

Frontier Days

Glazier and I outside the rodeo in Cheyenne

 

Originally Cheyenne wasn’t even on our itinerary–there’s practically nothing to do in that town. But to his credit, Glazier came across the fact that every summer Cheyenne is home to the Frontier Days fair. Country music, rodeos, bull riding, 8 pound turkey legs, and lots of beer. Sign me up. I had never been to a rodeo before, but let me tell you, it’s a fucking site to see. You haven’t lived til you’ve seen a cowboy chase down a steer, lasso it’s horns, dismount his horse at 40 mph while the steer’s neck spaps back in a flash of violence, pile drive the beast into the ground, and tie it’s legs…all in under 14 seconds. Watch this crazy video below to see what I’m talking about.

 

 

 

So after a long day of drinking Coors and rodeo activities, we went back to the hotel for a quick nap. We woke up and started back on the Coors train like true champions. It was back to the stadium for tonights’ event: bull riding. The only thing more entertaining than watching guys try to stay on a clearly pissed off 800 pound bull was the crowd in the stands. Needless to say, we stuck out. We couldn’t tell people we were from Boston, so we picked the most neutral place imaginable–Kenosha, Wisconsin, and went with that.

glazier crushing the turkey leg

After some good bull riding, it was time to hit the country bar. I watched on in awe as these country folk busted out seemingly choreographed dance moves worthy of So You Think You Can Dance. We made friends with everyone, bought them beers, and answered questions about what it was like growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. “I remember those frigid winter days on the farm helping dad keep the cows warm like it was yesterday,” I would tell them. I met one of the bull riders’ mothers. Apparently her son is #8 in the world. She demanded that I Facebook her son on the spot. It’s been 20 days and the friend request is still pending. The surprise of the evening was how good the food was. The corn dog was battered to perfection, and the funnel cakes were greasily delicious. But the winner of the evening were the slow-smoked turkey legs. These things were HUGE.

The day came to an end with me begging every employee in sight to let me take home their staff t-shirt as a souvenir. No such luck. I’m still salted about that.

Lander, WY

Lunch at Gannet Grill

great pizza at Gannet Grill in Lander

So we wake up Wednesday morning and crush out of Cheyenne early. ***Note to all interested in doing a roadtrip: leave early in the morning on days of long driving. It sucks waking up, but you’ll be so happy you did when it’s over. If you’re tired, sleep in the car–it’s more productive than sleeping in bed.***

We decide to disregard Google’s suggested route, and instead opt for a more scenic route that our friend Martin tipped us off to. This one brought us through Lander, MT, a “quintessential mountain town,” as Martin put it. We had an unreal meal of brick-oven pizza with chicken, garlic cream and bacon at the Gannet Grill, followed by a great cup of coffee at the local coffee joint. Great tip, Martin. (Martin would later come up huge again on several fronts…MVP of the trip?)

Somewhere 15 Minutes Outside Lander, WY

Casino stop

made $9. #winning

Glazier and I decided from there on out to say “yes” to everything for the remainder of the road trip. Accordingly, when we passed a little roadside casino on our way out of Lander, we stopped…and I won $9. Great little afternoon we had there.

Dubois, WY

sure are opportunities at the opportunity thrift store in Dubois

Sticking with our commitment to say “yes” to everything, we just had to stop in Dubois when we saw what appeared to be an absolutely epic store–The Opportunity Shop Thrift Store in Dubois, WY. I mean, I had no idea what the hell they meant by “opportunity,” but I was damn sure intrigued by this. We ended up making out like bandits. I got 3-4 epic Wyoming t-shirts, my favorite of which was the 2004 Dubois, WY D.A.R.E. program shirt. We also got a $10 grill, which we intended on using in Yellowstone…until it didn’t work. More on that later. And to cap off the experience, we got 10% off our monstrous $20 bill just by liking them on Facebook, which I conveniently did right there in the store on my iPhone.

We said goodbye to Dubois and headed out through the Tetons and Yellowstone en route to Big Sky, MT.

Big Sky, MT

they call it Big Sky for a reason

They call it Big Sky for a reason–the skies are fuckin’ huge! I think it’s just cuz there are obviously no buildings and the mountains look so distant that the sky just opens up forever above. Anyway, we’d heard about Big Sky as having some great hikes, good golf, interesting food, and friendly people. Check, check, check, and…check. So even though it was realistically a bit out of our way as far as the route was concerned, we felt like we had to check it out. And I’m sure glad we did.

Dinner at Bucks T4

Red deer with truffle risotto

We got tipped off by Glazier’s buddy that we had to go to Bucks T4 for dinner. I was a bit put off by the name, but was willing to overlook it as soon as I saw the menu. This place was IT. Neither of us were dying of hunger, so Glazier starts off with the summer watermelon salad. Let me say that this yellow watermelon was literally the most delicious watermelon I’ve ever tasted. Topped with some red onion and citrus vinaigrette–it was great. He made fun of me for my “boring selection” of the house salad, but this was no ordinary house salad–the cinnamon roasted pumpkin seeds and the cherry vinaigrette were so good that I neglected the fact that I am allergic to cherries (I would survive in the end). Really, the highlight of dinner was the red deer with truffle risotto, which we split. Neither of us had had red deer before, but it was surprisingly tender, lean, and ridiculously good. It came rare, with port wine butter sauce slapped all over the truffle risotto and fresh asparagus. Probably my third favorite meal of the trip.

We asked the waitress where to go hiking and she immediately snapped back with “go to Lava Lake. You won’t regret it.” So we decided to wake up super early and do it up before our round of golf at 11:30. We got back to the hotel where Glazier passed out immediately while I watched an episode of Locked Up Abroad. I set my alarm for 6:30am. Tomorrow would be a long day.

Hike at Lava Lake

Lava Lake in Big Sky

It was now Thursday morning, Day 5 of the trip. We were going strong, which was good because today would be the most activity ever crammed into a 16-hour period. We awoke at 6:30 that morning, and set off to crush Lava Lake. I especially liked the concierge’s directions to the lake: “Head about 15 minutes up-canyon, pull a U-turn at the crik (they pronounce ‘creek’ like ‘crik’), and park near the river. It was the most physically challenging hike of the trip, but again, we are athletic specimens, so equipped with an Albuterol inhaler, we ascended into thin air. It took us about an hour 15 to get through the dense forest and up to the lake at the top, where we were both out of breath. But holy shit was it worth it. This was the best hike of the trip.

