I have known the family and especially Chiara, the 3rd generation daughter, 6 to 7 years now. As a matter of fact, Chiara and Cammmillo restaurant were my very first sponsors in Florence, Italy when I started the website. "The one item you must say about Cammillo is that we are very steeped in tradition and keeping the same recipes of my Grandmother since 50 years. You can find the same food that my mother has taught Salvatore, who came to us when he was 15 and he is now 57, to the recipes that my mother herself cooks everyday. Although I am the 4th generation, I wouldn't even change the beautiful pictures adorning the walls everywhere. I love the restaurant and the feel of the importance as you walk into it," says the very beautiful daughter, Vittoria. 
Borgo S. Jacopo, 57/r, 50125 Firenze 
As you can see, Cammillo is a very traditional restaurant, with the waiters themselves being here 37 and 30 years each respectively. The family is lovely and graceful and very aristocratic although when you walk into the historical restaurant that "doesn't even have a instagram, facebook or website to it after 65 years," as quoted from the 4th generation daughter, Vittoria,you feel as if at a real Italian home. 
"We have the same traditional dishes that we have always had. Some restaurants say that their clientele has changed for the worse? Not their story. Ours is different. We have every lunch the real nobility of Florence, the 3,000 euro Tailor who eats lunch with us everyday and designs the last 50 years the aristocracy of Florence; the everyday worker who comes here to eat lunch; the tourist who has a story of their mother and father eating here 20 years ago. You know, that is my guest. My guest can pay 35.00 euros and feel comfortable, satisfied with a family traditional table and meet the famous person who wants a couple of hours of normalcy in life next to them at the long picnic tables that we have inside." 
Salvatore, the famous tailor is eating his risotto. We have a funny lunch chat and I tell him that when my German Prince, Albert Thurn und Taxis asks me to marry him, I promise he can design my wedding dress..."You know, the famous people come to me because I am good. I am a artisan. The famous people come here because they want a original family meal. And when the tourists figure out where Coco is, they come too.!" he says..jpg)
So, basically, love the royalty or think their silly, you got to come and meet Gloria, the very sweet and shy and very normal, by the way, Capo of Coco Lezzone, who has met and wined and dined all of em! 
And everybody knows that Giorgio Armani is my favorite since I have been trying to woo him to do my script, "THE LIFE OF ALBERT" costume designs...sponsoring my movie of course! 
Okay! Not enough star power from us, you say? Gloria would say to differ. She is a down-to-earth person who inherited her lovely restaurant from a father she loved, as mine, and when I ask if she would sell the restaurant and move to Tahiti, for instance? "No Never. I LOVE my life and I love my restaurant." 
"Fabrizio, my best friend and head chef, came to my father about 33 years now. When my father passed away, he took on socio or as you say in America, partner. I love Fabizio and I love Claudio, my other partner and best friend. The other cooking helper is Dario in the kitchen and my son, Matteo. We are the team. Only us. It is perfect. We love to sit and talk to people and if we are talking drinking wine at your long table, never has any of the guests said, hey hurry up...where is my steak! IF we are too busy sharing stories, Fabrizio walks out of the kitchen and gives you his food. It is that way. That is life. Why do you such a hurry? Come to my house, Coco Lezzone, and rub elbows with Mr. Armani and while you are at it, enjoy life." says Gloria.
http://www.trattorialacasalinga.it/#!/main
Trattoria la Casalinga located at Via dei Michelozzi 9r, right on Santo Spirito Square.
reservations: 055 218 624
Since the young 3rd generation Capo, Andrea is actually my real friend, it is sometimes difficult to remember a funny nice evening conversation as a interview and write what we said! Tonight mostly talked about the family that has been here since 1963 and the warm casual laughter in the 3 rooms of the historical trattoria.
The most perfect provincial picnic in the region of the countryside of Italy has always been imagined by me, riding on a old fashioned italian bike in the hills with vineyards on both sides and a lovely dinner of pecorino and wine and pears dripping with honey.
I finally had that real Italian treat after 8 years at my friend, Andrea's restaurant named Trattoria la Casalinga, in Santo Spirito Square, Florence.
The rabbit dish is named Tagliatelle ai Sugo di Coniglio and it is a traditional Florentine entry.
RESERVATIONS: 003 905 5 241 7 73
The day that we took the photos I laughed with the waitresses who showed me that the little alcove here with it's elegance and privacy is the favorite of the guests. I would imagine it to seem that way since it is cozy and fun to sit here. The little room that it is hidden in is very elegant, too, and it is my jewel that I found on the 3rd visit to Baldovino.
"Yes," says the sweet Capo, Massimo, "many of my guests say that they didn't know it is here and now they must eat in that room!"
The entire restaurant is decorated only with the eye and talent of Massimo and his wife, who blend colors and style with aplomb. Love that restaurant.
Now the second restaurant in Massimo's empire is named Francescano... here is the story of that..."Francescano is traditional, and my chefs have the experience of many years of Italian cooking and their grandmother's recipes, should we say that?" laughs Massimo, who is very proud of having saved the legendary restaurant and kept its original owner's vision. "I haven't even changed the decorations in the 5 years that I have owned it. I keep it all the same, yet I would love to add some famous stars on the wall from my reign if course!" he says. Let's see! "The Francescano has every Florentine recipe and the old-school version. It has a home feel that when you enter you are in my home and the waiters treat you as such. There is always friendly and easy laughter at Francescano and perhaps that is why the people that are famous in the eyes of society come here. O yes we are very famous for truffles which you say that you love. They are lovely to work with as a chef, too, since you can do many things with my favorite."
003 9 05 5 241605
"The combination of the fresh and raw fish is seen here and is a famous platter of Baldovinos."Believe it or not, the pizza I believe is the best in Florence, and it is such a fancy place you would imagine Massimo's other restaurant, Francescano, would have the pizza. Yet it is here in the elegant 1920s atmosphere of the very chicBaldovino where you can find it. https://www.baldovinobistrot.com/ Via S. Giuseppe, 22R 
The second restaurant of Baldovino's is Francescano, which is a very old and respected restaurant on the square of Santa Croce, where all the celebrities come for it's cozy and untouched home feel and its great personal service.
"When I bought Francescano from the original owners, I wanted to keep the elegance and the respect of that restaurant and not let somebody turn it into something its not. No, I loved Francescano, myself and I only added higher ingredients and better quality of the recipes that we use. Some of the recipes at Francescano and Baldovino are mine, of course. Some the old school traditional ones of Florence. On the walls you see many famous people and your favorite one was Armani, right!" laughs Massimo when I say, "O MY GOSH ARMANI!" www.trattoriailfrancescano.com/
ENOTECA Pitti Gola E Cantina and Osteria dell Enoteca in Florence, Italy.
Piazza Pitti 16 Via Romana 71
Simple, exquisite and Simple Living from the land...brings about the finest wine in the world!
"Yes of course we are happy. For 10 years me and Manuele and Edoardo have owned the Cantina. We buy the wine we love to drink and the music we love to hear we add to the listhttp://pittigolaecantina.com/The wine club we started is very special. We have about 500 members now around the world. And it takes a long time to build such a club. We send from 6 bottles of wine a year to members to up to 48 bottles of wine. The price is accordingly with the highest being about 4,100.00 euros per year. The members receive the boxes of wine in the fall and spring and they absolutely trust the 3 of us to choose the wine each year. That is honestly the one item that makes it the most difficult to do. To find people around the world who trust us. That is probably the reason that almost all of the members have come in and met us, had a great night with us and or have become members and introduced their friends to us," says the VERY HAPPY and Enthusiastic Zeno who never stops laughing and smiling when he talks to you! 
"One vineyard of Chianti we loved too much and bought the entire 2012 bottles and since it is ours to own, Manuele and me have designed the labels," says Zeno as he shows me one of his two designs. They have 4 designs in total and the beautiful tree is the result of Zeno's drawing for a reserve of Chianti that the team of 3 at the Enoteca Cantina loved too much. I have seen two of Manuele's designs which are so exquisite if they ever had to make a living as artists they certainly can. 
Alright the location is perfect if you are at all into the history and nobility of Florence, which is of course why you arrived! Right on the Piazza Pitti Square!
"The wine club, as you can see from my member and his wife here today, is very special. Tonight I have 2 members who don't know each other coming separately from United States to the Cantina. They will both have a great time with us talking, eating dinner and of course drinking the wine. It is a very nice way to introduce our wine to people around the world and to form lasting friendships," says Manuele who says that now he is very happy and in love with a Italian women he met at the wine store!
Well, of course wine does that!
To join the wine club or bubbles only club:
Okay, here is how much fun and wine I had...from the "300 labels we have and about 4,000 wines,"(Zeno)...BRUNELLO Di Montalcino 1968 that the lovely Capo and his wife from Tuscany brought in, along with his gracious insistence of me drinking Tenuta del POGGIONE and CAMOSSI and a couple more reds and whites and a sparkling champagne. They were the best of the best and I had such a lovely afternoon with exquisite company and my first every taste of real Florentine Liver pate on carmalized italian homemade bread! YUM.
