BENHEART
                                                         LIFE IN COLOUR
       You know just chillin' with BENHEART, that magically mystically creative brilliant designer that has stores with so much energy, colors, vavoom to their mere presence & windows that you don't need any other "Story" to draw you in... but WHAT a STORY BENHEART has...
                 in FLORENCE at Via della Vigna Nuova, 97 red & Via de Calzaiuoli 78 red    
Positive vibes only
          And of course the lovely Mrs. BenHeart
                 BenHeart Women's Leather Jacket | eBay
   As for me, I love the quality and colors of BenHeart. You must have a cool pair of sneakers in 2025. It's a given. Benheart shoes cost online
Benheart: Quality Leather with Heart and Passion
 It is okay to have one of the Rocking jackets around as long as you promise to have and to hold forever. Benheart: Quality Leather with Heart and Passion
                                WHEN YOU ENTER HIS STORE YOU ARE AMAZED.
                                                                      WAIT TIL YOU HEAR HIS STORY

      "I know how lucky that I am. I was in a coma for 7 months induced by the doctors after my football collapse. I had to lay quietly on the bed without any movements waiting and praying for a heart transplant. I remember every minute of these 7 months. When I finally had a donor, they did surgery, and I recovered 20 days in the hospital. I pray every morning to God and say thank you for giving me another chance at life. And the hospitals let me know if they have a person in the hospital waiting for a heart. Some people are lucky. Some are not. I visit everybody and pray with them and give them encouragement. I am very active in spreading the word about the life saving process of transplant surgery," says Ben.
                                       OKAY, you know when you have made it into the Top Echelon of Respect of the Good People when you have the approval and admiration of the Philanthropist & President of the United States: Mr. Obama. 
                                                         Cuoiofficine - Handcrafted Florentine Leather Bags
                                                             VIA DEI GUICCIARDINI 116 RED
                                                  CUOIOFFICINE with the SABATINI brothers
                                                                  Thomas & Timothy Sabatini
         
   The two brothers are best friends. And that I love. Timothy Sabatini is the "Creative one. My brother, Thomas is the financial one!" he says as we talk about his absolutely amazing journey as the creator of Cuoiofficine & the Artisan Art of Handcrafting Leather. I say it is his Pursuit of Perfection.
    With only 600 pieces available every year, Cuoiofficine is the only Leather Signature Collection that makes every item of its bags and leather themselves. The snaps? "The same ones that Chanel uses on its suits," says Timothy who worked many years for Ferragamo eventually becoming a Buyer.
     "I was used to dealing with the marketing, the sales, the development for 1,000s of pieces at a time of one individual item. When I met the owner of Il Papiro, one of the most prominent and respected families here in Florence, I talked to him about using the technique that he has used for centuries on paper, on leathers. That had never been done. I decided to open my own brand and company, and I worked for 7 months on attempting to replicate the patterns of marbling onto leather. There were many, many problems with the process because of the physical properties of the goat leather or the lamb leather, but after numerous mistakes, we found perfection."
                  Cuoiofficine Marbling & Tattooing on Leather, or more accurately, "Art on Leather" is their unique technique that they actually have a PATENT on. "The Legal team of GUCCI called me," says Timothy. "They wanted my marbling technique and were quite put out that I had PATENTED it!"Shop ⋆ Cuoiofficine
         
