And now I want to dedicate this post to the city where we spent most of our time during late summer and early fall and that we learnt to love immensely: Firenze.
The excuse to come here so often is given from my half that she finally decided to learn the language of Leonardo. We arrived here in a deserted city on a suffocating hot August day: 40 degrees and everybody, except the hordes of tourists, already on the beaches. We will leave close to the end of September a much more alive city but still invaded by tourists. Still you do not miss the magic and the atmosphere that this city is able to give you despite the crowd.
And now let's talk a bit about our eating experience:
First of all a real jewel, a great and simple spot we found in the area of San Niccolo', just two steps from Ponte Vecchio: Zeb Gastronomia. It's an old gastronomia (deli shop) that still works like this but in which has been created a small restaurant. Few seats available and all on stools facing the big "bancone" (island) where some of the creation of the kitchen are ready to be taken. We ate here several times and every time was better than the last. Everything is "fatto in casa" by Alberto (the son) and Giuseppina (the mom) the two person that runs this place. Just to name a few plates we tried: amazing antipasto of mixed salumi and figs, mozzarella di bufala con tartufo, amazing handmade pasta (pici with pesto sauce ricotta and dried tomato, tagliolini al tartufo nero, ravioli filled with fiori di zucca in a burrata sauce, pici with thyme pesto) and then some incredible polpette (meatballs), melanzane alla parmigiana and of course desserts like homemade cheesecake .... and I could continue for a while but I dont want to spoil the surprise of those who want to go here. Not to forget a great selection of wines, lots of small production and biological wines from all over Italy. We had one night a lovely Fumin 2008 from Grosjean a tiny producer from tiny Valle d'Aosta that was absolutely lovely even if my half considered it a bit too "wild".
Another spot we loved was a little restaurant close to our apartment: "Il Santo Bevitore".
Very nice atmosphere with some great dishes. The night we ate there I had a fantastic tartare di chianina that married really well with the excellent Chianti Classico Riserva Borro del Diavolo from Ormanni. The wine list is not huge but it has some good choices as the wine I just mentioned. Close by the restaurant you can find "Il Santino" a bar ideal for apero with great selections of salumi and cheese and again some lovely wine by the glass.
Other two places that are worth to mention are the restaurant "Il Latini" and the pizzeria "Il Borgo Antico". The first one for a genuine and lovely real Tuscan atmosphere with a very solid Tuscan food selection going from Ribollita to Pappa al Pomodoro and I have been told with one of the best fiorentina you can find in the city (I did not have one the night I was there because nobody wanted to share with me....). The second for the setting in the beautiful Santo Spirito square and especially for one of the best pizza I had in a long time. If you go there try the Pizza Borgo Antico, I am sure you will not regret it.
Our intention is to be back soon and continue our Firenze culinary adventures.
The excuse to come here so often is given from my half that she finally decided to learn the language of Leonardo. We arrived here in a deserted city on a suffocating hot August day: 40 degrees and everybody, except the hordes of tourists, already on the beaches. We will leave close to the end of September a much more alive city but still invaded by tourists. Still you do not miss the magic and the atmosphere that this city is able to give you despite the crowd.
And now let's talk a bit about our eating experience:
First of all a real jewel, a great and simple spot we found in the area of San Niccolo', just two steps from Ponte Vecchio: Zeb Gastronomia. It's an old gastronomia (deli shop) that still works like this but in which has been created a small restaurant. Few seats available and all on stools facing the big "bancone" (island) where some of the creation of the kitchen are ready to be taken. We ate here several times and every time was better than the last. Everything is "fatto in casa" by Alberto (the son) and Giuseppina (the mom) the two person that runs this place. Just to name a few plates we tried: amazing antipasto of mixed salumi and figs, mozzarella di bufala con tartufo, amazing handmade pasta (pici with pesto sauce ricotta and dried tomato, tagliolini al tartufo nero, ravioli filled with fiori di zucca in a burrata sauce, pici with thyme pesto) and then some incredible polpette (meatballs), melanzane alla parmigiana and of course desserts like homemade cheesecake .... and I could continue for a while but I dont want to spoil the surprise of those who want to go here. Not to forget a great selection of wines, lots of small production and biological wines from all over Italy. We had one night a lovely Fumin 2008 from Grosjean a tiny producer from tiny Valle d'Aosta that was absolutely lovely even if my half considered it a bit too "wild".
Another spot we loved was a little restaurant close to our apartment: "Il Santo Bevitore".
Other two places that are worth to mention are the restaurant "Il Latini" and the pizzeria "Il Borgo Antico". The first one for a genuine and lovely real Tuscan atmosphere with a very solid Tuscan food selection going from Ribollita to Pappa al Pomodoro and I have been told with one of the best fiorentina you can find in the city (I did not have one the night I was there because nobody wanted to share with me....). The second for the setting in the beautiful Santo Spirito square and especially for one of the best pizza I had in a long time. If you go there try the Pizza Borgo Antico, I am sure you will not regret it.
Our intention is to be back soon and continue our Firenze culinary adventures.
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