Look at that view! Seriously. Unreal. We hung out for a half hour shooting the shit and talking about how we both used to be fat. Then we argued over who was the better Fatlete (Fat Athlete). I conceded the Fatlete award to Glazier, but only after he conceded that people liked me more when we were both fat (and probably still do now). That’s a tradeoff I’m happy to make.

Golfing

calling my shot...right into the weeds

There was only enough time to pound a burrito before our 11:30 am tee time at Big Sky Country Club. It was pretty expensive ($110 w/cart and clubs and balls), especially for me who doesn’t like golf that much. But it was literally perfect outside, so I figured what the hell. It was actually a ton of fun. We bet on who would win more holes. The stakes? Loser buys all the meat to grill when we camp out at Yellowstone. Glazier won, but he was on performance enhancers–kid was packing lips all round. He also went to private school, so he’s been surrounded by preppy golfers his whole life. I, on the other hand, went to public school because the $200 million Newton North (most expensive public school in history) was good enough for me.

Fly Fishing

fly fishing in Big Sky with Martin and the family

Hadn’t ever been fly fishing before, but when our friend of a friend Martin told us he’d take us out for a sunset fly fishing session with his son and wife, how could we say ‘no?’ So we put on whatever we thought fly fishers would wear–hiking boots, shorts, sweatshirts, and lots of bug spray. Now I had no idea what to expect. I had always thought that it was called “fly fishing” because of the something that had to do with the way they cast the line out. Wrong. It is because the bait they use looks like flies.

Also surprising was that the fish you are going for are like 1 pound striped trout–not exactly the “big catch.” That said, it’s more about the relaxation and zen-like flow of casting the line out into the stream. So I stood alongside the banks and froze my toes off in the water for 3 hours focusing on my breath and watching the sun melt into the mountains overlooking Big Sky. It was pretty meditative, actually. And guess what?! Right at the end, we both caught little stripers. What an end to the day. Plus, we made great friends with Martin and his family. They were amazing. When it was all over, we all went out to a great dinner, too…

Dinner at Corral Bar

If want a quintessential burger join in Big Sky, look no further than the Corral Bar. This place just runneth over with a classic mountain west vibe. Friendly people and laid-back bar area are the perfect setup for an awesome meal. Glazier got the buffalo burger, which was awesome. I got the sirloin steak. I just needed a steak, even if it wasn’t what they were known for. We ate and talked with Martin about his hunting hobby, which ended in him insisting on giving us pounds and pounds of red deer leftover from his last hunt. He shot the deer himself, gutted it himself, and then had a local butcher come over and package the fresh meat. We obviously took him up on the offer. This would become our dinner both nights at the campsite in Yellowstone. Unreal. Martin for MVP.

Pony, MT

ATV riding

Glazier atop his ATV at the cabin overlooking Pony, MT

Pony, MT is an old gold mining town that is all but a ghost town. Why go 1.5 hours out of our way to stop here? Glazier has a friend named Chip who’s family is a part-owner of a farm in Pony where they have some badass ATVs. So Chip arranged for us to take the ATVs out for a spin around their property. I had never been on an ATV before, but I’ve heard they can crush through absolutely any terrain. Still, I was a bit frightened because like a motorcycle, you’re not strapped in to anything. Plus, we didn’t have helmets. But Lezlie, the farm’s caretaker, assured me that her “13 year old daughter takes them for a spin all the time.” If a 13 year-old girl can do it, I figured I’ could, too. I was only sort of correct on this one.

About 15 minutes into the event, I was scaling up a steep grassy hill when I accidentally ventured slightly off the beaten path, hit a big bump, flew up on right my right 2 tires, and literally came within inches of bailing the vehicle, completely totaling the ATV. At the last split-second I was somehow able to gather my balance and come to a stop. I don’t know who Lezlie’s 13 year old daughter is, but these things are dangerous beasts that sorta scare the shit out of me. The video below is moments after the event. I could laugh about it when it was over, but I won’t be running out to ride ATVs again any time soon.

But the ATV scare was worth it when we got up to the cabin that overlooks all of Pony. It’s owned by the farm and the view is just spectacular (see picture above). On the way down, though, there were more challenges to come. First, Glazier’s ATV died while scaling up a hill. We had to ride 2 people on 1 ATV, which isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world when you’re driving over big rocks, deep ditches, and through muddy swamps. Then, Glazier led us off-trail. He claims to be so good at directions, but he was straight up wrong this time. Following his lead, we tried to go back to the farm straight through a swamp. The ATV got stuck 3 times, each time having to be pushed from behind by someone ankle-deep in mud as the ATV’s tires kicked up grime in their face. We finally got back to the main road and coasted back to the farm. On the way, though, we stopped dead in our tracks as a huge moose ventured into the road. 30 yards separated us from this beast and Glazer and I looked at each other like “what the fuck do we do?? Is it going to charge at us?” So we sat there staring down this moose for a good 30 seconds–an eternity when you’re wondering if an 800 pound animal with antlers is going to attack you. Alas, it scampered off into the woods, allowing us to proceed home with caution. Good times, good times.

Pony Bar

In need of a drink after my near-death experience, we headed to the infamous Pony Bar. If you could imagine what a bar in the middle of a Cowboy ghost town looks like, this would be it. $3 beers all the time, a couple pool tables, and homemade jerky were the highlights. They also had an amusing sign that read: “Please don’t throw your cigarette butts in the urinals. It makes them wet and difficult to smoke.” Classic. We headed out from there to Bozeman, MT to pick up our deer meat from Martin. From there we would head straight to Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park

this buffalo stopped in the middle of the road through Yellowstone, holding up traffic for 30 minutes

10 notes on Yellowstone:

1) It’s massive. It took us 2 1/2 hours from entrance to entrance.

2) Accordingly, things are not close by. Old Faithful is an hour’s drive from the canyon, for instance.

Glazier tries to move the beans with our impromptu spatula--a snow brush

3) Book campsites far in advance.

4) It gets freezing at night, even in the heart of summer.

5) Don’t try to plan your activities in advance–there are too many to choose from. Get there and tell a ranger what you wanna do, then they’ll guide you.

6) Old Faithful is a waste of time. See video below for an exact replica.

View from one of the trails at the canyon

7) The canyon/waterfall is amazing. Our best activities at Yellowstone are canyon-related, especially “artist’s point.” And look how close you can get to the 350-foot waterfall (video below)!