"We started the Enoteca as Capos on the New Year's Eve of 2008 and celebrated 10 years on December 31,2018" 
The Decor...Cuban, the Music...Cuban, the Conversation Cuban...(if you know what I mean, enter!)
"At the height of its power, Sabatini had the unheard of respect of two Michelin Stars and that is my hope for the future. To bring the recognition that it deserves to the surface and to do it in my way," says Julian. 
https://www.ristorantesabatini.it/
"Dining at my restaurant is one of elegance and ease and for every table. I want to remember the 100 years of Sabatini culture and respect it and bring the modern presentation of the food to the present. It is a Unesco Heritage Site restaurant and the ONLY ONE in Europe that is allowed to do real flambe cooking at the table, and has the expertise." the new proud owner, Julian, of Sabatini Florence.
"For me, Il Paiolo has always been my riskiest adventure in life, a romantic interlude!"The Capo of Il Paiolo, who has added a bigger addition to the very intimate and packed restaurant is a young gentleman and entreprenuer named Julian. "I had graduated law school, the first in the family and had eaten at the restaurant everyday, it seemed and loved the 40 year old grandmother lady who owned it. One day she said that she is closing and refuses to sell it since she needs to remember the elegance of the tradition. I said that I wanted to buy it and I bought the restaurant. About 6 months later told my mother who wasn't willing to talk to me for awhile. Now she eats here all the time!"
"We're a simple family, and we've been here many years. I write the menu in Italian and English EVERYDAY: it is special everyday," says Tommaso. "My father usually picks the wine and every so often he chooses something different that a local winery, perhaps comes in to share. We all try it. I invite you to come to dinner!" he says. 0039 055 2 93045
"We have traditional dishes from at least 35 years, yet we have dishes from Florence that perhaps people don't really know that they are typical such as Fried Chicken and Fried Rabbit and of course the Wild Boar with Duck Sauce," says Tommaso. "It's a old-fashioned Osteria where friends and family can come to enjoy our crazy family, full of laughter and chaos everyday. We have great food and a very lively atmosphere. You can tell us your secrets and we can share our life with you." 
Pasquale says,"We find the wild boar from the hunters and the wild rabbit and the guinea fowl, and I am a hunter of women." I ask him if wild women are on the menu? He laughs, "Only rabbit, fowl and of course the wild boar that the Americans love!"
Tommaso,"Ok, just to let you know that Pasquale is kidding. We buy the wild boar and the wild game from the farmers that are certified to accept these from the hunters. I love eat the food, however, I am a bad cook. At home, mama cooks for me and here mama and Gianluca cook." 
Ristorante il Granaio on Via dei Tavolini 14 
I loved the very rare specialty items on the menu that I had never heard of such as the Octopus ragu, or the Chianti Sushi. "Yes it is a first time for me to see such items, too and we work with my very good friends who are the chefs. They combine products in a different way, a Tuscan fusion and we are trying to add more fish to the menu, too. The restaurant is very elegant and romantic at night and I want the menu to fit that." says Armand.
"Tartare, I believe, is very difficult to do the right way, yet my chef is very good at it. We have Salman Tartar with Avocados, for instance, which is different than most tartar. He is a very creative chef and as my friend fun to work with. Now we are in the process of changing the menu to a winter one since Tuscany and especially Florence is famous for the Ribollita soup, for instance, and the Florentine Steak. The tourists appreciate it, in all varieties, and the Americans and Asians seem to love the Florentine traditional food.
I want my menu to reflect the seasonal fresh products and shall change my menu every three months." 
And of course the question everybody is curious about, is it difficult to open and be successful with a new restaurant in Florence? Both Silvia and Armand look at each other and laugh, "Yes!" they say and Silvia points to imaginary circles under her beautiful eyes. "Look! We are exhausted. At the first couple of months we were so dedicated to the love of showing the restaurant in its best light that we stayed here 16 hours everyday. At night we rarely slept.We care about the guests too much!"
(Here a couple of guests that are happy they do!) 
"Now we stay about 12 hours a day, and we hope to have Armand's brother come to us from Albania soon to help out. Although it is a family restaurant and everybody is a equal partner, we are the physical presence here everyday." Armand's sister is emphatic about that, too, "They are the passion that you feel and see when you walk in the door. They love the restaurant and they represent it's image everyday. Yes, it is my first day to actually eat here, yet I know my brother. We are family. I know how hard he works everyday. Yet see how much care has been put into the restaurant? That is because they both work very long days to make it the way that they want it to be, the way my family is. Very friendly and caring."
When you hit the pages of Vogue you should know that you have made it in the world! http://www.q-bic.it/la-menagere-1896/
"The food here is a mix of let's say International fusion with Italian recipes and Italian products. The chef is a Michelin one star and we are very lucky to have him as our head chef. Although we don't strive to be Michelin, we are too quirky and too varied, I believe and the utmost comfort and stimulation of the intellect for our guests is more importance for us, the fact that he can make Michelin quality and does is important for us," says Laura.
The only problem with La Managere is the fact that it is too cozy and too comfortable and even the big chefs giving the master whiskey classes are somewhat of hilarious jokers! They have too much fun here and they don't take themselves seriously, at all! They do give the guests the best that the fusion world of international food and Italian food combined can do, the greatest cocktails, the loveliest service and the flowers...o my gosh if you come to lunch you shall never miss a anniversary!
Why is that, you ask! The owners of the flower shop, in the middle of the restaurant La Menagere, are Ilario and Hamleto, who have been in the flower business the last 12 years. "We used to have a concept store on Santa Croce Square in a clothing store, yet the architects approached us when they were designing La Menagere and asked us if we wanted to have the flower store inside the restaurant. We of course said yes and everyday from 10:00am to 22:00pm we are here! We have too many guests that want to buy flowers and glass vases and baskets for the flowers and we are always on. People take our pictures constantly. The flowers have such a beautiful aura to the place and the light smell of the fresh flowers everywhere in the restaurant combined with the earthy, woodsy feel of the place give it such success," says Ilaria. I ask Hamleto if he gives a Shakespeare quote with every purchase and he just smiles shyly! The flower stores name is Artemisia and the facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/ArtemisiA.firenze/ yet they can be found everyday in the middle!
Now to talk about the new project which the Capos and Laura have said is a totally separate entity, yet one in which the same architects built and since it is to gorgeous and has the restaurants of the team inside it here it is: https://www.thestudenthotel.com/florence/it/
Enter in to find the bar, bakery shop, restaurant and the late night cocktail bar and DJ here...
Viale Spartaco Lavagnini, 70,
mingle at the hotel for guests around the world and semester students in concept stores, clothing stores, biking stores and 4 restaurants and bars open to the public til 2:00am! 
The team of Donato and Sophia are VERY PLAYFUL, VERY AS you can see from the decor, which is stunningly beautiful, decadent, erotic, and well, playful! The food at the Pizza Simbiosi has always "been organic from day one. That is something that is very important to Donato and Sophia and is a personal choice. Organic and biologically produced products are very healthy for you as they contain no added chemicals or preservatives and for people with allergies that is important, too." says the fun loving Francesco who Sophia asked me to do the interview with today. 
"Me and Denis have had the cafe only one month. When you come back in another month we shall have Frescobaldi wine, too,"says Julian who is pictured here with the other famous Florentine man, Matteo Renzi. "Now we have only Chianti, yet the cafe is very young and we are evolving as we do day to day. I want the highest quality of wine, too, and Frescobaldi is a great family along with having excellent wine. Plus everybody loves Frescobaldi."
Alright the coffee machine looks like something out of James Bond movie and as I chat with Julian and Denis, about 15 Italians mosey in to have their daily espressos. "For us it is important to give the cafe a great reputation and that is why we try to do that with the best coffee. You might say, it is only a espresso, yet so many people start the day around the world with that ritual of a social moment with coffee." 
The original Rooster Cafe is located on Via Sant'Egidio 37r, and is opposite the restaurant that Francesco originally started named L'Oriuolo, which his brother, Allessandro and his wife Angela now own. His girlfriend, Meaghan and I had a couple of chats at the cute international one of a kind cultural cafe last year and today. "O yes I am American, yet I have made Italy my home, at least now today, with Francesco!" she laughs when I ask her if she plans on staying in Italy. "I just came back from America for visa reasons, yet I love Italy much and missed Franceso!" she says as she tells me of her influence in the way the two cafes represent International food and American culture and the very traditional Italian culture. https://www.facebook.com/RoosterCafeFirenze/ 
Meaghan says, "My boyfriend, Francesco, is a visionary and has many creative ideas. I am the artist, having trained here in Florence, yet he is the designer of both restaurants. I have my little artistic touches, though."
"The students feel at home here and now they say that they are very happy that a second location that is open all day, gives great cocktails and has a traditional Italian menu with cool and new presentations to try is open for them too!" laughs Meaghan.
"Francesco does Italian food like no other person I have met, and it is beautiful to look at too!" 
"Let the Francescos do the food, I can do the artists!" laughs Meaghan. 
"I believe that we are the only restaurant and cafe that does what we do. It is innovate and fresh and young and along with the new addition of the opening of Rooster Cafe Firenze at Porto Rossa 63, with Francesco's uncle, the famous Francesco at the helm of head chef, we are slowly receiving a respected reputation as a great restaurant. We have trendy mixologists all day at the Firenze Restaurant location and they make some great cocktails, too!" laughs Meaghan as she enthusiastically gushes about both places.
