Editor’s Note: Nantucket’s Jimmy Jaksic was in Milan for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. He reported again every day to The Inquirer and Mirror on the occasions in Milan, notably determine skating, and his culinary adventures in Italy.
(Feb. 25, 2026: Update 4:38 p.m.) One final hurrah awaited earlier than we closed the guide on Milan on the United States Olympic Committee closing ceremonies watch social gathering at N’Ombre de Vin, a gourmand restaurant that was began in Milan in 1973 as the primary service provider to import French wine.
The monumental wine cellar, house to over 2,500 bottles, was bedecked with American regalia and large-screen TVs carrying the telecast of the closing ceremony parade of athletes from the traditional Verona Arena, which is 30 AD and an hour exterior of Milan.
We have been fed excellent risotto and copious quantities of wine to unending tunes spun by our personal star-spangled DJ, sax participant, and singer extraordinaire in a purple sequined jacket.
Think nationwide anthem, Sinatra and present tunes: sufficient celebratory power to bop one’s method down the huge charcuterie buffet line. It was additionally one final toast for us with our good friend Dorothy Hamill, who headlined the occasion, and her husband John, earlier than they departed early within the morning for California.
It was a terrific social gathering, the best of spirits as we celebrated 33 medals for the USA, which additionally made its ending surprisingly unhappy. There have been sentimental goodbyes, with the conclusion that this loopy 17 days of Olympic magic was full.
To a one, we have been every fortunately left with unimaginable experiences and recollections and pictures to kind by means of and arrange for a lot of hours of sharing. But for now, some sleep. Arrivaderci, Milan-Cortina 2026.
(Feb. 22, 2026: Update 2 p.m.) With no extra occasions scheduled for us, we have been lastly capable of meet up with our good friend Elin Schran over caffe and a chocolate croissant this morning in a small cafe with sweeping views of the Duomo.
Jimmy and Elin Schrann, daughter of Dr. Tenley Albright, 1956 gold medalist.
Courtesy of Jimmy Jaksic
Elin is the daughter of Dr. Tenley Albright, the 1956 girls gold medal winner, the primary ever girls’s determine skating gold for the U.S., which coincidentally was held in Cortina.
Elin has been a witness final week to Tenley being honored on the seventieth anniversary of capturing the gold together with skating royalty like Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill, Ilia Malinin and others.
Deep in dialog about all issues skating from dangerous music selections to why is everybody skidding on their knees and the non-proximity of all of the venues, we have been abruptly spoken to and principally requested to go away by our waiter, who jogged my memory of the waiter in “Victor, Victoria,” as a result of our desk was reserved for incoming friends.
A fast stroll again to lodge and it was determined it was time to deal with ourselves to a pleasant meal. We each acquired quite a few suggestions from buddies and as I scoured the Internet for his or her web sites they have been both closing at 2:30 and reopening at 7 or utterly chiusa (closed). It is Sunday in Italy.
I did handle to discover a restaurant, Rossini Ristorante, a couple of 15-minute stroll from the lodge that was serving constantly from 11 a.m till 10 p.m.
We have been seated and greeted by the cameriere (waiter) and escorted to a window desk. The waiter had simply returned from a three-day vacation in Florence and was apologizing, for upon his return his uniform shirt and vest had not arrived but from the laundry service.
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
Of course we weren’t conscious so we went forward and ordered a bottle of aqua naturale, an Aperol Spritzer and a Sicilian Chardonnay.
We have been additionally knowledgeable that pizzas weren’t out there. Apparently Luigi had a tough night time and was in dire want of a siesta.
Elizabeth began with the Grilled Artichokes in Oil and I opted for the Vitello Tonnato Cotto Al Vapore Con Salsa Tonnata e Capperi (steamed veal with tuna sauce and capers). So far so good.
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
It seems the laundry truck arrived, for our cameriere then approached us with our entrées in a crisp starched shirt and vest.
Elizabeth loved her Linguine alle Vongole Veracity Con Pompodorini e Sforza di Limone (linguine with white wine braised clams, recent tomatoes and lemon zest) and I loved the Paccheri Alla Norma Con Ricotta Salata (paccheri pasta with fried eggplant in tomato sauce with salted ricotta cheese).
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
Since I used to be on maintain with Air France – extra on that later – we requested for the conto (invoice) and headed again to lodge to look at USA win the gold in hockey and prepare for Round 3. Ding Ding!
(Feb. 21, 2026, 8:15 p.m.) Today began out with a two-hour lunch with “America’s Sweetheart,” the 1976 girls’s Olympic gold medal determine skating champion, Dorothy Hamill.