The satchel above is exquisite and baby soft. The inside is "London Silk," says Timothy. Of course it is. "The bag is 900 Euros, but the leather is so soft and delicate that instead of 2 pieces, we have to throw 20 away because it messes up. So, each bag takes about 22-30 pieces of leather to make." 
       The bag is so perfect, and so soft. Love it. Cuoiofficine – Two Florentine Brothers Blend Tradition and Innovation in Leather Accessories - Girl in Florence
  Timothy literally spent the last 20 years perfecting his knowledge of and his vision of the ancient art of handcrafted leather of the Florentine artisans. "Many of the people who handcrafted the leathers have gone. At least 180 of these fine people simply were not making the salaries from the huge companies buying in bulk. So, I found 3 artisans who work for me in the 3 different marbling techniques. One of the techniques; I have a couple, 80 and 83, respectfully, and they love working with my pieces. Why? Because I respect them and I pay them what they deserve. My bags are expensive and the stitching and the craftsmanship that go into them is only here in Florence." 
 The Sabatini brothers come from a very prominent historical family in Florence. Their great-grandfather opened the famous SABATINI restaurant of the same name. "John F. Kennedy came here. My Grandfather is actually the one who brought it to its highest level of politeness, respect and the highest caliber of Culinary Creation. We had all of the movie stars, the politicians. When my grandfather had heart problems he flew to Texas in the 1960s, because he said they had the best doctors, and he had to eventually sell the restaurant in the 1970s. The restaurant with its signature SABATINI is still there, but other's lease the restaurant.
                               the hungry ballerina: La Giostra, Florence
                                 I say that 3 La Giostra's rule & so does MICHELIN
      La Giostra 1 Michelin Guide; La Giostra 2 Michelin Guide & La Giostra 3 CAPO SOLDANO 
                                    L'intervista al Principe Soldano Kunz d'Asburgo-Lorena, proprietario ...
La Giostra, Florence - Fantastic Restaurant and he's soooo nice ...
 The Prince of Chianti Ruffino & of Austrian lineage, Soldana followed in the footsteps of his famous father, Alberto. Alberto & his 3 children raised many eyebrows when the world heard of them playing with napkins & china in a restaurant in Florence, yet his close friends knew that food is Alberto's passion. He often entertained up to 1200 people at his castle in the Tuscany countryside for 3 days at a time & they had always encouraged him to open his own restaurant. Thus, the legend of the first La Giostra began 25 years. Later, the second of his Michelin restaurants, La Giostra 2 would open side by side on Borgo Pinti  12-18 Rosso.
    "That is life, that is what life is for, to live," says Soldano when I ask if it was such a big change to sell the estate & centuries old vineyards and move to the restaurant in the city. He says that his father carried on his heart & opened La Giostra with his own meat sauce recipes & fresh made pasta with the same love and passion that he had cared for his wine. Which of course they have plenty of Chianti that you should drink, too. The coolest thing about Soldano is his nonchalance with all of his guests: Such as Andrea Bocelli a couple of nights ago in 2025 and then say Sting!       There were 2 celebrities in Florence last night 🤩 The effervescent owner of La Giostra, Soldano and the British Singer / Songwriter Superstar Sting ( lots of S's) Can't ask for more,    or La Giostra - Sir @eltonjohn it was a pleasure 🤩 . . . . . . . . . #lagiostra #lagiostrafirenze #tuscanybuzz #florencefoodie #eatinfirenze #yourflorence #rocknroll #infoodwetrust #aboutlastnight #principesoldano #latergram #firenze #italiansdoitbest ... Ibiza? La Giostra
So why, in a city famous for it's food, does La Giostra 1 & LaGiostra 2 fill up every night with famous celebrities and rock stars from around the world?  Perhaps it is the Maestro's love of music & wine or his charm. 
His quiet voice & grace. Soldano says it is his girlfriend's homemade tortellini's & his homemade meat sauce! "The best ragu & meat sauce in Florence!" Soldano says. It is the atmosphere too, though with the big white fluffy sheepskins adorning each chair for warmth in the winter, the loud rock and roll music blaring over the vaulted ceilings with dangling white lights looped all around the cave like dwellings, giving such a contrast to the hearty dishes filling the plates, so rare for a Michelin Star Restaurant. Who knows, each person to himself. You must come & eat the food, drink the wine & laugh with Soldano who chats with each and every table every night. 
Something his guests rave about as they leave the restaurant, "O it is the best restaurant in Italy: the best food we have had on our trip..." they gush as they meet Soldano on their way out of the restaurant.
I'm standing with Soldano laughing about his stories of all his true friends, who happen to be famous rock stars. Sting & Trudy dine there with 20 guests about once a week from their home in Tuscany and yet Soldano chats with each and every guest on their way to jumping into the romantic streets of Florence. Or perhaps, O I don't know, Elton John?                           Ristorante La Giostra – infoodwetrust
           Absolute Love Grace Attention Affection & Service is all that you will find here. 