"You know my Francesco won't admit to being a great cook, yet he is, I've tasted his," giggles Meaghan. "I, myself, and the artistic one and I am very happy and excited to be introducing artists of all medium to both cafes, with art, photography, live music and live readings perhaps in the future."
"We opened the Rooster Restaurant in April and it is doing alright. I LOVE the fact that the Rooster Cafe on Porto Rossa 63r is open all day and all night and has two very special and highly particular menus. One in the day is international and has such items as the waffles and pancakes and fried chicken and at night the Italian Traditional Kitchen is and it isn't such as: the famous uncle of Francesco, who's name is Francesco Bilotta, and who is the head professor at the Accademia Italiana Chef here in Florence for the Famous Culinary school, is finally able to showcase his own cooking skills as our head chef. (Kind of like Chef Gordan Ramsey having his own restaurant in addition to having his own school, yet without the screaming.)" says Meaghan and me adding my own little comments! "We have many of the students from the schools here, the international ones and especially the Americans who love the cafe. I guess they miss pancakes!" My Friend Meaghan and Francesco and the team...
"We both have beards and wear casual clothes in the culture of the very elite Whiskey Clubs such as the old distinguished gentlemen sitting sipping their whiskeys and smoking the cigars. We want to introduce the whiskey to everybody and if people feel comfortable approaching the bar and asking to taste a whiskey and yet some say they don't really know how to drink it, I am very happy to chat and talk about the way to drink a whiskey to have the best taste that you can from that particular one. We have Scottish and American and Irish and Russian and Japanese, we have a lot of whiskeys, 150 and counting and it is very important to know that there is very different tastes and strengths of each one." says Gabriele. "The other reason that we have beards is that we are member of the charity club that is named Bearded Villians which is anything except villianous! ,http://www.beardedvillains.com/(Originally Established in 2014 in Los Angeles California U.S. with the purpose of showcasing the bearded men with character from your next door neighbor to the supermodel on GQ mag.)
They work around the world for a good heart and soul to help charities." 0039 055 269 2 968
They work around the world for a good heart and soul to help charities." 0039 055 269 2 968
"When it becomes busy, we have full bar waiting and they are happy to wait 4 to 8 minutes. The reason is that it isn't a bar where you order a drink grab the drink go sit in the chairs. It is a whiskey bar where you can ask us about the whiskey's, order a flight from the chalkboard which includes 3 types of whiskeys. 
For instance the FLIGHT WHITE RABBIT is a 3 whiskey taster of American, Italian, and Russian whiskeys. You try each one. The total of 3 is probably equal to 1 glass of whiskey. Maybe you have never tried a Russian whiskey and want to and Yes there is a huge difference between a Russian Whiskey and a American Whiskey." says Gabriele.
For instance the FLIGHT WHITE RABBIT is a 3 whiskey taster of American, Italian, and Russian whiskeys. You try each one. The total of 3 is probably equal to 1 glass of whiskey. Maybe you have never tried a Russian whiskey and want to and Yes there is a huge difference between a Russian Whiskey and a American Whiskey." says Gabriele. Manuel laughs, "Gabriele is the Whiskey Capo and I am the mixologist and the difference is that I am the one that makes the fancy drinks for you and Gabriele serves you Whiskey in all different forms. I know the Whiskeys of course and yes we do have to drink the Whiskey. I love the bar and I love the concept, yet coming from the mixologist side, I had to learn a little about the Whiskey. I need to be able to tell you the difference between a Smokey Whiskey and say a Spicey Whiskey, for instance. You need to let the guests smell the bottle, inhale the vapors and let it permeate the senses to really taste the whiskey. We have tasted each one and I guess Gabriele says that it took many years to actually drink a glass of each of the whiskeys." ( I mean they only have 150 Whiskeys and with 365 days in one year, you could actually drink all of these in 1/2 a year.) 
Gabriele says, "Yes I have drank all of these and I will admit that is one of the fun parts of owning the bar! In the future I have already picked some of the rare Whiskeys that I hope to give my guests a chance to taste. The one Whiskey that is 30.00 euros a glass here is the PREMIER BARREL Whiskey, (I have it pictured above) and since they don't make this Whiskey any longer it is the last time you can ever taste it. I would suggest buying a glass and although it is 30.00 euros you can be one of maybe 5,000 people in the world that can say they had a glass of that Whiskey. That is how rare it is. The reason that I love Whiskey is that each Whiskey and each Whiskey Distillery has many combinations of the right way to taste it. You can have Whiskey with ice or straight up or with a tiny little drops of water and taste it to your comfort. And of course many ways to have Whiskey in a cocktail drink, yet I am talking about enjoying the Whiskey. The pureness of the Whiskey in and of itself."
ADAGIO RESTAURANT in Florence Italy is a Unique concept restaurant that highlights different regions of Italy every month, along with a special evening with a guest chef from that region and a degustation menu along with it. The two partners that own Adagio are David and Giavanni, both full of innovative and detailed ideas of what they want their restaurant to be. 
"The month of September was the region of Puglia and we had a lovely cook who came and greeted the guests during dinner and introduced each course. We have between 3 to 4 wines with the dinner from that region and since Giovanni is a sommelier he is the one who works with the regional chef to choose the wine for that night and for the month. The cost of the degustation night with the chef from 8.00pm to midnight, or later, is around 45.00euros and includes it all. Chef, intro, music, food, wine, and the culture education of the ancient tradition of the food, of course. October is the North of Tuscany." 
"I love that Adagio has two different souls in the kitchen. The traditional regional kitchens of each section of Italy and the Ancient traditions and the modern exotic, yet Italian dishes that the chef has on the menu everyday. The first month we were settling in and we weren't too much in sync with David and my vision of how we wanted the menu presented to the guests, yet now when the chef does the menu he knows just what we want. I love his menu, such as the Duck with licorice or the Pappardelle with Rabbit Ragu which the Italians eat all the time, yet the tourists find fascinating. Or the Erotic Ravioli which basically is I guess the uterus and the stern and the tongue stuffed inside the ravioli. Quite tasty, yet exotic. " says Giovanni. "You should come to a meet the chef night and try the regional dishes, you would love that experince." he says and I hope to, someday. 
"Here is the most famous Truffle Restaurant and where the precious white truffle comes from, " says the very funny Luigi, who knows more about the daily Italian life than literally most anyone I know. "Me and my two friends bought the restaurant villa, which has been here a very long days, about 3 months now. The little village is most famous for the white truffle, which of course is used very rarely and very delicately around the world. Alba is famous in the north Italy and here." says Luigi. "You must tell the tourists to come, since it is world famous, the truffle festival in November. Every weekend we pay special homage and respect to the November month and every weekend every restaurant holds a festival on white truffles. Tourists come from everywhere in the world. Yet please tell the tourists they must drive or have somebody drive to the famous village!" says Luigi. San Miniato Basso, Tuscany between Pisa and Florence Reservations: 0039 0571 408 11 4
https://www.facebook.com/Il-Convio-Ristorante.../ The elegance and total Old-School respected sophistication is found at the lovely Vecchio Mercato
near the famous actual Mercato in Florence, Italy, soley owned of the Capo, Luigi, who in addition owns the Tuscany Villa named Il Convio just mentioned!
"You know, Florence is all about the Florentine steak that we are very proud of actually. We have many guests and we try to show the culture with the food and the song on Monday nights here at Vecchio Mercato," says Luigi, my personal friend about 5 years now. 
While Demetra is formed to as a compliment to the famous
Fullup Dance Club in Florence Italy only a couple of months now, sitting quietly above the famous club of 1958 its heavily covered cloth chairs and elegant soft hues of ivory and white with brown and soft orange linen napkins, has friendly formal and elegant service as well, yet a comfortable atmosphere prevails, maybe do to its playful persona of its club owners, Monica and Simone. However, the sophisticated quiet restaurant above is on its way to a degustation menu and Michelin status, of that I am sure!
During the fifties in Italy the night life and the club scene, as well as in America is a very social way to meet people, to be seen and to intregrate the culture of the era into everyday life, of which is was a Big Part of music, especially. The 1958 Club promotes Diversity since the family of Monica has entered the scene, buying the dance club in 1978, and adding the beautiful elegant restaurant above since only 2 months. https://www.fullupclub.com/demetra.htm
"Yes Phil Collins, Denzel Washington, they come and they are very big stars, too" says Guilian, "Yet my dream is to have the aura of the golden ages such as the Frank Sinatras and the Sophia Lorens and the Carlo Pontis, such as Francis Ford Coppola. Many times has Berlusconi dined here. " And as we spoke and I had a lovely glass of that sparkling Italian prosecco, a Arabian sheikh and I had a chat at the marbled 104 year old bar.
"The restaurant is only one in the entire Europe that is awarded the UNESCO HERITAGE SITE AWARD AS A RESTAURANT" says Guilian as to one of the reasons he loved it. 
https://www.ristorantesabatini.it/
"We are the only place in the world that specializes in Flambe cooking with the true and authentic process of Flambe at the table here at Sabatini. It is art form performed only with the highest quality of talent and only very few can ever perform it with grace and safety and showmanship." says the very qualified Capo. 