There are legit so many different landscapes there from desert, to tundra, to forest, to meadows, to plains, and everything in between.

9) Buy stuff before you enter the park, especially firewood–it’s a ripoff inside.

10) If you’re gonna do Yellowstone, do the Tetons as well (more on that later).

Tetons

The Tetons were unbelievably beautiful, and perhaps even more visually stunning than anything we saw in Yellowstone–especially Old Faithful. So we decided on our last day of the trip to go for a little canoe across Lake Jenny in the Tetons. It was a pretty peaceful place to brainstorm menu items for our 2-bite sandwich bar concept in Manhattan. If we’d had more time here, we’d have gone for some hikes–which I heard were epic.

Jackson, WY

The last stop on the trip was Jackson, WY, where Glazier’s friend’s family part-owns a ranch and golf club. This is where my storytelling ends, however, as I spent only one quick night here before taking off back to Madison in the morning–an 18 hour driving extravaganza that I was less than looking forward to. Part 2 of this post will be about my trip back and ultimately my trek back East to start phase 2 of my professional life.

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On September 5th I got an email from my business partner, Nate Lustig, and the subject line read: Want to move to Chile? In it, he linked to an article in Forbes about Startup Chile, a new initiative by the Chilean government to foster local entrepreneurship by luring in interesting startups from around the world. The government was going to give out $40,000 to 25 lucky startups to move to Santiago, Chile for 6 months with no strings attached–they don’t want equity, and it’s not a loan. It is a grant for the startup to use to achieve specific milestones while abroad.

The more we read about it, the more we were impressed. The Chilean Minister of Economy had just returned from a trip to promote the program and do some networking with the likes of Mike Arrington and Vivek Wadwha, Mark Zuckerberg of The Social Network, and several VC funds in the Valley.

On September 20th, we decided to apply. We figured, “ah, what the hell. It’d be pretty neat if we win.” I hadn’t gone abroad during college when the opportunity was presented to me, and a growing part of me felt like I was in need of an adventure. I was a bit hesitant, only because there were still a bunch of unknowns about the program, but I figured we’d cross that bridge if/when we came to it.

On September 22nd, we got an email back asking us to get ready for a Skype interview with the Startup Chile team. It went quite well and they asked us to submit a 3 minute video on our company’s history, and why we want to come to Santiago. Since both Nate and I like to cook, we decided to make our case by videotaping ourselves cooking authentic Chilean cuisine and incorporate it into our video, which can be seen here (fast forward to 0:54 to watch us cook). I’m not sure if it was the cooking that won them over, but needless to say, we did something right because…

On October 4th, Nate turned around in his swivel chair at the office, turned to me and said, “I just got an interesting email. Do you still want to go to Chile?” We both started simultaneously laughing. It wasn’t until that point that this became something real, tangible. It was just a “whatever, let’s apply and see what happens” situation.

We spent the next couple weeks figuring out if it made sense to go for our company’s sake. After listing out the pros and cons, and looking back over our budget for the next 8 months, and talking with investors, we decided to go. The decision was actually pretty easy in the end. We do almost all of our work at the moment online, and although our Madison network is exceptionally strong, and growing stronger by the day, there was nobody who we felt we couldn’t connect with via email and phone while we were away. And worse comes to worse, we figured we were always a $750 flight away if need be.

Idea generation and creativity are undoubtedly at their highest when you’re in an solid entrepreneurial community. This is something that Santiago offered in a big way. Not that Madison doesn’t have good networking, beacuse it absolutely does, but this is a very rare opportunity to do so internationally. Santiago also would provide some needed extra capital to hurry a few big projects through the pipeline. And as we read more and more into the program and did the research, we just continued to become more intrigued by the opportunity. Fast forward to…

Today, November 1st, we got our visas and booked our flights, and it finally sunk in that I’m moving in 2 weeks. I’m really looking forward to this trip on a number of fronts. Personally speaking, I have a travel bug that is itching to get out. I want to see more of the world, and at age 23 with no wife and family, happy to live on simple food and drink so long as I have high-speed Internet, I believe that this deep passion to travel is something to be cultivated and explored instead of denied and repressed. I’m also really excited to re-learn Spanish, and become proficient in another language. This is a cool to me. I also am excited to explore Chile’s produce and fish and meats at the Mercado Central, Santiago’s largest open air food market. This is also cool to me. And perhaps mostly, I am SO PUMPED to go stargazing in the northern Chile Atacama Desert. Supposedly the best night sky in the world. Wow.

On a professional level, I’m pumped to meet people and learn about tons of cool startup projects. The network we’ll meet down there is sure to be an exciting blend of International talent across many different industries, which is something that Madison just can’t offer at this moment in time. I plan to do a whole Santiago food guide while down there, as well as update this blog regularly.

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Growing up, the best episodes of all the sitcoms were the socially relevant drug and alcohol episodes. From Jessie Spano’s caffeine addiction, to DJ Tanner’s beer bust, these are the best drug and alcohol episodes of our childhood.

Saved By The Bell

“Jessie’s Song” This is perhaps the most well-known SBTB episode of all time. Jessie starts taking caffeine pills so she can stay up to study and get into Stanford. She also has to perform in some sort of weird dance group with Lisa and Kelly. Jessie crashes after her big math test and almost misses the big performance. Zach totally pulls an intervention. Watch it all go down here

And in close second…“Drinking and Driving” The gang celebrates Lisa’s win as Homecoming Queen with a toga party at football player Ox’s house. But while driving home from the party in Lisa’s mother’s car, they all get into an accident when Zack’s drunk driving damages it. Despite a little help from Tori in their attempts to cover it up, the scam is revealed and everything ends badly for everyone involved, including Zack who has a brawling out with his father.

Full House

“Just Say No Way!” In this unbeatable episode, D.J. gets caught red-handed with a beer at a school dance. In reality, D.J. wasn’t drinking. Rather, she was confiscating the beer from the punk 13 year-old perpetrators. But this misunderstanding takes a while to iron out–and a lotta hugs from Danny Tanner! Watch D.J. get caught here

Family Matters

“Drinking and Jiving” Laura drinks beer, and another, and another, and so on until she’s heavily drunk. That night, she and Steve share a kiss. In the meantime, Carl and Harriette share their different anniversary plans with Eddie. When they tell each other, they get into an argument. It’s up to Eddie to make things right…

Fresh Prince

“Just Say Yo”: Carlton gets caught with speed pills…but the pills are really Will’s! Watch Will confess to uncle Phil (note: he cries a lot)

“Will’s Drunk”: Will is challenged to a drinking contest by some college athelete. They really go at that tequilla…with serious consequences! Watch it Will get shitfaced here

boy meets world

Home Improvement

“What a Drag” Brad gets caught smoking weed. Enough said. Watch part 1 here. Part 2 here.