                                            Welcome to Eros & La Tenda Rossa
                                             via dei Magazzini 4
   The Capo Eros, and his team, are fun, loving and super enthusiastic. Eros has the interest to attention in his 7-month long quest to make the 12th century historical space regain its importance and hired a local Florentine historian and researcher to help with the detailing of the artwork on the ceilings and walls. The fireplace is original 12th century by the way, if you love feeling the spirit of the Florentines. 
  I honestly don't know if the rooms are more gorgeous or the food. But you'll have plenty of time to peruse both over their happy hour
Aperol Spritz's: famous in Florence.  
 Yet either way, when you're just steps away from the Statue of David and the square, you're sitting in 12th century rooms with gorgeous motifs and curtains and 2 story high vaulted cement ceilings, eating the carefully prepared Tuscan recipes of the kitchen, you don't really care! You just enjoy the jokes and good nature of the team. 
   "We want to welcome everybody here, to give them a dining experience and privacy. The big table is for a big group or a small group that wants the entire table for themselves. We're about an intimate experience with loved ones, family or the adventurous traveler solo that is brave enough to risk being entertained by my team!" says the very happy and lively Capo Eros. the vibe here is contagious. Only positive energy allowed. 
    They're famous for their very best cuts of Florentine steak, so as long as you're here, might as well give it a try. 
  They have big huge steaks, or smaller ones if your palate is more sensitive to a filet. 
        I should make a movie entitled:
 The Cuoco & the Sommelier; except Leticia is a little bit above a Sommelier. She is an oenologist, a Doctor of Wine, an enologo. When she went to school in Burgandy 27 years ago, the teacher told her to leave! She was a woman, and that field is for men only. 
 She told the professor that she is not leaving and that she is staying right there and becoming a Doctor of Wine. And she became his best student ever. Now she is the director of the wine bar at La Tenda Rossa in Florence. She has selected almost 589 wines thus far, and she knows intimately each one. "For every person, a wine tastes unique. Every person has their own palate, and they must train it. I ask the questions that help me to select a wine that I imagine they will enjoy." 
   Whether you're pairing with a fine glass of wine, or a cool coffee to start your day, La Tenda Rossa has you covered. 
    The menu is varied, Tuscan with a twist, is how Eros describes it. 
   "The lunch is usually a little faster paced, as people want to eat and get back out there to see Florence, but dinner is a slower pace with lighted candles on the tables in darker rooms. The original red on the walls in the fireplace room is gorgouos at night with the candlelight and people ask to sit there. I chose each item, including the individual candles to compliment the history of the building," says Eros. 
                                                  Schiacciateria in Vino Veritis
                                                                  at Via Dei Cimatori 18 Red
   Here hidden in plain sight, about 100 feet from the Piazza Della Signoria and the giant statue of David, is a gem of a wine bar. It is absolutely stunningly beautiful and designed with such detail that you can spend about 10 minutes just wandering around the tiny bistro gazing at all of the interior beauty of the strategically placed decor to make you feel at home, the beautifully lit hangings of wood and plants and of course the wine. Bottles and bottles of wine. Labels from the most expensive to the not so expensive. And about 65 wine selections that you can buy by the glass. Yes, 65. 
    "I love Tuscan wine. I love wine, actually and I am very proud to say that only two places in the entire city of Florence have Brunello Biondi-Santi 2018 by the glass. Me and the 4 Seasons Hotel," says the very enthusiastic wine sommelier from Brazil, Charlie. Along with his gorgoeous wife, Tamara, they have carved the wine cave. 
   Charlie, drinking a Pinot Noir while we chat, is so very knowledgeable about wine and when a guest comes in and asks for his "best" wine, a slew of questions happen so that Charlie can determine just what that word "best" means to the guest. 
 Tamara, Charlie's wife, is from Brazil, too. She is super kind and loves to see you smile when you order a handmade sandwich made from the famous baker of Florentine Legend who prepares their order every afternoon and delivers it fresh to them the next morning. 
   "The idea is to give the guest a chance to experience the wine, to taste the wine and if they love it they can walk away with a bottle for themselves. We have many tourists who come in and ask a lot of questions, stay a couple days in Florence, and come here every day and try new wines. We have 65 wines by the glass ranging from 6 euros to 55 euros for the Brunello. There is something for everybody to enjoy," says Charlie. 
                                                        At ALLA GRIGLIA 
                                  Via Dei Banchi 25  
                                     THE 4 CAPOS love TUSCANY
                             it is ALL ABOUT  the Tuscan flavors, traditions & THE FLORENTINE STEAK
              Luigi, Giusseppe, Mimmo, Salvatore,  all have been with each other 30 years. 
    