"The Sabatini family already has the reputation of a solid respected character and the building is a protected fine arts site, my job is to present the service and the atmosphere along with the finest rare wines and champagne with the highest quaity of food to the plate. I have only been here 3 months and within a couple of more I am bringing on my entire team that I am creating to include the Head Michelin Star chef and his team of 3. My entire focus is on the real Italian hospitality of formal and friendly with impeccable service and discretion." says the very happy Capo as he twirls my Prosecco in my chilled glass and presents it to me. It is all about the show!
A very beautiful Italian guest shows how elegance is meant to be! It is about simplicity and grace. 
The talented waiter is careful to keep everybody safe while he performs the show! 
"Yes of course with us being very traditional, we have the Chianini Florentine steak from the very finest cuts we can find."
"Yes of course with us being very traditional, we have the Chianini Florentine steak from the very finest cuts we can find.""In addition to the beautiful presence of the garden room, with its authentic beams, we have private rooms where you can dine with romance and intimacy and many important deals of the Florentine families were signed here many many years ago." says Guilian. "I want to slowly and slowly to bring back that era of elegant and traditional dining to honor the famous Sabatini family and give its name symbolism and respect that the name deserves." says my friend and Capo Guilian. Located at: via panzani 9/a 
Tours 
from169€p/p
Says Ahmed, "I can bring you on the real exciting tours of Florence. You know people come to Florence to eat the food, of course, yet to experience the culture especially. Since I have been many places in the world, and born in Egypt, I know that cultures are different. For instance, one time I went to the Italy wine in Verona and met Russians. They bought $12,000.00 worth of wine in 30 minutes. They say, "I love it buy it now." That is Russian tourists. They love life. They see something they love. They buy it." he says laughing. I say that I know. I stayed at the Villa Franceschi http://www.villafranceschi.com/ The day before they opened Louis Vuitton in Venice. Marc Jacobs wanted my room the next day so I had to leave. The helicopter pad was occupied I guess. However, the night before I dined in the exquisite dining room with 5 Russians and their very chubby 17 year old. The entire night after the Verona wine event,which Antonio the Capo had brought them to, they ate much. The chubby kid ate nothing. They brought me a dessert tray of 3 cookies. I ate these. They brought the Russians a 3 tiered tray "high tea english style" tray of dessert cookies. 
When the 17 year old saw me eating the desserts, the adults brushed these away and ordered more wine. The "little" boy looks at me, grabs all the cookies from the three tiers and starts eating! I laughed and asked for more cookies. We kind of bonded in the sense I hope I made him feel included in the dinner since the other adults ignored him, and in the sense that I showed that it is acceptable to enjoy which one loves.
When the 17 year old saw me eating the desserts, the adults brushed these away and ordered more wine. The "little" boy looks at me, grabs all the cookies from the three tiers and starts eating! I laughed and asked for more cookies. We kind of bonded in the sense I hope I made him feel included in the dinner since the other adults ignored him, and in the sense that I showed that it is acceptable to enjoy which one loves."Yes, since each culture is different, it is important to let everybody have different tastes and when they ask questions to acknowledge their wants." says Ahmed.
"Actually in Russia, the kids are encouraged to eat tons of food since the fatter you are the more esteemed and weatlhy you are regarded."! says Ahmed. Nancy his assistant and I laugh. "That is the way with my Italian Grandmother, too, " she says laughing, "as a matter of fact when I call her and say I want to visit she never asks what time I arrive, instead she asks what do I want to eat! She assumes I will arrive it is just a matter of how much food she has prepared for me to eat." she says.
How poignant, sad and majestic is the reality of beauty...the statue of David,
Met the new director of Florence Tours Italy with us, today. His name is Ahmed and his great funny assistant is Nancy.
"Alright, I want you to add every tour we have here and Rome, "says Nancy when I first meet her. She is funny and delightful and most of all trustful and honest. "You have to meet my director, Ahmed." she says. And I finally meet him. He is very serious and very knowledgeable about his tours. They have a great private tour of Ufizzi for only $125.00 per person and if you bring more than 2, the 3rd on is only $40.00 per person in your group! (hint you can share like a fraternity group!).
Such innocence and fragility in his face! Hmm...he reminds me of someone, I can't put my finger! on it!
The famous Michelin Restaurant in Florence is located at 10 and 18 Borgo Pinti; reservations: 
Is the food good? I ask Soldano. "I hope so," he says quietly. His voice is very quiet and he is one of the most sincere and humble people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting, love going to each table personally and saying hi to the guests, taking the orders and having fun every night.
"That is my joy honestly. I am usually at La Giostra II since that restaurant my father made for me, and La Giostra is his restaurant. Now I do the recipes for both restaurants, yet my presence is almost always at the La Giostra II where yes I do play loud rock and roll every night. We play that music in both restaurants and ever since a lot of the music stars have become my friends. Yes, we have Michelin, yet they seem to love the difference between the music and the food and the atmosphere. Everyday I meet people from all around the world. I talk to the backpackers from America and the movie stars, and the music stars from America. The young people come in here and they love the music and they love that they can feel 100% comfortable in my restaurants. The music is my love and I dress that way with my taste every night. The restaurant is for the daily person who works and the Prince. It is a everybody restaurant and that is what my father taught me. He said, "Remember Soldano, the guest is the guest of your party that you are giving. Every night at the restaurant you have invited friends to come to a party. And that is why the music that I like I play and the food that I add to the table is the food I love." he says. 
055 241341 Borgo Pinti 10/18 Rosso https://www.facebook.com/ristorantelagiostra/"The guests vary from the 3 American girls that you met on the bus who said that they loved my restaurant, which is why you came here, to the Egyptian Prince who invited me 3 days to Egypt and flew me around in his helicopter. Which is amazing and I still wonder why he invited me!" he says. I say that it is his lovely person, his coolness and his great and lovely food that the Egyptian Prince probably wanted to steal recipes from! Ha ha ha. Yet totally a treat. https://www.instagram.com/lagiostrafirenze/?hl=it
have to meet the Soldano who does that, I said. 
Alright maybe you are a vegatarian! Yes they do have asparagus scrumptious items on the menu, and they present the plates with flair, and remember I said that it is a romantic restaurant which means that everybody needs to dress up when they chow down on the wild boar...just kidding! 
Alright guess what the restaurant is famous about? That is right...eating the WILD BOAR? nope the famous Florentine Steak,
And here proves the fact that many love to eat the boar which the restaurant is famous of, yet the Florentine Steak will get you a photo so I guess if you want a picture on the facebook hall of fame, dress up, put on that makeup and ask to eat the Florentine Steak.
"The restaurant is famous for the Wild Boar and that is why I have the little stuffed boars on the top of the ledges since the children love the wild boars as much as the adultes, except the children love to grab the wild boars and that can lead to problems!" says Marco who is the friendly and I am very happy successful Capo of Maremma. 
"Why is a Irish Pub Irish?" answers Jimmy, "I believe it is the atmosphere and the feeling of being comfortable and with friends that you always have in Ireland when you walk into a Irish Pub. The Irish are just that way and that is the real reason everybody comes since they know they are going to joke and have a good time at a Irish Pub. I am the only Irish owner of the some 9 Irish Pubs in Florence, though, and that is why you should come drink the Guinness here...O yes and we are the CHEAPEST GUINNESS IN FLORENCE AT 6.00euros a Pint!"
The cheapest is a Italian draft at 5.00 euros and the most expensive craft beer draft is only 6.50 euros at a pint. That is the best you can find and we're right on the square, O and I am the only Irish owner, too, make sure you say that!" says Jimmy.
"My vision is to make my restaurant Michelin. It is very easy to work hard everyday with that goal. I am revamping the recipes and now they are 80% mine, along with the team, and at night we have 5 servers for such a tiny restaurant. Yet I want a good reputation and the only way to slowly move up the ranks is with hard work, attention to the guests and food, and a great attitude. 
That is my aim, to make the best traditional food from the kitchen, yet to keep the tradition of the woman who made it famous for 40 years. My promise to her." says Gulian. He is animated, young and talkative and I know that you will have a great time to lunch and dinner and most importantly the food is awesome!
That is my aim, to make the best traditional food from the kitchen, yet to keep the tradition of the woman who made it famous for 40 years. My promise to her." says Gulian. He is animated, young and talkative and I know that you will have a great time to lunch and dinner and most importantly the food is awesome! The traditional authentic recipes that Guilian has added from his mother's kitchen perhaps are given at the romantic tables with love. 