Cosby Show

“I’m in with the in crowd” To take a break from boys, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) goes to an all-girl party with her friend Susan (Lisa Rieffel). Out of boredom, the girls inaugurate a drinking contest called “The Alphabet Game”–and despite her initial resistance, Vanessa ends up stewed to the gills! Although the agonies suffered by Vanessa throughout the “morning after” are all too familiar, the reaction of her parents Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) to the situation are most surprising indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide, http://www.answers.com/topic/the-cosby-show-i-m-in-with-the-in-crowd-tv-episode

Watch part 1 here, part 2 here...and part 3 here

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There we were, resting peacefully on Waimea beach, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. There were three of us: my old college roommate Aaron, our friend Francesca, and myself. It was around 5 o’clock, and the slowly melting Hawaiian sun cut gently by the misting seabreeze provided ideal napping conditions. So we all fell asleep.

About an hour later, when we woke up, we all woke up together. That is, all three of us independently went from sleeping to waking within the same 5-10 second period of time. I guess this happens quite often. Many times I’ve been sleeping in the car or on a bus and seem to wake up at the same time as other people.

So, what’s going on here? It appears that we are all responding to some sort of common outside stimulus, right? That is, something happened on the periphery of our consciousnesses that alerted us to wake up at the same time. A quick google query returned no help. Hmm

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Matt Glazier

Roma 2008

Restaurant Guide

Lunch

A great thing about Italy is that lunch can be anything you want it to be. It can be a full five course sit down meal or it can be a quick panini. Either way, there are many places I love for a good lunch. I never got into the habit of having heavy lunches and often had a panini, a salad, or a pizza. One thing to keep in mind is that you can walk into any Italian deli and buy fresh bread, cheese, and meat for an incredible sandwich.  Not all places will make sandwiches to order but you can buy the ingredients separately and eat in one of Rome’s many piazzas. I had a break from 1:30-4:30 every day and usually I would wander Rome, finding a new place for lunch. I encourage you to do the same, wander the city, get lost, because that is the way you will not only get to know Rome but you will find some hidden gems.

Forno

Campo de Fiori 22

I cannot say it enough, forno is the best place in the entire city. If you go one place I recommend make sure it is here. When anyone asks me what the best pizza in Rome is, I do not hesitate: Forno. This is the first and last place I will take a visitor to Rome because you can go back every single day and have that same wow sensation. It is one of those moments where you take a bite, absorb the flavors, close your eyes, look to your friend and say wow, this is fantastic. I could go to Forno every day of my life and be completely satisfied and I mean that. While Forno does offer a wide selection of toppings the best choices are the traditional margherita or the pizza with cherry tomatoes. Also, the pizza bianca is simple but delicious, coated delicately with fresh olive oil and oregano. Fresh pizza’s come regularly so I recommend waiting it out until you can get a slice directly out of the oven. The only draw back of Forno is that there are no places to sit, however I enjoy grabbing a slice at Forno and walking to near by Piazza Navona. Cheap, fast and delicious, there is no better place in Rome for pizza by the slice. Something to keep in mind, Forno closes at two, reopens at five and closes at seven. I don’t recommend going after five because they don’t make fresh pizzas as often

Volpetti

Via Marmorata

There is no better place in all of Rome for Italian meats and cheeses. Located in Testaccio, Volpetti is a traditional Italian deli with meats hanging from the ceiling and the aroma of fresh cheese lingering. The servers at Volpetti are exceptionally kind and welcoming. You can get a few types of meat and cheese and eat them at the near by park or at request they will make you a panini to take away. While it may be overwhelming to pick between the ample selections of meat and cheese, I offer two suggestions. First off, get the pesto. This is by far, the best pesto I have had in Rome. Second, if you are in question of what type of cheese or meat to get, just ask, the men behind the counter will recommend their preference. If in need, my go to sandwich at Volpetti is speca, salami, pecorino, pesto and olive oil, however the prosciutto crudo with fresh mozzarella and olive oil is amazing as well. A note about the olive oil, it is not out of a bottle, the men at Volpetti take a scoop of fresh olives and drain the oil onto the fresh bread. Unreal. Volpetti closes at 2 during the day so make sure you head there in the early afternoon. It is a little out of the way but I guarantee it is worth it.

I Suppli

Via Francesco de Ripa

This place is one of a kind. It serves a Roman specialty which cannot be missed called il suppli. A suppli combines three of my favorite ingredients into what was said to me by a visiting friend as “pure deliciousness”. A suppli is a fried ball of risotto, mozzarella and pomodoro which I like to call a mozzarella stick on steroids, because it is just that much better. Not only are suppli delicious, but they are cheap (1 euro at most places). They are the perfect snack to grab after class or in between meals. Now most pizza shops have suppli for the customer however not always freshly made and piping hot. And trust me, the best suppli has to be fresh and hot. I Suppli as the name suggests is known for their suppli. Located in Trastevere, this hole in the wall (literally) has a great grab and go selection consisting of fresh pasta, pizzas and of course suppli. The suppli are always fresh and one of my favorites so far in Rome. I honestly say that I cannot pass this place without stopping in and having a suppli. It is always crowded with locals, which is always a good sign and the men behind the counter are very welcoming. Go there in between meals or as a bite in between classes, but beware, suppli are filling and at I suppli they are huge.

Miscellanea

Sometimes in Italy, you need a break from the pizzas, pastas  and panini and simply crave a fresh salad. There is no other place in Rome to get neither a better nor more affordable salad, which are made to order with any combination of ingredients for only six euro a piece.  My personal favorite was turkey fresh tomato, mozzarella, walnuts, egg , olive oil and red wine vinegar. It is nice at times to have something light and fresh. Run by friendly owner Mikki, Mics (as most college students call it) is a delicious and healthy lunch alternative and located just minutes away from the Pantheon. The salads are extremely fresh and actually very tasty. While Mics is packed with local Italians, the staff is extremely friendly to students like me as well. This is also a solid bar at night that shows both Italian and American sports. (where I watched the super bowl) It is very difficult to find, but if you are in the entrance of the Pantheon, take a right out of Piazza Della Rotunda and take your next left down an alley; Mics will be on your left.