Over first rate wine and never so first rate meals, we spilled the tea and dished the dish on all of the determine skating competitions which wrapped up with Alysa Liu’s gold medal efficiency Thursday night time.
We rehashed the dreadful music alternatives chosen by the skaters, coaches and choreographers which grew to become much more miserable with the antiquated sound system within the getting older venue that wanted a full facelift.
What ever occurred to a fast spit-shine earlier than firm arrives?
Alysa Liu will need to have had the within observe on her free skate musical choice as a result of “MacArthur Park” was launched in 1978, certainly the identical 12 months the audio system was put in within the Milano Skating Arena. This made for an ideal match.
We reminisced about Dorothy and her husband John’s days on Nantucket: she nonetheless misses the I&M’s annual Halloween parade on Main Street, a number of favourite shops (lady likes to buy) and, quote, “the best ice I have ever skated on.” Kudos to Nantucket Ice and the employees.
As a lot as we’d have appreciated to open one other bottle of wine, we would have liked to get throughout city for the boys’s and ladies’s mass begin velocity skating finals.
American Jordan Stolz was edged out of a medal by Italy’s Andrea Giovannino and completed fourth within the 6,400 meter race, however after jockeying for a place amongst a gaggle of 16, USA’s Mia Manganello received a historic bronze medal in her remaining race earlier than retiring.
Sitting straight in of me, donning a Cisco Brewers cap, was a gentleman from Seattle whose daughter was attending Boston College and whereas visiting her in Boston they took a fast journey to Nantucket and the brewery. Nantucket is in all places!
Now that we’ve got mastered the Milano metro system, transfers and all, we hopped on an M2 prepare from the Milano Speed Skating Stadium and traversed the better Milano metro space and transferred to the M1 prepare to reach on the Milano Ice Skating Arena in ample time for the exhibition gala of Olympic ice skating champions.
The stars of Team USA, which received the gold medal within the workforce competitors, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ilia Malinin and Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam, took the ice collectively and wowed the gang, skating to “I just want to feel the moment,” highlighted by Ilia’s signature backflip.
And all through the night, every carried out a favourite piece, as did their counterparts from world wide. It was a high-energy spectacle of ice skating greatness, with enjoyable, upbeat music (a refreshing change).
Think of it as a grand dance social gathering on ice. It was a celebration marking practically the top of the 2026 Milano-Cortina video games, and joyful feelings have been operating excessive.
So let’s get caught up on Elizabeth’s medal depend and our medal depend. Elizabeth witnessed three USA gold medals and one bronze in Cortina, and we witnessed one USA gold medal and two bronze medals collectively in Milano. With one final day of competitors tomorrow, this implies we’ve seen, in individual, seven of the USA’s 32 medals to-date.
Wrapping up one other thrilling day in Milan!
(Feb. 20, 2026, replace 9 p.m.: After lunch we discovered our method again to the hospitality suite to view some curling and regroup earlier than our night again on the Milano Skating Arena for some quick observe finals.
Give me a minute and I’ll clarify the whole lot it’s essential to learn about quick observe.
Our taxi driver, Marco, was probably the most fascinating taxi driver we’ve got ever encountered. When I requested him if he had ever been to the States he responded “no.” He did say he labored for a lodge chain and had been employed in Egypt and Africa, and if he ever visited the USA he would go to Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Omaha, Neb.
Well right here’s your reply. Our good friend Marco is a large boxing fan and Tuscaloosa is house to Deontay Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion and Terence “Bud” Crawford, a retired world champion in 5 weight lessons. Good luck in your travels, my good friend.
Back to the Olympics and the quick observe finals. After arriving on the venue and discovering our wonderful seats on the aisle, I obtained a faucet on my shoulder.
“Excuse me, that’s my seat,” as he pointed to the vacant seat subsequent to Elizabeth. With his hand now gesturing to shake mine, he says “Hi, I’m Apolo” and proceeds to shake Elizabeth’s hand as properly.
Apolo Anton Ohno, for anybody who was dwelling in 2002, is an eight-time Olympic medalist (two gold, two silver and 4 bronze), who proceeded to present us his undivided consideration and a personal lesson in brief observe over the subsequent two hours as we watched the ladies’s 1,500-meter quarters, semis after which finals, in addition to the chaotic 45-lap males’s 5,000-meter relay.
That is, till America’s downhill snowboarding gold medalist Breezy Johnson sat down proper in entrance of us. We have been surrounded by greatness. She too listened in as Apollo schooled us on what was happening:
Short observe velocity skating is undeniably a geometrical and strategic steadiness of drafting, passing and sprinting whereas battling sustained g-forces of as much as practically three Gs – that’s he equal of practically 500 kilos of strain on one leg for a 175-pound skater.