"I think that people should come here not because it is me but because of the way that I live and the way that I envision my restaurant. I want people to read that maybe I am 50 years old or 20 years old. Let the people guess. In the last year that I owned the restaurant I raised the Trip Advisor from 1,600 place to now about 160 ish place. That is important to me." Guilian says. He offer me the Ravioli di patate al tartufo nero which I am going to try and of course to take a picture of as the Japanese in the past often do! However being modern and having heard that it is more Chic today to hide and discover I am going to tell you of my lovely experience! Located at : Via del Corso 42, 055 215019 it is the "only restaurant on the street, only cafes or etc fashion is allowed here, I am the only restaurant which helps!" says the young owner Guilian. "And we do it all in a quiet way. We don't attack the people and even when you are sitting at the table we take care of you and we offer you very formal attentive service yet in a very friendly happy way and a family way."
one of my favorite quotes of Guilian:
"The Restaurant is Lit with Candles Only at Night"
And of course everybody loves the buffet at Kitsch 1 
"You know Martini sponsors me and gives us signs and brochures and especially cool DJ events, and it is a great collaboration. I know that when people see the name Martini it signifies respect and good quality and that is my place. Highest quality. I of course want my guests to have a fun night with the best possible food and drink. And music and yes itis true, sometimes we do dance on the tables.!"
When I met with Fabio at Kitsch 2 on Wednesday the 12th, the Martini Liquour Group was sponsoring the event to promote the new Fuori Martini to promote Aperitivo Spritz. We had a couple of course and they are lovely. Fabio told me of the way that he is totally conscious of his guests and the quality of food at Kitsch. "I only allow meat that is farm raised in my buffets. I know that the animals are raised to roam freely in the farm lands and that it is with respect when I eat food on a plate, I respect that food. I only use about 5 to 7 meats every night on the buffet, yet each cow or pig is raised on a farm. And the fish we use is of the highest quality, too. In addition the pasta is biological. I care about my guests and the food here is of the highest quality. I am first a cook. I am as good of a cook in the restaurants in Florence that only serve lunch and dinner, yet my place is elegant, funky, renaissance style with a DJ and music and great mixologists that do the cocktails every night. I am proud to have Kitsch 1 and Kitsch 2." says Fabio. 
JIMMYS Leathers...Florence Italy "The designs that we have are mine mostly and Sean, my brother. They are all original and I try to concentrate on the quality, feel, and I am famous for the colors. The new jackets that we have we carry in 15 colors. That is important since we are the only leather company that does that." says Jimmy. When I say that his store is becoming quite known around the world, Alex, his cousin says, "It is a brand, not a name. The name Jimmys is a brand that people around the world are starting to know like Louis Vuitton is branding the name Louis Vuitton." which actually is very true. Anyway the minute you walk into the stores I promise you that you shal say "O MY Gosh O my Gosh O MY GOSH it is beautiful." Jimmy has so many cousins and relatives working with him, that it is difficult or should I say impossible to have a conversation about leather that less it eventually reflects back to the owner, Jimmy himself.
They all love him and they all love and are totally proud of the leathers that they 100% design and tailor themselves. Each and every one of the pieces of leather whether it be the gorgeous leather coats that they have become famous for, or the soft leather bags...you will absolutely love the team and the selection...about 1,000 different furs and leathers in two locations at the San Lorenzo Mercato. The one repeating comment that my guests that shop at Jimmys leathers say is they had "so much fun with the fellows!" or "they were so much fun to buy leathers from!" a australian team told me. It is true. They are really nice. Plus the leather is GORGEOUS! "We tailor every piece to fit you. We can do just about any color and if you need something totally made to fit you it takes a couple of weeks, but we can ship anywhere in the world." says Jimmy.
They all love him and they all love and are totally proud of the leathers that they 100% design and tailor themselves. Each and every one of the pieces of leather whether it be the gorgeous leather coats that they have become famous for, or the soft leather bags...you will absolutely love the team and the selection...about 1,000 different furs and leathers in two locations at the San Lorenzo Mercato. The one repeating comment that my guests that shop at Jimmys leathers say is they had "so much fun with the fellows!" or "they were so much fun to buy leathers from!" a australian team told me. It is true. They are really nice. Plus the leather is GORGEOUS! "We tailor every piece to fit you. We can do just about any color and if you need something totally made to fit you it takes a couple of weeks, but we can ship anywhere in the world." says Jimmy.
Via Sant'Antonino, 80r, 50123 Firenze FI
Piazza San Lorenzo 2 
Jimmys Leathers Piazza San Lorenzo 2
The coolest addition that is 100% only Jimmys Collection is the attachable fur black cuffs that you can attach to any jacket. "I have a collar, too that you can attach. It gives the jacket a little more sophistication and elegance. You can wear the one you love, for instance, the green jacket that is very soft and fitted to the body and when you add the black fur cuffs on the wrists it gives it a little something." says Jimmy. I say it gives it that feel of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys! It is true. Gorgeous! Jimmy's brother above is the designer of the latest mid to long length men and womens' leather coats and although Jimmy does not let anyone photo his new styles, since he wants them exclusive, I can tell you that the leather melts in your hands, is super smooth and great huge collars...hint hint. 
Trattoria Armando Florence 
"I have had interns the last 10 years and I have these young talented people here about 1 month to 6 months. I take care of the housing for each. My mother loves to teach these young people since they have tons of energy and they absolutely love her." When I ask how her mother deals with the long hours of the kitchen, "Everyday my mother says, can I please come to work! and I say mama you can come at lunch or dinner because it is a long day. Yet she loves to come here all the time. It is amazing and it truly is a unique situation that we have in terms of women culinary owners and chefs." Since the Teatro House has moved 1 kilometer away, "We have less of the opera stars and the ballet house is gone. It is usual for the people to visit one day to do dinner, yet in the old times they came for one month to prepare for the opera and concerts and ballet. It would be nice to see the young stars of today come to visit to meet in the photos, the mentors of their youth." says Alessandra. You seriously have to see these people...it took me 15 minutes to calm down from all the energy and laughter they share with everyone.
"I have had interns the last 10 years and I have these young talented people here about 1 month to 6 months. I take care of the housing for each. My mother loves to teach these young people since they have tons of energy and they absolutely love her." When I ask how her mother deals with the long hours of the kitchen, "Everyday my mother says, can I please come to work! and I say mama you can come at lunch or dinner because it is a long day. Yet she loves to come here all the time. It is amazing and it truly is a unique situation that we have in terms of women culinary owners and chefs." Since the Teatro House has moved 1 kilometer away, "We have less of the opera stars and the ballet house is gone. It is usual for the people to visit one day to do dinner, yet in the old times they came for one month to prepare for the opera and concerts and ballet. It would be nice to see the young stars of today come to visit to meet in the photos, the mentors of their youth." says Alessandra. You seriously have to see these people...it took me 15 minutes to calm down from all the energy and laughter they share with everyone. "My father didn't help me because he didn't want me to do the job but my mother always in the kitchen had mixed feelings. To keep the restaurant yet how could a young woman do the job? Usually with the Italian restaurant it is a couple and my husband has another job and it is only me. I didn't think about it. It was a passion for me. It is the field of my life and I try hard and I have success at the end. I have grown up here." she says.
Although Alessandra's mother, Giovanna, speaks only Italian, as does the entire kitchen team, she and I had a funny non-verbal and verbal conversation. She said that when the famous ballet dancer came to the restaurant that he wanted to marry her. And I believe her...at least that is what I think she said! She is such a beautiful lady inside and outside as is her daughter. It is a elegant restaurant where you have a hidden sanctuary to enjoy a relaxed and private lunch and a intimate romantic dinner, unseen from passerbys. Or if you like to people-watch there is still two tables in the front reminiscent of the early days where you can do just that! 
It is as if I expect Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti to walk in the door! "When I am 8 years old I took the picture of my hero Georges Pretre, the famous French Conductor and I went to his concerts since the Teatro House of Florence at that time is only 200 meters from the restaurant." says Alessandra.
"I think the walls show the story of the Restaurant. It is 3 family generations and it is today to work in a family traditional restaurant one must know the history. We usually do a lot of work and to know that it is his. That in many ways it is a lot of sacrifice in a certain way. I was the Economic history at university. When my father got ill, I was 35 years old. He was going to give up the restaurant and I said let me come in and keep the tradition." The atmosphere at the restaurant is gracious and traditional. A must treat of Florence. On the walls we have such stars as Russian Ballet Dancer Rudolf Nureyev... to which Alessandra says, "Yes he came here to eat many times yet when the restaurant is closed he came to eat at my house." And that is only one of 100's of photos that adorn the famous restaurant's hallways...it is a look back in time and as of today the only actor is "Dustin Hoffman who came with his parents!" says Alessandra's mother, Giovanna Pieralli, the famous matriarch cook who brought her culinary talents to join the family when she at the age of 17 met Alessandra's father. "My grandfather, Armando, started the restaurant only in the front with meats and cheeses and wine. They only had a couple of tables..,and he bought the rest of the trattoria later and they made the restaurant." the elegance of the hidden restaurant is a safe landing place for the international stars of Teatro... 
The Lovely Private and Exquisite Restaurant in Florence named Trattoria Armando is Amazing for its Discreet hidden location and it's 60 years of traditional family recipes. However, wait before you say O another Florentine restaurant, it has the most special adornment of famous photos of musicians, opera stars and ballet performers that you will ever find except in the original Teatro Houses which of course no longer exist. Located at:Borgognissanti 140, 0039.055.217263
And of course we must talk about the romantically elegant restaurant's food, since it is a restaurant. I tell Francisco that when I enter the Napoleone, I first see it all and approach the bar for a cocktail, a light caffe and about 15 minutes later realize that I can actually dine here!