        MENTION EMMEANESBOOK and yes that is right FREE Limoncellos! 
                    
           Okay, thanks, we'll run to ALLA GRIGLIA on Via Dei Banchi where that phrase means we can order 1 of 4 steaks: Chianina, Black Angus from Spain, Freisian from Denmark or Limousine from Italia. Wherever you choose, you will be served a flaming Florentine Steak. "Please know that the steak is rare and when you cut into the steak, it is red," says Salvatore. It is almost sacrilegious to ask for your steak to be well-done or cooked more than what they present to you. They're VERY serious about the presentation of the Florentine style, which is ALWAYS served RARE.
Above, the Maestro, Luigi, in the kitchen. Luigi, if you have not already guessed, is a REAL ITALIAN, and I said that if the cow wasn't dead before it entered the kitchen, it surely was when Luigi caught it. 
   Here, some of the important deep red wines from Tuscany. The important wines of Brunello or the rare GAJA or the whites from Piedmont. Whatever your tastes, they will help you to select one (or two) that match your choice of meat. 
  The 4 Capos had originally had a location on the Base of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge for 15 years and logistics made them change location to right 
near the beautiful Basilica Santa Maria Novella & opposite the luxurious Hotel Paris. Both superb locations, but now Salvatore says, "Many tourists now. We sometimes see people a couple times per week if they stay for a long time, and we get to know them. But usually, people come here for the first time and they're always asking to have their steak cooked longer or tobasco sauce and of course we're amazed! WHAT! You Must eat it the way the chef presents it! We speak. So, they try, and they say that yes, it is better our way. But it is always difficult to try new things, so we present it at their table, with it flaming 10 seconds and they seem to be happy.But the locals? Nope. They just want the steak. No fire!" 
         Okay, for effect. We love the experience. 
                 WE            LOVE          TUSCANY
says the board behind the team today. Although Mimmo is on vacation. I can introduce you to:
          Salvatore, Lorenzo, Giuseppe, Luigi 
  Yes, of course they have pasta. They have Italian desserts. They have the best Tuscan vineyards represented. They have the Dessert wine & Biscuits. They have Maccheroncetti al torchio with white beef ragout, or Pici with rabbit ragout, or ask for the Chef's recommendation, of which I did and ate my very first Florentine 200grams of Steak ever! PS I am little, so it is a lot of food; however, the real Florentine steak here is 1.5 kilos! 
  My dessert is chocolate & white & strawberries! 
  Couldn't help myself: Trump, "You're fired!" As in the STEAK
 Mostly Tuscany Wines, which is why you come to Florence, so bring a bunch of friends, gather on the street and order a couple of bottles of wine and enjoy!
   It is a fun team. Very casual. Yet very serious about the food, so no worries, you will be taken care of. Walk to see the beauty of the Basilica Santa Maria Novella, then walk down the alley of Via Dei Banchi and say hi to the team.
   I asked Salvatore and Giuseppe what they loved about ALLA GRIGLIA. Both said the people, of course. "The people, the restaurant and its presentation, and of course, ultimately, the food," says Salvatore. "The same, " says Giuseppe. "And since I am the chef, of course the food!" he laughs. Well, we hope so. "We like to put on a show," says Salvatore. "If you ask any one of us the most important aspect about the restaurant, we always say the Florentine steak. We're all about the steak. It is our specialty and our pride. Giuseppe and Luigi rarely come out of the kitchen, so I am always with the people. I want to represent our quality in the right way." Provided by Business Website


        RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED:
                    allagriglia.com, thefork.it, quandoo.it
                        Ristorante Alla Griglia - Home

                                                                          CABARIA
                                           Santo Spirito Square
                     
     Okay so here is Mini Genti & Chef Genti
While Mini Genti's name is Joel, he might as well be known as Mini because he is Mini Me.
Chef Genti was the chef at his and his brother's famous Osteria del Corso; yet he wanted to have his own passion. Osteria del corso Firenze 11
  The opportunity presented itself at the 1970 Trattoria, Cabiria, here on Santo Spirito and he grabbed it. They totally remade the inside of the Cabiria and now it is an elegant modern art infused boutique restaurant, with the outside tables on Santo Spirito Square. 
   Save room for dessert because Genti has some individual surprises for you there, too.Osteria del corso Firenze 4
   They laugh when I ask them to pose near the artwork on the walls. Yet, they laugh when I ask if Genti takes time every day to tell each server about his unique dishes. "Um, no," says Joel, as Genti laughs shaking his head. "Actually, we all watch him make the food and we eat it right there. So, we know the food. As you can see from my belly, which is getting big, I eat a lot of his food!"  
  The Maestro at work. He is both the owner, of Cabiria and the chef. Osteria del corso Firenze 5
   Genti, who speaks only Italian, has some inspirational quotes for me, via Joel's interpretation. First, he wants me to know that he loves people. His passion is creating a menu and presenting it to his guests. He loves Cabiria and the history of it and the Santo Spirito Square, which is an important Square in Florence. And he wants to grow with his restaurant. Now, he has very risky creative items on his menu, such as the popular vegetable in Tuscany, black cabbage. Yet, although it is used in the famous Ribollita soup, he stuffs his ravioli with the black cabbage & sausage, pecorino cream & walnuts. Yum. "You have to grab the moment. It is something special and magical and pure, but if you lose the moment, you lose forever." 

