One of the fancier brunches in Florence, and with the best view for sure.
So, fresh out of Florence I see that this new American style coffee place just opened:
If you are missing your Starbucks experience, Arnold Coffee looks like a good alternative. This is the first store outside of Milan if I am reading their website correctly. Close to the train station and Piazza Santa Maria Novella (the official address seems to be Piazza Unità Italiana,15 - but that is across the street).
Mezzo Litro is having an opening party tonight. You can find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mezzolitrowinecocktailsbar
Starting at either 7:00 or 7:30 their press release, email, and FB page all say different things :)
Giovedi 6 giugno
Dalle 19:30 in poi
Party di inaugurazione di Mezzo Litro Wine Bar
Un nuovo delizioso wine bar in Via delle Caldaie (vicino Piazza Santa Spirito)
info 3474238636
Piazza Piattellina 10/11r
Tel. 39 055 217879
Closed Monday
If you find yourself near Santa Maria del Carmine around lunch time you should try I'brindellone (the "brindellone" is the cart of St. John which is used in an elaborate fire works display after Easter mass - more on that soon).
I'brindellone is a real authentic Florentine trattoria and we had an excellent and reasonable lunch there today (2 course lunch was 10€). It is located on the north side of the street in Piazza Piatellina, two minutes west of the church. Highlights were Ravioli with butter and sage, penne all'amatriciana (that spelling may be wrong!), osso bucco (a little heavy on the salt though) and some wonderful desserts, especially tiramisu cream, with tiny cookies. The house red was good too. The staff was very nice and they have some very interesting pictures on the walls of old Florence and the Calcio in Costume (another event we will be writing more about in the future). Mangia!
Update: This post was originally written in 2005. Here it is May 2013 and the lunch "menù" is still 10 euro - primo, secondo, contorno, aqua, vino e caffè - and it is still incredible. Today I had maccheroni con ragu, roast beef, salad, and bread - with water, wine and coffee, for 10 euro. And the food was incredible - one of the best bowls of pasta you will have anywhere.
Our friends at Borgo Casa al Vento still have availability for New Year's Eve, here is what you get:
- A welcome drink
- Dinner on New Year's Eve
- Overnight stay
- New Year's Day brunch
€140 per person
Extra night €49 per person
It is a great spot nestled in the hills just outside Gaiole in Chianti. If you are looking for a New Year's escape, I highly recommend it! (Italiano)
Here is my annual Thanksgiving post - where I suggest whatever place has come to me vial email from enterprising PR people in Florence. Usually that means the Westin or St. Regis in Piazza Ognissanti (this year the St. Regis has a Thanksgiving lunch). But this year it also means the Hard Rock - who is having a 28 euro special and serving Thanksgiving meal all day long.
And as an added bonus, Mama's Bakery has a Thanksgiving to go (I would probably tend to trust this one as half the ownership team is from the U.S.) - but the orders need to be in ASAP (as - it may already be too late - sorry!):
If you need more choices, check out this post by the tireless Girl In Florence!
Still time to make these events today, part of the Biennale Enogastronomica Fiorentina:
IL MERCATO DEI SAPORI E DEI MESTIERI
Dove: Piazza Strozzi e Piazza della Repubblica
Quando: dalle ore 9 alle ore 20
Un grande mercato, organizzato da Claridea in collaborazione con Florens 2012, abbraccerà due delle piazze più belle del centro storico fiorentino, proponendo una selezione di eccellenze enogastronomiche ed artigiane della tradizione toscana e non.
UNO CHEF AL MERCATO
Dove: Complesso di San Firenze (ex Tribunale, Piazza S. Firenze)
Quando: ore 15, 16.30 e 18
Ingresso: gratuito
Tre chef faranno la spesa fra i banchi del grande mercato allestito in Piazza della Repubblica, avvicendandosi subito dopo ai fornelli allestiti nella vicina Casa della Biennale. Al pubblico presente la possibilità di seguirli fra i banchi, oltre ovviamente di assaggiarne le creazioni improvvisate con grande maestria.
WINE READINGS
Dove: Sala d’Arme di Palazzo Vecchio (Piazza della Signoria)
Quando: ore 20
Ingresso: gratuito
Lettura di brani a tema vinicolo da parte dell’attrice e conduttrice televisiva Gaia Nanni, con interventi scherzosi di Leonardo Romanelli e Andrea Gori. A seguire aperitivo offerto dall’azienda Cecchi di Castellina in Chianti
Coming up at the end of May, the third annual Florence Gelato Festival (May May 23rd to 27th).
Something is up in the Florence restaurant world (although I am not sure exactly what and don't want to speculate until I know more). The former Trattoria Garga has been renamed "Trattoria Gargani" (see the photo below, you can tell the the marble is newer on the part that says "Gargani") while the Garga name is now being used on the newer restaurant on Via San Zanobi called "La Cucina del Garga" (sorry no photo and I have not eaten there yet).
I think there is a family story here - I will post more when I find out!