For instance on the menu they have a entire page of truffles, with a first course page of truffle dishes, and a main course page of truffle dishes that follows. Entire pages! Which is truly amazing.
"I truly focus on the food. The restaurant is beautiful, yet it's purpose is to have my guests have a good time and to enjoy and taste the food. Every item is fresh and the chefs are the original chefs, by the way. When I bought the restaurant, I kept the chefs! We want to serve the freshest fish that we can find, for instance in addition to the fact that it has always been known as a restaurant that has the finest cuts of the Florentine steaks. That is why people come from all around the world to dine here." says Francisco. They offer me to try the wild boar which I love, and the Merlot from Castello Ginori.
Okay below is my Wild Boar! My favorite in the world.
When I ask why they love the restaurant? "Because we love Dante!" says Luciano. And Mario? "The same." he says. "We're proud to see the vision that we created come to a reality. It is ultimately our design with the way we wanted to create something and the architect designed it for us. Coming to the table is special and we like to show off. We want to have fun and make you happy." he says. And Michelin? Is that a plan?
Mario laughs, "We hope to do Michelin in the future yes!" he says. 
"Yes, we have specialty of fish and honestly you can have a nice meal starting from 30.00 euros per person. If you want expensive bottle of wine the price could be 100.00 euros per person or more. Yet it is a restaurant that looks very expensive and is reasonable. I want everybody to come and enjoy the restaurant. Come have a Beatrice or Dante cocktail or a flamme bois of lamb for a special dinner." says Mario, with the help of my translator!
And guests having elegant dinner at Inferno. 
"My brother loves to show off and bring the flamme bois to the tables. The flames are high and we have a great banana dessert flamme bois, too. The cocktails have flames to some of those and since it is the INFERNO, we must keep the tradition of the name!" says Luciano. Does he do the flamme bois? "Only with the cocktails, I do." he says.
Anne Marie's son, a delightful ball of energy, has a craft beer cavern in the rear of the elegant sophisticated wine store, where she says,"It is a project of his since he is into distribution and importing of the beer which is different than the wine.The people know the quality of wine and the many centuries history of the vineyards around the world and shall pay a higher price for a good and rare quality of wine, yet my son has craft beer. It is very expensive in the terms of beer. The people that go to a pub want a good beer for around 5.00euros. Here they have to pay at least 8.00 euros to 12.00 euros per craft beer and maybe higher. My wine people don't understand paying that much for one bottle of beer." she laughs enthusiastically. I tell her that the beer aficionados pay that much, trust me.
We just have to let the beer lovers know that the beer in the rear of the 20 year old sophisticated rare wine store is here and they will come. Perhaps traipsing with their blue jeans and sweatshirts to buy the 12euro bottle, yet they'll come! 
Millesimi Birra is owned 
of the Capo's son, who is very passionate about his beer! He imports tons of it from everywhere around the world, including America and I am trying to encourage him to import my neices's brewery beer:
Chicago, Maplewood. https://www.facebook.com/Millesimi-Birra-589146637848471/ For the Millesimi Beer and for Maplewood http://www.maplewoodbrew.com/
Located at: Borgo Tegolaio 33/r
Firenze, Italy. Please call: 055 26 54 675
or email Anne Marie with questions: at
millesimisrl@gmail.com
"The bag is great for the airlines, it is the perfect size, yet it is a little expensive, here let me show you all the compartments," says Stefano as he throws the stuffing out and shows me the soft leather. I LOVE THAT BAG.
"Here beautiful Kenya woman," he says as a couple from Kenya walk in and the woman, although a little sophisticated starts to giggle. You will laugh with them, trust me. They are fun. And after all isn't that why you come to Florence and on vacation? To have fun? "We both worked many years, at least 20 in the Florence leather market, and we worked with Jimmys, who I see on the site. Yet here is our baby. It is brand new. We have to bargain with people. There is too many leather places and we have the highest quality leather, yet we have fun with people. We don't want to rob you and we want you to tell your friends and tell your friends and tell your friends, and that is the way you grow a new business. You work real hard and long hours, you're honest and you bargain. When you are more established in a couple of years you can be a little more choosy, yet we know people have to buy from us and we work with you. We want to grow the business, not get rich overnight." says Stefano.
"I live in the most famous section of the world for leather, and that is Santa Croce, not the square, yet the city where the finest leather is produced." says Marcus. "We choose the finest leather and work with designers. We custom make the coats for you and ship these to you. We are trying to do our best with the highest quality and right now we are concentrating on showing off our baby store.!"
The Kenya woman whispers to me, "I'm a chemist and even in the winter in Kenya it is 20 degrees, yet I AM ALMOST CONVINCED TO BUY THE COAT!" she laughs and I say she should buy the airline bag and take it everywhere. "Hmm I never thought about buying a bag instead." she says. 
"The above jacket is leather cuffs and collars and we can make it in any colors. You know we bargain and say Okay I can do you a great deal and the Americans love it. They say, Okay make me a deal. Some people maybe are too serious, yet the ones that come in here come to have fun and of course take home a real Florentine leather." says Marcus.
"I love the ones with the hoods, and they are detachable and they are reversible, which is why they are a little more expensive, yet most people can do pretty good with us!" We do custom colors and custom made and only if you come into the store since we don't want to take your measurements over the internet." they laugh. Marcus and Stefano in their "baby" store. "Wait, wait, we need to dressup!" shouts Marcus, yet he lets me take the photo anyway. They are very fun and everybody stays and laughs and talks to them. "The Americans are the nicest. They always say, O I have to think about it, then they buy it and say, O what the hey." he says. (0039) 347 27 85550
"Come let me show you the downstairs," is how me and Laura bond! The "downstairs" is the cellar of the original Corbizzi Palace and is elegantly beautiful. The leather soft grey booths are so gorgeous and I keep oooing and aaaing. "Yes I love these and added these in January. I love the way that they blend with the original Palace walls. When we came here me and Claudio start taking down the plaster walls and discover the 1000 ad brick. It is so beautful, yet is flakes so we can't really have the exposed brick above the heads of people. We chose to keep the covered white above and yet to all sides and the wine cellar you can see and feel the original structure." she says. It is so cool that I believe that you can bring a tour group here to talk about the Palace and learn the history of the structure. "Yes, yet ultimately I want to tell of the fresh ingredients and to promote the families that we use that farm with care and don't mistreat the animals. The cows have a good life and aren't mistreated" he says and here is the wonderful cuts! O and should I mention eat the Tuscany food that is lovely! And fattening. Now I must go jogging! 
"We physically own the Corbizzi Palace," starts Claudio, who sits down with his very funny and gorgeous wife, Laura. "That is the reason here that we can give a family traditional Tuscany meal in a 1000AD palace. Most of Florence is owned by 10 families and the palace's are rented to other people at outrageous rents. They can't honestly afford to have family restaurants in these. Yet we can and many times people approach me, yet I love my mother and father who started the restaurant and I love my tradition of being a Florentine.
I want to give the best food. The only thing that me and Laura have done the last couple of years is add fish to the menu, making it a little more appealing to a certain sect, and redecorated. Yet, the fish is cooked in Tuscany style. Every item is from Tuscany. The wine, the recipes, the ingredients." He pauses and for some reason me and Laura laugh a lot! He adds, "That is the real reason that Italy has the best food. We have the best ingredients, especially here in Tuscany. The very best. And we use the best. You must try!" he says and of course the pasta was the best!
I want to give the best food. The only thing that me and Laura have done the last couple of years is add fish to the menu, making it a little more appealing to a certain sect, and redecorated. Yet, the fish is cooked in Tuscany style. Every item is from Tuscany. The wine, the recipes, the ingredients." He pauses and for some reason me and Laura laugh a lot! He adds, "That is the real reason that Italy has the best food. We have the best ingredients, especially here in Tuscany. The very best. And we use the best. You must try!" he says and of course the pasta was the best! The waiter, Valerio, brings me the wine of his choice and it is Vermentino. Everybody around the world knows that is MY FAVORITE one! How do they know !
Via S. Pier Maggiore, 8 0039055 214424
ZIO GIGI
via Folco Portinari 7 red. 
"What do the Americans want?" Raluca asks and I say that they want to know that you like them. Basically it gives everybody hope around the world to come to a city that has smiles and hospitality and that greets the tourists with real honesty, respect, and happiness. It gives people hope to be in Italy since everybody seems happy! "Yes I am happy truly to have fun with my guests and I have made many facebook friends from everywhere the last 10 years." says Raluca."I am out here saying hi to everybody and I tell my guests that they don't have to spend tons of money here. They can have a entire bottle of wine plus a HUGE PLATE OF pasta for under 20.00euros and if they don't plan on drinking the entire bottle themselves they can each spend about 13.00 euros for wine and pasta." The plates of pasta are HUGE and they look scrumptious! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Osteria-Zio-Gigi/1131906573617423
The fun kind Capo Gigi singing to his guests.
And here in Italy where vineyards are abundant a Capo can have his picture on his on wine! 
I am hungry just talking to him!
Via dei Michelozzi 9red www.trattorialacasalinga.it
Andrea
and the team! 