Frantoni’s

Corner of Via Francesco de Ripa and Vialle de Trastevere.

Frantoni’s is an unbelievable place for lunch. They have made to order paninis with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, Italian meats and various oils and vinegar. In addition to the paninis, you also have the option to get a place of meat, cheese and vegetables. Often times I would get a plate with mozzarella, prosciutto, broccoli rabe, zucchini and tomatoes. There is also a bar of fresh antipasti. I ended up going here like once a week for lunch because it was convenient and very good.

Obika Mozzarella Bar

This is somewhat of a trendy lunch spot but serves some of the best mozzarella I had in Rome. Every thing you order, whether it is plain vegetables or classic Italian meats comes with a variation of fresh Mozzarella. I thought the food was great but somewhat pricey for a lunch in Rome.

Aristocampo

This is a panini place located literally twenty steps from John Cabott. I am sure you will go here a lot and I don’t doubt that it is good. The ingredients aren’t the freshest, but its fast and you can make whatever sandwich you want. My go to was chicken cutlet, mozzarella, peppers (they have amazing peppers) and salsa rosa (which is like a russian). Although this in convenient and good, there are better places in Rome and I urge you not to settle for it everyday.

Da Francesco

Piazza del Fico

+39 06 6864009

Some of the best restaurants are those where you don’t even get a choice of what food you order. I love the kind of places where the staff brings the special of the house or special of the day to your table without even consulting a menu; because more often than not, it is extremely fresh and tasty. This is one of my general rules of eating in Italy, eat the specialty of the house. The words de la cassa scream out to me from the menu; and this applies not only to food but the wine as well. I went to Da Francesco for lunch, ordered a glass of house wine and looked over the menu. Before I had a chance to make a decision one of the waiters came over to me and asked me the following; “Antipasti?” I am not an enormous antipasti fan, especially when I am trying to have a lite lunch so I respectively declined. He answered back, “Bolognaise?” I thought to myself sure, why not. I had seen bolognaise as the specialty of the day and decided to trust the waiter. I was not disappointed as this was one of the best bolognaise dishes I have had yet in Rome. Overall, Da Francesco serves excellent homemade pasta is absolutely somewhere I would return.  At night, it turns into a pizzeria, however I never got the chance to go back.

Enotecca Cul de Sac

Piazza Pasquino, 73

+39 06 68801094

This is one of my favorite places to go for lunch. Located on a side street right outside of Piazza Navona, Cul de Sac has an enormous selection of wine, meats and cheese. It has that small, rustic feel a trattoria in Trastevere would have, which is nice in the central part of the city that you don’t usually get in most places. They have an English menu however I enjoy getting the Italian menu and trying to navigate my way through the array of options. With such a wide variety of meats and cheeses, you can order your choice of two cheeses and two meats for starters. The waiter will often times recommend a cheese and a meat if you are caught stumbling through the long list. The brie was fantastic along with the prosciutto and salami. For primi, the pasta selections are rather limited however both the lasagna and amatriciana are delicious. Additionally, the house bean soup was delicious especially considering I usually do not order soup while abroad. The portions are the perfect size for a light lunch and the food all around quite good.

Hostaria Isidoro

Via S. Giovanni in Laterano, 59/a
+39 06 7008266

There are not many students who live in the area of Rome by the Colosseum, however if you are looking for a good lunch following a tour of the Colosseum and want to avoid the ample tourist traps in the area, this restaurant is a good choice. They have a wide selection of delicious pasta and pizza. I would recommend the chef’s or house pasta sampler which changes daily. We had delicious bolognese and gnocchi.

Dinner

Like I said with lunch, the best thing to do in Rome is wander around the city and find your own places. You never know what you will find or what hidden gym you will discover. Often times the most authentic restaurants are those that are whole in wall, local places. While these restaurants are places I recommend, find your own places because Rome is full of amazing restaurants. You don’t understand how lucky you are to in such a great city because the food is affordable and delicious.  Also, a lot of the places I went to for dinner on a consistent basis were those in my neighborhood, so look out for the them.

Vecchia Locanda (favorite restaurant in Rome)

Vicolo Sanibaldi 2

+39 0668802831

Every traveler has in mind their ideal dining experience. We all want to stumble upon a random alley and find that mom and pop hole in the wall that you envision. Locanda Vecchia from the outside screams out romance and authenticity. During the day, it is invisible to the naked eye, the only sign of a restaurant is the name scripted on the top of the door leading into the restaurant. However, return at night to find the vine awning illuminated by two humble flames. You walk into the restaurant to see only a few tables, however the host will lead you down a set of stairs into the basement/wine cellar. Although dark, the room is lit by candle light and surrounded by ample bottles of wine. It is without a doubt a perfect place for a date in the city, which was the setting I first experienced. The pasta is homemade and in exceptionally unique shapes with a variety of texture. The carbonara is fantastic however ask for the special of the day. I had at one meal a spaghetti with pancetta, brie and truffle, which was exceptional. For a secondi, the traditional saltimbocca romana is one of the best in Rome as well as the sea bass. If you are partial to anchovy, the steak in an anchovy garlic glaze is a different taste than most cuts of beef you will get in a restaurant and was extremely tasty. One of my favorite restaurants in Rome, this is the kind of place you go either with your parents, or for a special occasion.

Matricianella

Via Del Leone 2-4

+39 06 683 2100

Matricianella is located in one of my favorite parts of Rome, Piazza San Lorenzo. The traditional cobblestone alleys leading from the Pantheon towards the Spanish Steps can be a challenge to navigate however, it is not always a bad thing to be lost. The array of alleys and small streets lend themselves to what can and should be a perfect setting for a Roman dinner. When in Rome, do as the Romans do and eat dinner at a restaurant which specializes in Roman cuisine. Matricianella, right off of Piazza San Lorenzo and Via Del Corso is a great place to feel at home in Roma. We arrived at 10pm to see the restaurant completely full both inside and out. Be it somewhat expensive for a student abroad, this is a great place to take your parents if you are looking for a traditional  meal. While there is no house wine and the wine list to some may look like a bible of sorts, the menu specializes in Roman cuisine. The buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes are undoubtedly fresh and tender however the fritto misto for an antipasti cannot be missed. A fried selection of various vegetables and cheeses, this dish is perfectly prepared and makes you wonder why a restaurant in the United States can’t perfect such a dish. The menu is full of traditional pastas like spaghetti carbonara and amatriciana, however the tonnerlioni with artichoke in a light sauce was the highlight of the meal. The secondi, consisting of traditional saltinboca romana, steak and lamb were all very tasty and well prepared. Overall, I would say, great food, great atmosphere and a great experience.