Corinne Stoddard
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
Skaters whip across the tight 111-meter observe at speeds exceeding 30 mph on skates with 1 millimeter-wide blades, whereas leaning in at practically 68 levels.
And sure, there are crashes. We noticed a number of. They come quick, and there’s nothing to cease the downed skaters till they smash violently into the froth obstacles.
It was quick, it was thrilling, it was like nothing we’ve ever seen earlier than. In the top, the boys’s relay was dominated by the Netherlands who took the gold over Korea and Italy, whereas the ladies’s end result was a enjoyable shock. The USA’s Corinne Stoddard took the bronze, following two Korean skaters.
It was one other electrical night on the Milan Ice Skating Arena.
(Feb. 20, 2026, replace 2:30 p.m.) By advice of a good friend, we secured a lunch reservation at Il Salumaio Di Montenapoleone, a brief distance from our lodge. Upon getting into, one is greeted by an expansive beautiful out of doors eating patio however it being February, we opted to be seated indoors in a eating room harking back to an outdated Italian palazzo, full with a museum.
We began off with a bottle of Jermann Chardonnay, considered one of my favourite vintners in Italy. This 100% Chardonnay varietal is an excellent straw yellow in coloration with greenish reflections. It is intense with a fruity bouquet harking back to bananas and ripe apple. Salute!
Elizabeth selected the Bresaola della Valtellina con rucola, e Parmigiana Reggiano (Valtellina bresaola with rocket and Parmigiana Reggiano cheese) to begin and I made a decision on the Funghi porcini sottolio (porcini mushrooms preserved in oil). We shared and each have been scrumptious and satisfying.
For our entrees, I select the Branzino al sale con insalata mixta, olio e limone (sea bass in salt with blended salad, oil and lemon) and Elizabeth loved her Tortelloni di ricotta e herbette al burro e salvia (herbs and ricotta tortellini with butter and sage).
I do know you might be all questioning what bresaola is, so right here goes. Bresaola Valtellina is a premium Italian cured meat produced from salted and cured beef. Made with premium cuts (topside, rump and silverside), it’s identified for being low in fats, wealthy in protein and iron with a fragile taste. It was the entire above.
The waiter really useful the tiramisu, coffee-washed cake with traditional mascarpone custard and a dusting of cocoa, which we’d usually move on, however are pleased that we didn’t.
Gotta run, off to quick observe velocity skating.
(Feb. 20, 2026, replace 8 a.m.) Leaving the Hospitality Suite after Jordan Stolz’ silver medal within the 1,500-meter speed-skating, including to his two gold medals in Olympic document time within the 500m and 1,000m, we ordered a cab to the much-anticipated shut of 13 days of determine skating competitions.
Antonio Luigi, third era taxi driver and a Milano native, obtained us to the skating enviornment in loads of time to seek out our seats and put together for the somen’s free skate.
There have been 29 skaters who certified for the quick program however solely the highest 24 certified for the free skate. The girls have been assigned into 4 teams of six, beginning with these whose placement was 18-24. Then the subsequent group 11-17, the place Amber Glenn, our reigning nationwide champion, was positioned in thirteenth place after her disastrous quick program.
Upon her look on the ice, the gang took to monumental applause and chanting loudly “USA!, USA!”
She launched right into a commanding triple axle, which earned her greater than 10 factors. She managed to skate a clear technical program apart from a lone discover the ultimate leaping move, a triple loop, which was the identical ingredient she popped throughout her quick program.
Her 147.52 rating, the third better of the night time, saved her on prime of the leaderboard till the ultimate skaters one by means of 4 knocked her off the rostrum, ending in fifth place, the most important soar on the leaderboard on the Olympics.
In the second to final group to hit the ice, we anxiously awaited Isabeau Levito, the 18-year-old from Philadelphia whose maternal grandmother resides in Milan. She shook off a fall on her first triple flip soar and executed 5 extra triple jumps to earn a rating of 131.96, touchdown her in twelfth total.
And then got here our golden lady, Alyssa Liu, in third place after the primary spherical. The 20-year-old from Clovis, Calif. retired from competitors in 2022, three years after changing into the youngest-ever U.S. determine skating champion solely to return two years later to win the world title and pursue Olympic gold.
She took to the ice with confidence and with the gang behind her 100%.
Skating to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” – nothing will get a crowd going like 7190s disco – she dazzled with a near-perfect skate as the gang roared round her remaining pose.