CINTO Cucina in Torre Restaurant is simply the best cut of meat in Tuscanyand do we have Tartar, the Classica at 100/200grams, Tartare con capperi di Salina e filetto, Tartare con pesto di pistacchi, (my favorite), Tartare in camicia e olio al tartufo, Tartare pomodori, crema di olive, A Plateau of 3 tartares each 100grams, you have the idea! 1/2 the menu is tartare! http://www.cucinaintorre.it/
"I am only 24 and have been here running the day to day operational section of the CINTO since 2013, which is 4 years. My father and socials make up my partners, yet my father is a Professor of Physics at the Institute of National Research here in Florence. He is VERY smart!" says Lorenzo as we sat down in his adorable very chic restaurant to talk about the difference of CINTO and the rest of Florence. "We don't do the Florentine Steak, and the Ribollita for example. We do use some of my mother's and grandmother's recipes in the traditional food we serve, yet it is all about the cut of the beef. I guess you could say we are famous for raw meat, the tartare and we are very good at it, trust me.!" he says. 
The cool showroom of total custom handmade shoes from the son, Matteo Caparrini who branched out of the long tradition of his family's 50 year legacy of making custom made leather shoes in Florence, Italy. "My father is excited yet not so happy since I am a very good leather expert and shoemaker and I left to start my own design and brand, the first one in my family to do that. I had to open my own leather factory, of me only, since my father just signed a exclusive contract with Valentino to do his shoes." says the young and totally enthusiastic Matteo who along with his partner, Marco, own the Lab_Shop concent store. If you want to order the shoes and you are physically in a foreign country you can only order the ones on my website. The custom ones you have to come into the store in Florence. I have my shoes in Hong Kong, too!" says Matteo. The website is : https://www.instagram.com/levillagesneakers/ https://www.facebook.com/leVillageFirenze/ https://levillage.it/shop/ 
Since the year's fashion shows are featuring sneakers of all kinds on the runways I say to Matteo that is why he chose a perfect time to showcase his first collection. The models will all want to wear evening wear long slinky dresses with his sneakers and bows and the men will want to accessorize with the gorgeous leather shoes. "Yes, I know. I am very happy about that. I am real proud of my first collection and the opening days here were crazy with people buying everything. Check it out on facebook!" he says and I do. Kind of sad I missed the party...I love to drink wine, eat aperitivos and wear cool comfy sneakers that make me look funky!
Still trying to find him? Call: 0039333 3695 002
http://barcucina.com/
"As far as having any say in the choices my chef makes to bring to the table, I eat his food!" laughs Matteo Mechelli,
The Restaurant Garga is famous for many things, most notably, from the Capo, Alessandro, is three items: the love of the art of Florence inherited from his Canadian artist and chef mother and famous Florentine artist and chef father, the combination of the culture of the international plates that Alessandro himself has since brought to the table(having worked 8 years in New York city), and the interaction of the guests with both his food and the ability and opportunity to become artists themselves!
"When my mother and father started out in 1971, they were butchers for 8 years. They had parties at the house and painted all the time and it might not seem to be creative to be a butcher, yet think about it!, who knows the quality of the meat and how to prepare it better than a butcher!" laughs Alessandro and it certainly makes sense.
"They decided to open a restaurant right here to incorporate their love of being entertainers and artists and their love of cooking. My mother brought her famous Canadian cheesecake to the Florentine people, yet coming from America, she also brought many famous international people that came because they heard of a restaurant where the chefs came from the kitchen after the dinners and cleared the big wooden tables and painted while the guests stayed and drank wine and talked about philosophy and the importance of art. Every night they would paint on the tables and when my father became sick we started a foundation at the local hospital where we gave some of his most important paintings to the exray department. Here while you are waiting for the technician instead of worrying about what is next you can enjoy the beauty of the art and the memories of it. That is important for me as well as for Garga. In my life the pleasure of cooking has brough many important people to let us meet and has brought many important memories. Art conjures up memories as well as the smell and taste of food," explains Alessandro.
When I ask him of his fondest memories of people that we would recognize he immediately says, "Definitely Jeff Bridges. He came here during the showing of his film, The Big Lebowski, which me and my father had gone together to see. He is exactly the way he is in the movies. The nicest and most down to earth person ever. He shows up and he is totally cool to sit and have a great time with. He sat with my father and his friend who has done many of the artistic pieces here and they talked for hours about life and philosophy and painting and we have stayed in touch all these years. He sent 2 of his best friends, one is Robin Coleman of the Gladiators and they came and chatted with us. They said that Jeff had told them to come and meet me that I am pretty famous in America! We have had many stars such as Robin Williams and Leonardo DiCaprio and Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft, all of which are the nicest people you can ever meet. I won't mention the ones who weren't," he says laughing. Ah People!
"I would say the way that me and my father are alike is that he loved to eat and make parties all the time and I love to eat, entertain and cook! Yet that is certainly the job of a chef, right? To entertain the guests. And since you asked me if I am nervous when I serve my food to the guests, the answer is yes, everytime. Especially when I make a new recipe, I sometimes hide in the kitchen if they sit in the room where I am cooking in the window and peek to see if they love my food. As a chef, it is a profession and we should be used to it, yet everytime I wait since the individual tastebuds are each unique, right? My plate, I hope, is beautifully presented to the guest, and I know that to me the food is ready to be tasted of the guest, yet since each person is different I do tend to be nervous each time. And I can tell if a person loves it. They taste first and a little smile comes on their face and they eat a couple of bites. Perhaps they sit back and talk a little about the food to the people at the table about the food, and they continue to eat.That is when I know I did my job!" he says. 
"My father always said that the plate is like your canvas. The food is your masterpiece of colors. I stay true to that inspiration. Every single dish has to have my approval before it comes from the kitchen to the guest. As if they are in a photo shoot! " Says Alessandro.
"You know, many people have asked me if I am happy with my life. The answer is yes and maybe. I have only known the life I have and I know that it is special and that I am priveleged to have had such famous parents. Yet I lived in a bubble of the art world of Florence! It is all that I have known and I hope that I bring the excellence that my mother and father have come to be known for to the table." he says humbly. I think of the Dan Fogleberg song, "the leader of the band," which is one of my favorite songs and memories of my father. 
located at: Via San Zanobi 33-R
located at: Via San Zanobi 33-R
"Of course people come to restaurants to eat, yet here they have a total experience of the atmosphere and the service and the artistic experience and history of each piece of art and finally the food. It is decorated from years of my mother and father and the last 5 years of my touches. It is as if you are in my home, instead of a perfect architectually designed restaurant. That, I feel, is why people love it. And I have continued the artistic tradition of my family with the tablecloths and the painting. Each guest is allowed to paint on their tables as I ready the food. When the dinner is finished, at the end of the month, we have a little contest and the winner receives a dinner for two from us. I, myself, am not a artist, yet I know the importance of continueing the tradition of the painting on the tables that my mother and father used to do that made the restaurant world famous."
"O and of course my mother has cooking classes, which you can reserve ahead with 3 classifications: up to 8 people where you all start the morning at 9am in the Mercato choosing the ingredients, and 8 to 16 people where they all go to the Mercato, yet the prepping here is divided into 2 groups, and finally the 16 and above groups where it is more a cooking demo of me and my mother and they have lunch! Every year the Smithsonian group comes here from Washingto DC and they do that class. Every class, of course, has the lunch included. Afterall, you have to try your own cooking, right!" he says laughing.
The two brothers from Albania, "the wild and crazy Albanians" says the talkative Zeno, the younger of the two, the older brother is Erion. "You saw me at the King Grizzly Pub", reminds Zeno, although I knew he worked there, I didn't know that he is the brother the older one told me about all the time. Last December I met Erion, who was thrilled to be opening his own Craft Biere with lots of different crafts on tap, yet he always said he had to talk to his brother too, his partner. And then when I went to chat with the friendly and knowledgeable bartender of 6 years at the King Grizzly pub, Zeno, I didn't know it was the same person! Now I met Zeno and I said "O you must be the brother everybody talks about!". 
"You know people drink a lot of beer in this city!" laughs Zeno, as he shows me the huge selection of craft draft beers from "countries around the world. Every week we have different beers. And yes I have tried all of the beers!" he says laughing. Well, you gotta try the product to know what it is ! They also have something fun on their website named Untapped where you can write your ratings of the beers! cool. "My little daughter is named Aurora!" says Zeno, and of course he has a beer for her too! 
"I think one of the things the international tourists and especially the Americans love is the high selection of the foreign craft beers, and of course although we have many Italian craft beers that the Italians come in to try they say they are always willing to try other countries beers too!" says Zeno. And Zeno? "I myself like the dark lagers." and he lets me try one. It is on tap tonight, the best dark lager I have ever tasted and make sure you run to that bar! December 6 is my sister's birthday so I have to wish her a beer birthday and she, too loves lagers!
"You know here it is about the beers! We don't have a kitchen and honestly there is so many aperitivos around us that once your done snacking and ready to get serious about drinking walk straight to us!" says Zeno. 
If you want to hear the chatter of real Florentine Italians and the Old School boys, you must come here on a Friday and Saturday night to experience the real Italian culture. Hint: tons of loud talking, affectionate yelling and lots of laughter. 