Trattoria de Cavalier Gino

Vicollo Rossini, 4

06 687 3434

This is one of my favorite places. Throughout Italy, many of stores and restaurants close in the middle of the afternoon and reopen in the early evening. At first close, workers and store owners alike tend to flock to their favorite local trattoria for a late lunch. Gino’s is no exception. The simple yet rustic trattoria is consistently packed with local Italians who flock to the rustic trattoria after they close up shop. While the menu is translated in English, I was surrounded by local Romans and could hear nothing but Italian, always a good sign in my opinion. In addition to the classic Roman menu, daily specials are listed outside in the quiet alley way. Gino himself is the owner and a nice old man who putters around and delivers the food to his faithful customers, which adds to already authentic atmosphere. Although I have only eaten there twice, the house spaghetti was delicate and delicious, cooked perfectly in a light butter sauce with peas, pancetta and mushroom, topped with a generous helping of parmesan. The veal saltinboca, a Roman specialty was the best I had in Rome. Gino’s is open for lunch and dinner.

La Scala Ristorante

Via Della Scala

There are not very many restaurants I return to on a constant basis, however if I have visitors who want a good dinner, I know with certainty that La Scala will come through. Although it is somewhat pricy for a dinner in Trastevere, it is a very good restaurant, although I find myself getting the same thing each visit. For starters, a good antipasti for the table is the foccacia primavera which consists of fresh foccacia topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil and olive oil. The dough is extremely light and flakey while the tomatoes and mozzarella are fresh. Add a touch of balsamic vinegar and you have yourself a great appetizer. For primi, the house ravioli is in one word, amazing. The plate comes with two homemade ravioli filled with ricotta in a sage, pancetta, mushroom, white wine butter sauce. The ravioli by itself is tender and delicate however combined with the delicious sauce; it is a truly fantastic dish. The other pasta dishes are also good, such as the carbonara and the gnocchi with truffle and smoked gouda, however they do not stand out like the ravioli. For secondi, the truffle steak is very good along with some of the best mashed potatoes I have had abroad. Additionally, the mixed grill plate is tasty and a good thing to split if you are looking for a lighter secondi. It is more of a modern looking restaurant compared to the surrounding local trattoria of Trastevere however; the ravioli is worth the visit.

Augusto

Piazza Di Renzi

A sure sign of a good restaurant is when there is a wait every night of the week. Augusto is consistently packed with local Romans who flock to the Trastevere trattoria for the delicious food, constantly changing menu and low prices. I finally ate at Augusto after three attempts, each time being turned away by the long wait. Initially I was disappointed by my meal at Augusto after sampling a variety of average pasta dishes, which were neither homemade nor creative. But at Augusto, the wide selection of meats, at extremely reasonable prices is the highlight. Ranging from rabbit and oxtail to traditional vitello Romano, each secondi is tender and delicious. I recommend both the lamb and the rabbit however; try whatever is special that day. At Augusto, the prices are extremely cheap for both delicious house wine and delicious secondi. Know ahead of time that the specialty is the selection of meat, not the pasta.

Casetta de’ Trastevere

Piazza Di Renzi

065800158

Every restaurant you go to in Rome has certain dishes that they prepare exceptionally well. The same is true with Casetta di Trastevere. Like all restaurants located in Trastevere the house wine and local specialties are all very good, however there is one dish that I recommend to any patron: the spaghetti with assorted seafood.  The various seafood comprised of mussels, clams and shrimp is tossed together with a delicate sauce of white wine, butter and parsley. The dish is finished in a tin foil seal which locks in the flavor and the aroma of the seafood into the pasta. The ingredients are simple, however the preparation along with fresh ingredients make this dish truly fantastic. In addition to the seafood pasta, the rigatoni carbonara is fantastic along with the house ravioli, but it is a shame to go to Casetta di Trastevere and not taste the seafood pasta.

Pietro

Via della Pianellari

I will admit, I was skeptical when I was recommended Pietro by a group of girls who had dined there recently. Before committing to Pietro, I of course had to check it out with my own eyes to see if the menu and the atmosphere were to my liking. Immediately I knew I was in for a great meal because Pietro refers to itself as a black truffle restaurant and for me, truffle is one of those key word ingredients which instantly make a dish more appealing on paper. In addition to just the food, the staff at Pietro is one of the more friendly I have experienced abroad, as they made you feel truly welcome and genuinely cared about the quality of your meal. At the suggestion of our server, I ordered the gorgonzola and pancetta gnocchi with black truffle. I was awestruck when the server brought the plate over and began to shave fresh black truffle on top of my already fantastic smelling dish. Each bite of the tender gnocchi complimented by the delicate shaved truffle melted in your mouth and was truly one of the more memorable dishes I have had. All of the pasta’s at Pietro are homemade however I recommend any of the gnocchi or ravioli on the menu. Keep in mind that this is an expensive restaurant (22 euro for the gnocchi), however one plate can satisfy two people, for they are heavy.  Great place for any food lover and parent.

Spirito de Vino

Via dei Genovesi 31 A/B

+39 (0)6 5896689

The staff at Spirito de Vino does their best to try and create a distinct Italian dining experience. Located in Trastevere, the homey atmosphere complements the family owned staff, consisting of mother, father and son. The mother is in the kitchen where she makes fresh pasta and fresh marinades, while the son and father head the dinning room where the son is the wine connoisseur and will recommend a bottle of wine from their enormous wine list. The primi at Spirito De Vino are excellent consisting of both homemade zuppe and homemade pastas, however the secondi are the specialty of this restaurant. The variety of meats are extremely tender and left to marinade days before service. What distinguishes this restaurant for me is the unique menu, as all of the dishes tend to combine different flavors and ingredients you don’t really get in traditional Roman cuisine. The restaurant does two seatings so make a reservation.