She held off an onslaught of two robust Japanese skaters and leap-frogged previous them to win gold, America’s first since Sarah Huges received in 2002.
Memo to younger women in all places: Alyssa Liu’s signature “halo” hairdo is NOT Dorothy Hamill’s well-known “wedge.” There isn’t any must emulate this!
And oh yeah, on the similar time, the U.S. girls’s hockey workforce defeated Canada 2-1 in an OT thriller that we discovered about on Instagram. (Gotta watch the taped sport once I get house).
(Feb, 19, 2026): After a wet morning, which didn’t dampen our spirits, Elizabeth and I took a stroll across the Piazza di Duomo and window-shopped in any respect the legends of trend who’re proudly displayed.
Does anybody want a brand new frock from Dolce and Gabanna or a brand new bauble from Harry Winston? How a couple of pair of Prada suede pumps, which you can’t put on at the moment, although it has cleared up however puddles stay?
Forward your orders and we’ll you’ll want to fill them and please embody European sizes solely and mailing addresses, no P.O packing containers please.
After a fast journey again to lodge to clean up for lunch, which at this level we had no particular plans. I did attain out to Anne Thompson, correspondent for NBC, previous to my go to, and we promised to catch up and meet whereas we have been each in Milan.
After she completed her phase on the TV Tower, she met Elizabeth and me for lunch at PINO, a stylish restaurant situated proper off the piazza.
After method an excessive amount of flapping, we settled in with an Aperol Spritz, a bottle of Jermann Sauvignon and two bottles of Aqua, one nonetheless, one glowing.
We began off and shared Tomato Bruschetta and Potato Coquettes.
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
Anne selected the Rigatoni with Burrata, Elizabeth loved her Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce aka Kid’s Pasta and my Veal Marsala was tender escalopes of veal with roasted potatoes and to-die-for Marsala sauce.
No dolce and no caffe, for we’re the final friends within the restaurant.
After lunch, we’ve got hiked possibly half a mile, over to the Portrait Hotel the place Team USA is internet hosting a hospitality suite full with open bar, wonderful snacks and 65-inch display screen TV’s televising the present occasions.
We are at the moment watching the boys’s velocity skating with the hopes of Jordan Stolz successful his third gold medal.
Then off to the women free skate!
(Feb. 18, 2026) This installment catches us up with Jimmy as he’s making his solution to Milan after stops in Florence and Rome to recharge the batteries.
After spending two superb days within the Eternal City, the place temperatures have been within the low 60’s, I managed to bypass a number of vacationer traps in my quest to immerse myself within the Italian lifestyle.
Being centrally situated within the metropolis, I handed each the Pantheon and Piazza Navona on many events, however didn’t enterprise to both the Coliseum, Vatican City or the Spanish Steps.
You could ask why, however I used to be simply right here in October 2025 the place all these “stops” have been paid homage to.
I did handle to expertise a tremendous lunch at Salumeria Roscioli on my arrival day and an distinctive dinner final night time at Cipasso.
I managed to get in over 11,000 steps yesterday and though I’m not one to partake in any breakfast meals, this cannoli had my identify throughout it. Labeled Sicilian Cannoli, this tube-shaped fried pastry dough shell with a touch of Marsala is crammed with sheep’s milk ricotta, powdered sugar, candied oranges and topped with Sicilian pistachios. The excellent accompaniment for my first Caffe Americano (an espresso primarily based espresso drink made by including scorching water to at least one or two pictures of espresso leading to a brew that’s comparable in energy to drip espresso however with the richer taste of espresso) on this journey. The identify originated throughout World War II when American troopers in Italy diluted robust espresso with scorching water to make it extra palatable making a smoother, much less intense drink.
Photo by Jimmy Jaksic
If you might be questioning the place that is going, I’m at the moment on the quick prepare to Milan to expertise the final week of the sixtieth Winter Olympics.
It was very disheartening final night once I returned from dinner and was capable of watch the women’ quick program (I can be watching the free skate stay).
Alysa Liu carried out a clear program as did Isabeau Levito and are in third and eighth place respectively.
Amber Glenn, our nationwide champion, landed a triple axle for her opening soar, considered one of solely two girls trying this most troublesome soar that takes off ahead and lands backward, requiring an additional half flip.
Unfortunately, she bailed on a triple loop and is at the moment in thirteenth place. More determine skating, velocity skating and quick observe to come back.
I’m wanting ahead to bringing you all of the “thrill of victory and agony of defeat” within the subsequent six days. Stay tuned.