The cool funky fun of the traditional and elegant Acqua al 2, located at Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40/R.
Since 1978 the original Acqua al 2 has been in Florence and the last 33 years the local Florentines have flocked to it, yet now it includes tourists and the students who love to try the fantasy dishes of Mr. Innocenti. In 2000, Martin Gonzalez opened the Acqua Al 2 in San Diego, California and in 2010, Stefano's childhood friends, Ralph Lee and Ari Geidenson opened the internationally loved Florentine restaurant in Washington DC. We must ask if Mr. and Mrs. Trump have dined at the restaurant and that way we can all feel a little Florentine!
Along with the American Diner on Via Acqua right around the alley of the restaurant Acqua Al 2, the owners Valentine and Stefano also own the Dive all night famous Club THE BLOB...here a Friday night event...
Friday at 11:45 PM - 4 AM |
...the coolest Cuban bar around, right in between my buddys FELTRINELLI LEATHERS and JIMMYS LEATHERS.SABOR CUBANO...REAL LIVE DANCING CUBAN STYLE...
THE COOLEST VINTAGE BAR OUTSIDE MERCATO
You know that it is a 1920s real authentic Cuban bar, a cuban speakeasy where you can imagine Billy Holiday with her benefactors having a intimate meeting since the owner is totally Cuban...however, it is also ingenious. And seriously, a genius thought of the concept 1920s real Cuban clothing vintage style store upstairs where "everything is for sale." says the owner in a charming Cuban dialect of halting English. 
"WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC ON THURSDAYS...! where the Cuban girls dance, sing and fight in the Latin way,!" as he shows me the hilarious video, yet they have great music! "Every night I write Cuban music 5 hours here and my protege plays the music on the piano." he says. He shows me upstairs and I try hats on and ooo and aaa at the gorgeous vintage dresses. LOVED IT: 
From vintage Cuban rollerskates to derbys, which Lopez , the Cuban owner, gave me to sewing machine tailored dress patterns of the 1920s Cuban styles, you can find these upstairs, "where I thought, people work til 7.00pm or tourists come to a city for a couple of days and after visiting the Ufizzi Gallery they try to buy a dress but all the stores are closed, so at 8.00pm to 2.00am they can come to my concept Cuban bar and clothing store upstairs and buy a nice dinner dress, a nice men's suit to go our for the night or party all night here with me..I make great Mojitos, by the way," says the dashing Cuban Lopez. (ps. he does make great Mojitos of which I had a virgin Mojito, no alcohol please since I already had two wines at a non-descript no sign outside alley bar earlier...I take after my father...).
"Maybe we can say that my store is open from 11:00am to 19:00pm, which is 7:00pm, yet honestly usually I am here early and stay late since many tourists and guests, especially the 20 to 30 year olds want to come in after 18:00pm. If you come into the store and love something you can stay and buy til 21:00pm, if you want. I love my store and I collect so much. The shoes I have from the 1930s to the 1980s and some are new colored sneakers such as the Gucci. Every item is special and I hope people find something that they love." says Fabio as two young people age about 24 to 25 come in and buy some cool vintage. "We went shopping at Gucci today," says one of the youngsters who's name was Domenico, "We wanted a little modern and a little vintage to mix it up." They say laughing as they buy their clothes and go out to see the city. 
"The details is what makes a difference." says Domenico who takes one month to do his wine list, travels to the Verona famous wine event and tastes "at least 500 wines every year in 2 days. Of course you taste and spit the wine out or you would be very very very drunk!" he says laughing. "I used to be a professional handball player for Italy, yet at the age of 27 I decided I wanted to own my own restaurant and although I can cook, Matteo is a very good cook. I have two girls that follow my orders to every table and we make it professional, yet familiar." says Domenico who laughs a lot. 
"Okay the food. Let's see. We have pesce that is our specialty and we have Tuscany food. The wine is from all of Italy and the food Tuscany and a little Sicilian since my mother is from Sicily. We have octopus, sea bass and a couple of huge soup bowls full of mussels, clams, calamari, all seafood in broth for 2 people and that is named the GANZI. Which by the way the QUE'GANZI is named for a Italian slang which means it is a "cool restaurant. A special cool place to eat." 
Everybody knows what comfort food is, right? "Yes we come from California and it is our second day here in Florence and we eat here everyday!" says a young enthusiastic American couple today at lunch.
Later, Bettina, one of the two owners, says, "Yes it is true. Last night they came and ate the linguini and the wild boar and stayed and chatted with me over wine. And today at lunch I come in and see the same two people and they are sitting at the same table! They ordered different food, yet they said they loved the cooking. That is the way with Buzzino which has been here since 1848. In that time it is opposite the Medici palace which used to have real lions caged in the walls to show the prestige. That is why the street is named Via Dei Leoni" says Bettina. 
"I love wine. Tuscany alone has over 3,000 wines and here at the restaurant we have new ones every year. Yet we only have 30 wines a year. I choose from vineyards and festivals and wine invitations. You name it and I try it. I love the wine. You must tell me which one you prefer, " Bettina says as she has me try a traditional Chianti and a smoother softer one. I prefer the softer one. "Yes the Badilanti is a very good wine!" she says laughing. "You have very fine taste!" and I am afraid to ask how much it is! My mother always would say to me, "Emme if you have to ask one can not afford it." and I always said what if I am only curious? She would raise her eyebrows at me as if to say, Curious about how much it is? 
"You are either a food person or you're not. I am a food person. I love November at the restaurant since the old-school Florentines come in and they sit at night and talk for hours. It is quiet here from now to Christmas and it is nice to sit and have cheese and wine til the wee hours of the morning. The food that we serve you say is comfort food. It is true. It is simple traditional Italian food, yet it fills you up. It actually is the same food that almost 200 years ago they used to serve here. They would put the stewed beef with wine in the terracotta ovens at 5.00am and they would all go to work. They used to work very hard in those days, and at 12.00 lunch time the food would be ready. They would come back and all eat here in the kitchens. Allessandro was a good friend of my husband. We all owned the Trattoria 20 years since, and eventually only I am the other owner." she says. "Allessandro is the brother of the owner of Tre Merli, which I see on your site. They are both very different of course. The recipes that we use here are mine. I used to cook in the kitchen and now other's cook for us and use my recipes. I love to eat and sit with the people!" she says laughing. Me too! 
She gave me torricelli and pepeso, a dark meat stew to try. Can I say I am very fat plus 3 desserts, lemon tart, tiramisu, and a lovely cream one that I loved the most! 
The two brothers who make up Fratellini at the Lorenzo Mercato showroom are as different as night and day. One quiet and shy and one very creative. I usually deal with Elias since he is the creative one and talks all the time. They both have such beautiful bags and accessories at the Lorenzo Mercato that you keep falling in love with the next one and the next one and the next one...come see for yourself! Elias kept showing me the classic and traditional luxurious ones and his brother kept showing me the multi-colored snakeskin and patterns which I love!
Questa foto di Trattoria Roberto è offerta da TripAdvisor.
Questa foto di Trattoria Roberto è offerta da TripAdvisor.
"My name is Allessandro and he is my father, Roberto. We've owned the restaurant 41 years and I should say that in the kitchen my father is the boss and my mother is the second boss. My father is a better cook, but don't tell my mom I said that and in addition she only speaks Italian!" he says as we all sit down today to try some homecooked food that they prepared before lunch. 
Mine is a vegatarian casserole of rugala, broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes inside. Yummy and healthy with red wine of Montepulciano. They ate the lovely pasta and the father prepared the famous Florentine Steak. Why have they had success 41 years and others not? "We have homemade food, everyday, of the highest quality 41 years, and my family comes from the Amalfi Coast. They know how to cook the fish!" he says. "...and we're cheap!"
Mine is a vegatarian casserole of rugala, broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes inside. Yummy and healthy with red wine of Montepulciano. They ate the lovely pasta and the father prepared the famous Florentine Steak. Why have they had success 41 years and others not? "We have homemade food, everyday, of the highest quality 41 years, and my family comes from the Amalfi Coast. They know how to cook the fish!" he says. "...and we're cheap!" 
http://www.trattoriadellorto.com/
The Trattoria is very beautiful and totally hidden, you probably won't just wander down a alley to find it, therefore let me help you, it is located at: Via dell'Orto, 35/ A Telephone/reservations 055. 224 148
Questa foto di Trattoria dell'Orto è offerta da TripAdvisor.
"The Florentine steak is my specialty as is the meat of Florence. I use only traditional recipes and fresh products from Tuscany. I speak only a little English," says the adorable Capo and I say that is alright I speak a little Italian and we can talk like Reeses Pieces, a little Italian mixed with a little English! "You must try the food. As only when you try the wine and the food can you write about the quality." says the wise Capo. That is true and although my articles are about the Capos, when they ask if I want to eat I always say Yes! Hmm...I am as wise as Arturo! I love the gleaming dark elegance of the haunted atmosphere of the great Trattoria, please try and say hi to Arturo.
"You need to come into the restaurant tonight to try some of the vineyard wine that we produce..." says the nice and life loving Capo, and since I am invited to try his wines ...you know where I shall be tonight! 
Benvenuti all' OSTERIA DEL PORCELLINO