Alfredo e Ada

Via Bianchi Nuovi

At Alfredo e Ada, you feel like part of the family. Started over 60 years ago by Alfredo and Ada, Ada still cooks away in her rustic kitchen while her son Sergio has replaced her late husband Alfredo in the dining room. The food is simple and the table settings are basic, but at this local Roman trattoria, you come for the atmosphere. Sergio will greet you with a smile and take your drink order while Ada in the kitchen cooks up whatever primi and secondi she feels is good that day such as farfalle amatricianna and sautéed veal. There is no menu for the customer, as you sit back, relax and let your temporary grandmother serve you quality, comfort Roman food.  At the end of your meal, Ada will walk right up to your table, pinch your cheeks like your grandmother would, and tell you stories of her and her Alfredo. For twenty euro a person, you can get a primi, a secondi, wine, water, and most importantly, a classic Italian family dining experience.

A Maccheroni

Via de Coppelle

During my first visit in Rome a few years ago, I started a journey to find the best caprese salad in all of Italy. Although that grand vision quickly diminished, the caprese at Maccheroni surely would have made the list, maybe even at the top. While Maccheroni is a little pricier than your typical neighborhood trattoria, it does serve some very good dishes. In addition to traditional Roman specialties, Maccheroni has items on the menu with a unique twist such as butternut squash ravioli in a zucchini flower cream sauce. Combine the can’t miss caprese and any of the tasty primi, you can have an extremely satisfying and affordable meal. It is a good option for lunch as well.

Trattoria Antonio Bassetti

Via del Governo Vecchio 18

Set amongst the variety of restaurants behind Piazza Navona along Via Governo Vecchio, Antonio Bassetti is another favor among local Romans. I could tell just instantly that the patrons were regulars, often knowing the servers by their first name. The aroma from the kitchen seeps through to the array of tables and the ambiance is exactly what Roman dining is about: close tables, loud customers and friendly service. It does, what so many other trattorias do: serve fresh, well made basic Roman cuisine. With that said, Antonio Bassetti has very good traditional Roman food including a very good rigatoni carbonara for a primi and sautéed rabbit for a secondi. The prices are extremely reasonable Both the pasta and the meat were well cooked and the carbonara sauce was indeed tasty, however at the end of the meal I was left wanting something more. Antonio Bassetti serves simple, delicious, basic Roman cuisine, which I can appreciate however there are better restaurants out there. The restaurant is a lot like Gino’s, serving good, quality, simple, Roman cuisine. Good place for lunch as well.

Trattoria Da Lucia

Vicolo Mattonato 2

Tucked away in a back alley of Trastevere, Da Lucia takes you out of the tourist scene and into the countryside trattoria. The atmosphere is fantastic and the wine extremely delicious however not much more. Da Lucia is written up in multiple guide books, which surprised me because both meals I had at this Trastevere restaurant were lacking. Aside from the spaghetti alla gricia (the house specialty), the primi were basic and relatively unflavorful. Dishes like tortellini with ragu and fettucini bolognaise were dry and poorly executed. Secondi such as sautéed veal were dry and overcooked. In my opinion, this is a restaurant that is only good because it is listed in a guidebook. I would say Da Lucia is a good place to go at some point, but for a better Roman meal, venture elsewhere.

Tutti Frutti

As my first study abroad meal in Rome, I was expecting big things. I was hoping to experience those wow moments I tasted years ago and urged to taste again. Tutti Frutti came highly recommended as an excellent restaurant in Testaccio. While the house wine was indeed excellent, my meal at Tutti Frutti was average. The linguini I had was covered in a bitter, tart sauce and the veal was bland and over cooked. Although the rigatoni with broccoli rabe and pesto was tasty, my meal was average at best. Maybe I ordered the wrong dish which is definitely a possibility, however there are just too many good restaurants in Rome to go back. Sorry Tutti Frutti. A few of my friends went back and said they had a fantastic dinner so maybe it is worth another go.

Osteria Da Mario

Piazza Delle Coppelle, 51

+39 06 688 6349

It is virtually impossible to find a bad meal in Rome. There are either good meals or there are great meals. Osteria Da Mario is a very good meal but did not strike me as a great restaurant. The restaurant had great antipasti, the meats were all very tasty and the grilled vegetables were excellent. House wine was cheap and delicious. Had a decent bruscetta, but you could tell the tomatoes weren’t as good as they should be. The rigatoni carbonara was cooked perfectly. Other primi were very good however the secondi were nothing to write home about such as pollo, lamb and veal saltimbocca. Overall it is a good place, except not a place I will likely return.

T-Bone Station

Fuck the Hard Rock Café, it is over priced and not that good. This is the place to go if you are homesick and want a solid burger. It is right next to JC so I am sure you will find it rather easily. They have good burgers and lots of TV’s to watch games.

Pizzerias

One thing to keep in mind is that all of these pizza places are only open for dinner. That is the Italian way, you eat a heavy lunch and a light pizza for dinner. The crust is so thin in Rome that you never feel overly full like you do in the States. Aside from Naples, Rome has the best pizza in Italy so take advantage of it. Not only is the pizza flat out unreal, but it is not too expensive. Most places you can get a pizza and some wine for 10 euro.

Dar Poeta (my favorite)

Vicolo del Bologna 45/46

+39 6 588 0516

There is a lot of hype mentioned about Dar Poeta so expectations were high. I was surprised at first to see that the menu consisted solely of antipasti and pizza, which for me was a comfort to know the restaurant specialized in pizza. The pizza dar poeta was fantastic, cooked with fresh zucchini and sausage with the perfect amount of garlic and olive oil. The crust is cooked perfectly in a wood oven and served piping hot. The traditional Margherita was also delicious. Do not miss, I repeat do not miss the desert calzone at Dar Poeta, filled with nutella and fresh ricotta. The calzone is served directly out of the oven and the combination of the nutella, fresh ricotta and amazing dough is what every warm desert should taste like, borderline perfection.

Pizzeria Da Buffetto

Via Governo Vecchio

This is known as one of the best places in Rome and is in every single guide book you will ever read. As such, the place is always packed. I can say without a doubt this is the thinnest crust I have ever had. I think Buffeto has awesome pizza, but not worth the long wait that usually accompanies the restaurants.  What I did once or twice was go to Abbey Theatre, a sports bar which shows all the soccer games as well as playoff American sports and head to Buffetto right before close around 1045.