   Joel is most passionate about the meat. "You know people come to Florence for the art, the history, the leather and of course the Florentine Steak. We have a couple different cuts and we insist on the best. It has to be aged and cut, it has to be very tender. How would you like a Filet with Brunello Di Montalcino sauce? Unique to Genti!" says Joel. "Or how about the Japanese Wagyu? That is very marbly & very sweet. You can only eat so much of it. But if you want the Florentine style steak, we only serve it at 1.3 kilos and above. So, it is for 2 people. Of course, if you're traveling on your own, you can dig in, but unless you're very hungry, you won't be able to finish it! We have 4 types of beef that you can choose from ranging from 69.00 euros a kilo to 115.00 euros a kilo."
Cabiria Firenze in Florence - Restaurant Reviews, Menus, and Prices | TheFork
    Acqua al 2 – Campus Florence                                                                 
                                                  Modernism when Old School reigned
                                  at 65 the charming brilliance of Stefano Innocenti
                                                   of Acqua AL 2 still shines through. 
     I love Old School, the traditions, the respect & yet here we have one of the last originals that were pioneers breaking away from the Tuscan kitchen when it wasn't fashionable to do so. 1978 A Risk. Blueberry Sauce dripping on a Filet? Unheard of. Yet 50 years later, here it is still going strong. A sampling menu: of which we all know today as degustation: Think Tapa Style today, but in the day of the 7-course meal in 1978; a sampling menu just wasn't done.
       Yet hidden on the same street of its name, "so people could find us, " laughs Stefano, down the street from the famous theater, it has thrived and become infamous. Back in the day when Gargana was Gargana; La Giostra with the Prince, Soldano's father was the place to be, Francescano was the haven for Giorgio Armani; yet only Stefano & his ACQUA AL 2 remains the same. Now with franchises in the works in Annapolis, making a name for itself in Berkshire, ACQUA AL 2 and its famous blueberry sauce are breaking onto the Global World. 
Acqua al 2 – Ristorante e Bar nel cuore del centro di Firenze
 The colorful comfy eclectic furniture that reminds one of a mixture of your aristocratic relative's boudoir or moulin rouge; depending on the room you are seated in. The happy conversation of the inquisitive, their curious and inspiring conversations setting the stage to be surprised and entertained. Later, after the theater is done, the creative characters of the stage. All give an inspiring interesting vibe to the entire place as you sample 5 of the pastas in staggered courses in the mini degustation menu; or the 3 steaks of the chef's choice; one always being the blueberry filet as that is why you came. ACQUA AL 2 - Updated June 2025 - 347 Photos & 260 Reviews - Via della Vigna Vecchia 40R, Firenze, Italy - Tuscan - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Yelp
  People come for the menu, because it is exotic, unique, innovative & original; yet they immediately fall in love & feel comfortable the minute they enter the restaurant, AQUA AL 2
There is no Tuscany menu here. 
     What do they have? First the collection of huge white plates adorning every wall with scrawls and colorful scribbles from famous actors and musicians; many from the 50 years of the mainstage theatrical stage just down the street. From Lou Reed to Guns & Roses, AQUA AL 2 has there artwork on the walls. 
   It is soo famous that I have attempted to do AQUA AL 2 about 12-13 years and have finally succeeded. ACQUA AL 2, Firenze - Centro Storico - Ristorante Recensioni, Numero di Telefono & Foto - Tripadvisor
 I tell Stefano that the place actually reminds me of a Maxims in New York, or eclectic Francescana in Modena, a quirky design of originality and experimentation. People come to eat, of course, and yet they hope to see the fame on the white plates as they walk around the restaurant to see the people who have come before and to experience a little bit of vibrant life of two worlds combining. 
     The Theatrical and the Innovative. Menu – Acqua al 2
                                                                      RESERVATIONS
                                              click the link below: 
                                                          Contact – Acqua al 2

                  
                                                                     Home - Ristorante Mamma Gina
                                                We have MAMMA GINA yeah 
                                the traditional ristorante since 1950
  "The Culture of the Food is important. It is comfort, safety and familiarialty for the locals that come here for lunch; it is the atmosphere and the experience for the visitor. Yet it is always about coming in curious and leaving the restaurant with a very happy memory of our service." 
  The team of Mamma Gina, with the Capo Francesco in the middle, is super kind and professional. Of course, at the helm of one of the very best and original Ristorantes serving from the same kitchen the last 40-50 years, they have a lot to live up to. Out of respect for the Ristorante and their positions, they always treat the guests with courtesy and smiling faces. 
   Okay, I ask Francesco the big 3, or 5 as it were.
Every Capo is special. Francesco says, "Okay, first for me it is about the food. Sitting down and putting the phone away at the dinner table is a must. As if you are at your home. The food itself. Honoring the table. That is very Italian. Perhaps it is because as a child, you're taught that gathering as a family for a meal is a very special event. It is a time to connect with family and friends and to tell about your day. It is sacred, really." 
 
     As is the server working 40 years. Trattoria Fiorentina Mamma Gina
  And for me, I am always curious about what is different on the menu, along with the traditional food that is very much highlighted here. In fact, they have Mamma Gina's meatballs. Yes, that is right, we have finally found real meatballs, and they have been making these with real meat, and lots of it, for about 50 years, too. "We have the most expensively made meatballs in Italy!" laughs Francesco. "Most people make 1/2 bread and 1/2 meat. We make 90% meat and the rest bread. That is why ours taste the best." 
  I am just going to sneak one item in: They have BULL. Yes, that is right. You can have a Florentine steak of a BULL. 

Trattoria Mamma Gina in Florence, Italy - YouTube
When I was little, I would run at the age of 5 from the Swimming pool where we were supposed to take swimming lessons, after my father dropped us off, opposite the street to my Grandma Angelina's house, where she would let me make homemade ravioli's every day. My father would pick me up and always say, "MOM! I told you to send her back to swimming lessons!"
     I tell Francesco that I always remember my grandmother's rabbit ragu over polenta. "Yes, we have memories as a child of our grandmother's ragu sauce. It is the same in Calabria where I come from. It is the same in Florence. The memory of what it is supposed to taste like, stays with us. That is why the traditional recipes of Mamma Gina now about 70 years, is so very important to our guests." 
    Perhaps you want to try the recipe from over 50 years. Mamma Gina's Chicken. "It is actually born out of the prices of beef after the war. Chicken was not so expensive, and so Mamma Gina thought to serve her guests something they could afford. It is a light cream sauce on the chicken."Home - Ristorante Mamma Gina
  Okay, Francesco, what are the other 2 precious things you want to say about your love for Mamma Gina's? 
   Francesco is very serious, "Okay the second is the food itself. First you have to respect the table and the occasion. Second is the actual food. The recipes and the cooking of the food. And third is the culture of the Italians. Eating is life for Italians. It is a very important aspect of their life and I would say that their day revolves around their food and their curiosity of it. Every person in Florence who serves Ribollita soup has the same recipe and each one tastes different! Ours won 5 years in a row for best Ribollita in Florence. It is how you make it. It is very difficult to make and yet people see it as being easy. It is anything but easy."  
                       Instagram  Mamma Gina
                                      TRATTORIA GARGA
     THE ART MUSEUM of Food & Hedonism surrounding you on the Ancient Walls
                                       at via Del Moro 48 Red
              Where I sat near a statue of $300,000 yeah that's cool
  I have known the owners of Garga, established when the famous American artist, Julian along with his Canadian wife, decided to paint his walls and form an artist collaborative in Florence. Ask to see the cellar, where on one side is a very formidable 12th century iron gate to protect his valuable wines while he showed his paintings in the adjacent rooms. So, back in those days, the wines of 55th generations + vineyards of Antinori, Frescobaldi and Mazzei(1435) were much more valuable than art and we protected the wine. 
 One of the most valuable ones in their new "baby" cellar is of Mazzei "Philip" 
    I would of loved to drink a bottle, but now I am drinking tonic waters or non-alcoholic spritzers. Ok! Yet the wine here in my memory is decadent along with the food and the walls filled with history.

As we discussed wine, heritage & Julian's legacy of hidden meanings in his art, a family of 6 joined at the table above. The place is dripping in intimate alcoves and private hidden rooms, yet young families love it too. Especially when the children are teased by the waiters, who bring a charming sophistication to their purposefully mixing up plates and receiving giggles as a reward. It was only warmth and happiness that I felt in that formal restaurant, where it could be stuffy and stiff, if your team presented themselves as such. But here, you feel only graciousness and charm. 
Garga's famous plate: The Magnifico.
One of the few paintings where you have to use little imagination to know the subject and with our knowledge of free love of Yoko, well, hedonism reigns. Perhaps that is where they found the name of the son? Julian born on 4.8 the address of the restaurant. And my birthday, too! 
    Daniel, the Director of Garga, graciously invited me to taste some signature dishes that Julian's wife created over 55 years ago. She had continued with a cooking school years after Julian passed, in Florence, mostly to Americans who were curious about the artist, and she has since retired to Canada (the 51st state!).



However, if you want to impress your loved one with a special dinner, here it is. You can dress as decadent as you wish. Trudy and Sting would love it. So would Elton John and David. The place is born to dress haute couture and to have the most special hedonistic night of your life. All  within boundaries, of course, unless you want to venture down into the haunted cellars of the 12th century palace. 
     The new owners of 4 years are very protective of the art and memory of the artist, Julian. They won't let replicas of his art on the wall be produced, the art work sold nor the cellar where he painted touched. In the future, they plan on wine pairing degustation in the wine cellar amid the paint splattered floors and ceilings.                Wait til December & taste.
  Say hello to Daniel & his affectionate team, who absorb their surroundings and make your time with the art of Julian and the art of the kitchen, a very special event. 
     Finally, a Florentine steak at GLADIUS: it is 1 kilo. How in the world do people eat that? For 2.
 Along with La Spada, a Culinary Brilliance of Authentic Tuscany Food, and Centro Poverti, a very family humble restaurant, GLADIUS rounds out the Tuscan flavor, but with a little more upscale elegance. "Yes, well the lights cost us from the architect about $30,000," laughs Giuseppe. "But we love the restaurant. The prices are still the same. The only difference at Gladius is the degustation menu, and even that the prices are reasonable. All of my restaurants are family oriented. The one here is person more of a romantic restaurant, but as you can see from the guests, we have a lot of families." Yes, I meet some from near Boston, some from Australia and Naples and Calabria that night. 
    The Chef is amazing. The food way too much, but so good. Why do I always eat for 2 people whenever I visit Italy?
             Hello GLADIUS, 
       the 3rd Princely Ristorante
                                       of the trio Giuseppe, Claudio & Augustin
     the dish above is my plate, a pate of Cauliflower Flan on Purple Potato cream with Pecorino Fondue 
 the courtesy of the head chef, Victor, who I tease Giuseppe about stealing from a Michelin 1 star on the coast.                                                                                        gladiusfirenze.com