Pizzeria San Collisto

Piazza San Collisto

Via Francesco De Ripa

I love Pizzeria San Collisto because like Buffetto, the crust is so amazingly thin. Additionally, the pizza’s are enormous, almost the size of your wingspan. The wine is cheap and so are the pizzas which what makes it such a popular spot. You can get a classic margarita pizza and liter of wine for about 10 euro.

Pizzeria Ai Marmi

Vialle de Trastevere

Many of the pizza places that are famous in Rome are because of international guidebooks. Places like Buffetto are good but they are always filled with tourists. If you want the most authentic pizza eating experience in Rome, go to Ai Marmi. You are shoved next to other patrons and often are touching elbows. The place is always packed but on a nice night, it is great to sit outside and eat one of the best pizzas in Rome. You will not hear a word of English and the pizza will be one of the best you will have

Pizzeria Ivo

Via Francesco de Ripa.

Everyone always raved about Ivo when I was in Rome, but honestly I was not a huge fan. The pizza does not compare to the ones I mentioned above, however it is a larger place, and good for a large group. They have a huge menu filled with pasta, pizza, and fried appetizers but honestly, not a place I would go if I had all of Rome at my disposal.

Da Vittorio

Via di San Cosimato 14/a

+39 06-5800353

Da Vittorio is a great find because unlike many of the other Roman pizzerias like Dar Poeta or Pizzeria Ivo, it is open for both lunch and dinner. It specializes in a variety of homemade pizzas which are made to order from scratch.  Like many of the pizzerias in Trastevere, the house wine is delicious, cheap and overall a perfect way to pass the time while the chefs at Da Vittorio go to work on their homemade dough. In addition to the delicious fork and knife pizza’s the fresh prawn and tomato cream risotto is one of the best seafood dishes I have had in Rome. Da Vittorio is a perfect place to fulfill all your culinary needs with great homemade pizza, fresh pastas and delicious house wines. The risotto is a must have along with any of the bianco pizzas, I recommend the mushroom, sausage, garlic and olive oil.

Gelatto and Other Deserts.

You really can’t go wrong with any gelato, its all good in my opinion. But there are two places, which happen to be next to each other, that re my two favorites.

Della Parma

This place is great because it has probably over 100 flavors of gelato. There are some crazy flavors and combinations but it is really good and for a while my favorite gelato. For example they have this flavor called mars which is like caramel and butterscotch and chocolate mixed which is awesome. But for the best, get the fresh strawberry mixed with banana split, that was my go to. I don’t kid you that the first time you go in there, you might be so overwhelmed with the amount of flavors that you will walk out, I did.

Giolitti:

This was my favorite gelato place and is more traditional in terms of flavor selection. Honestly it had the best flavor of gelato I have ever had.  I am a huge black raspberry ice cream fan so I like any flavor gelato that resembles that. Get the frutti di bosco and it will rock your world. It is similar to black raspberry but honestly, unbelievable.

To get to della parma, go straight from the pantheon past the mcdonalds and it will be on your left. To get to Giolitti, go past della parma staying straight and take a right at the black duke pub which will be on your left.

Tazza D’Oro

Piazza Della Rotunda

This is one of the best places I went in all of Rome. It has a unique specialty called a granite, which is a combination of ice coffee, coffee coolata, coffee slush. In a cup, the bottom layer is filled with homemade whipped cream that is amazing. In the middle is the iced coffee slush and then topped again with whipped cream. It is amazing, just trust me, and is great on a hot day. It is located in Piazza Della Rotunda by the Pantheon.

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I’d like to welcome the world to Entrustet.com. Launching our Beta version last week was the culmination of some 21 months of work. But the thing is, it has never once felt like real work. Okay, maybe there have been a few times it felt like real work, but overall, I feel like a kid in a candy store of ideas.

Looking back on how Entrustet got started, I can’t help but feel almost overwhelmed by the mysterious, yet fateful and obvious way the Universe tends to unfold itself. Whether or not Entrustet ends up being a long-term financial success or not, nothing can deny the silly number of coincidences that have brought it to this point. First, I had to stumble upon that Ellsworth story in The World is Flat. Then, for some inexplicable reason, at the jovial age of 21 I decided to focus all my attention on death. I knew nothing about starting a tech company, and I knew nothing about estate law, but I did know there was a major thought gap in society’s mind: what happens to all our digital assets when we die? After months of Googling looking for someone or some service out there with a solution to this question, I was convinced it did not exist. But I was also convinced a solution was needed–wasn’t it obvious? I remember being kept up at night saying to myself, “this is SO obvious it hurts.”

I believe in fate. I believe that often the path of least effort actually allows the world to unfold in your benefit right before your eyes–that is, if fate is on your side. After losing in the finals of Northwestern University’s Entrepreneur Idol competition, I was THIS close to calling it all quits. I mean, after all, what the hell was I thinking trying to put together a company that basically went against all common thought and law at the time. Moreover, I had no partner, no advisors, no programming experience at all, and most of all, no cash.

But then fate came in. In the next 10 days, three people independently told me I had to meet this kid Nate Lustig. And meanwhile, three people independently told Nate he had to meet me. Needless to say, we met. From there, the pieces of the Entrustet puzzle have fallen together like dominos–all it took was that one initial push and they all followed suit. We found a top-notch programming firm and well-respected Madison law firm willing to partner in exchange for a slice of the Entrustet pie. Two hurdles cleared. Then we found  a free advisory board to basically act as in-house consultants, answering emails whenever we needed and meeting in person once a month. Then a popular blog about the topic popped up, and news articles aplenty showed up all over the place. Then estate lawyers started blogging about the topic. People started wondering about the topic. Horror stories of reasons to protect your digital assets could be found strewn all across the Internet. Then we were asked to speak about the topic at South by Southwest. Then we raised more money than we ever expected to, and then the local government gave us a forgivable loan. It was all topped off by this ABA article and this NBC 15 video.

Whether or not you are a big believer in fate, it’d be hard to deny there is something more powerful moving this thing along than just Nate and me. Although I am a co-founder, I really cannot take all that much credit for Entrustet. This is the product of so many countless people’s hard work, that taking much credit for this company would just be silly. All I can do, and all I have been doing, is sit back, watch, and react as the whole thing continues to unfold right in front of my eyes.

I invite anyone out there reading this to check out Entrustet and let us know what you think. It is in Beta mode, so we’re still working out the kinks, but even in it’s testing state, I am confident you’ll see the value in it. From 18 year olds with 200 online accounts to 65 year-olds with just an email address, we’re all HIWIs.