   Via della Spada, 47/R

As I chat with Giuseppe, who I have known at least 10 years and visit every year, he reminds me that I love the cake and asks how my "Prince" is doing. Hmm, I say. Everybody is fine and that we just came from Venice where the entire 3 days is Jeff & Lauren Bezos! As he presents my cake he asks if I still think that it has wings, a reference many years ago when I said that I should just fly from Germany straight to Las Vegas to marry and forget about all of the big celebrations. I think of Venice that I have just left and say, "Yes Las Vegas." Usually, his wife and son are at the restaurants, but he says they are opposite the street at La Spade. "I love my new restaurant; GLADIUS and it is only me here!" he says as about 50 guests are eating. Only the Italians, and maybe the German girls with 20 liters at Oktoberfest could manage an entire restaurant themselves!GLADIUS RISTORANTE, Firenze - Menu, Prezzo, Ristorante Recensioni & Prenotazioni - Tripadvisor 
      
                Ostaria dei Centopoveri         
                      Via Palazzuolo 31 Red
        The famous humble restaurant of the church of its name. Legend has it that the very rich at Christmas would wear capes and hoods and serve 100 people of the community for Christmas dinner and out of their hearts they wanted to cover their faces. 
Photo
  Welcome back to Italy. All fresh ingredients, especially Bessie hanging around the block(Butcher Block). I have always loved the story of Centro Poverti, so if you do something kind & lovely for people, you should do it from the goodness of your heart, not for fame. www.centopoveri.it

Osteria dei Centopoveri

                                Via del Porcellana 41R -Provided by Tripadvisor
                                                              NEROCARBONE bistro
                         a rustic simple traditional Florentine wine bistro
         with Charcuterie boards, pasta, Chianina Tartar & truffles
                                                 via del Parione 43 red
You can choose your items for the charcuterie board from the Italian products showcased here; or you can try a entree with an appetizer of perhaps spicy Tuscan beef stew with black pepper; spicy wild boar stewed, or pork cheek marinated in spicy sauce. The Florentine tripe is popular with the locals and the adventurous, but it is an acquired taste. 

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   The tiny cozy bistro seats 22 inside. It is very local, and the prices reflect that although it is about 100 meters from Armani & Gucci & the Haute Couture Avenue. You can elect an appetizer, charcuterie board for 18 euros for 2 people & a nice bottle of wine from Tuscany or a homemade pasta plate for 13 euros. The most expensive item is the Chianina tartare for 18 euros, though, so have fun and eat a lot. Paper plates, paper placemats & simple inexpensive quality products from Italy. Provided by tripadvisor.it
Provided by tripadvisor.be
Provided by tripadvisor.nl
  The simple bistro has one person who serves you: Doru. He is Florentine. He prepares scrumptious homemade pasta dishes such as Pappardelle with WIld Boar, Mezzelune with champignon mushrooms & fresh truffle that he sprinkles his homemade olive truffle oil on, or Charcuterie Boards with 4 different kinds of pecorino cheese: truffle, or pistachio or perhaps a taste of sheep cheese with his homemade truffle honey made with white truffles. It is intense & amazing because I had some. 
The bistro reminds me of the country side of France or of course Italy and he says 1/2 of his guests are French! 
Provided by tripadvisor.ch
                                                              l'elegante FOYER 
                                                     via San Gallo 57
 The entrance to Foyer has a theatrical effect of presenting its show: The Menu! It is of exotic meats and traditional Florentine fare, but with slightly added twists. 
     Think Michelin Style. Filet with Pink Pepper; Wild Boar, Venison or Wild Hare Ragu on Risotto. If you have never had wild game, you can elect an appetizer of the 3 meats and taste. Perhaps with a light glass of wine and if you truly loved one of the delicacies, order it as an entree. Here, they have an amazing selection of Florentine style beef, too. What is unique about the place is that it allows the guest to select the type of beef. If you prefer the Chianina, they have it or perhaps the Black Angus from America if you're feeling in the need of something familiar but with a different cooking style. 
  I am very much into theatrical & elegant rooms, with velvet adornments, chandeliers, high painted ceilings. Here you have it all, complete with the white linen tablecloths. The charming team of 4 make you feel as if you are entering their hosted dinner party. Loved the team the first time I met late at night while walking home. Grand. Elegant. Old school with the Z generation! Ha! They have 10 years of experience each, from director to cook, and all of the polite respect that a solid upbringing teaches. 

 Below the precious Black Truffle
  "We loved Ristorante da Mimmo, which had an amazing reputation 25 years. When it closed, we bought it. The 4 of us. All working in the restaurants of Florence, all from Florence. We renovated the entire place to restore the elegance of the 15th century and now people cannot believe it is the same restaurant, it is so beautiful. The Chandelier is the added feature and of course we kept the precious painted murals on the ceiling. The main feature is the food and the wine. Guests came immediately, loved the food and service and now we're full. They love it,' says the humble Romario. PS the guests love it because the team is super friendly and professional and guest oriented. The food is outstanding in its field of great restaurants in Florence, and the restaurant is top rated formal sophistication, yet welcoming to young people celebrating birthdays, such as last night! That is why they love it. 
      I had the Florentine Steak once. 
It is HUGE. I loved the delicate tenderness of the steak. And you need at least 2 people to eat it all. HUGE.
 Check out that Chandelier! And while you're at it, meet the very friendly and gracious, Romario. "My father loved the football star and named me after him when I was born," laughs Romario when I asked it is a Roman name. "I probably disappointed him because I am not a football star although I tried but I am a restaurant star!" Well, Romario, when a person is hungry they appreciate the restaurant stars! 
  The Chef is one of the 4 owners. That always makes me feel good, how about you? They care so much about their restaurant, and I love that they risk with flavors the way a Michelin chef is trained to do. Filet with Sheep's Blue Cheese & walnuts or filet with fresh black truffle. It sounds decadent!
     I personally would suggest the appetizer of toasted bread with game boar, deer & hare. 
                                ...and ultimately, it comes down to the guest. Happiness is invited.
                                  Osteria Il Francescano & Baldovino 
                         
     I choose the picture below to begin the story of Il Francescano & Baldovino because it shows a very young Massimo & Lara Bocchetti in 2016, the pivotal year when Massimo & Lara decided to take on the directorship of both. Since then, it has become a flourishing & welcoming place for travelers to experience the history & hospitality of the Florentine legacy. 
  The happy couple met at a Hotel Hospitality School in 1985 & fell in love. Together with their enormous amount of energy & passion for the pursuit of culinary perfection & innovation, they built their empire to include 3 restaurants, of which Lara was the director of the famous Fantasia. Now they are at the helm of 2 of the most respected restaurants in Florence, Osteria Il Francescano & Baldovino. Their team is a dream team; courteous, friendly & professional. Always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate you and your tastes. Their wine selection is beyond compare and whether you choose the more traditional rustic Il Francescano or the modern sleek and sophisticated Baldovino, you will be pampered as their guest. They truly care about you and care about helping you select something to bring home memories of greatness from the Florentine kitchen. 
  The heavenly decadent desserts of Osteria Il Francescano; if you share with a friend, you can eat two!
 What I love about Il Francescano, besides the traditional rustic interior and the feel of eating at a real old-school authentic historical restaurant inside, is the view on the outside: Of the beautiful Santa Croce Basilica. Here is your dinner and your view Sir and Madam. Can you imagine? With the elegant floating music of a violinist in the Piazza to accompany your mood, as you muse about the first stone to be laid at the foundation of the Basilica, in 1294.Book a table at Baldovino Bistrot in Florence, Centro storico | Quandoo
  The first time I walked into the Osteria Il Francescano, I saw Giorgio Armani's picture on the wall. That is all I needed to know! It's Giorgio Armani for God's sake. Okay, let's eat here. I met the director, Franco, who speaks only Italian, and he sent me to Baldovino. I met Massimo that day and he told me his story, more of Baldovino than Il Francescano, though, as they had just gotten done decorating the beautiful Baldovino and he wanted to show me all of the rooms. Menu 2025 - Baldovino in Florence | TheFork
 I loved the bold earth tones and colors Massimo & Lara chose, especially the very wide striped contrasting wallpaper which perfectly sets the tone for the entire restaurant. It is modern and playful, and its food is serious. A great Juxtaposition for a great dinner out. Modern chic surroundings and a modern twist to your favorites. Baldovino Bistrot in the centre of Florence - Partners - Orizzonte Italia Magazine
   Wine rules Italy, maybe now with a little help from Giorgia Meloni, & AnneMarie at MillesiMi Grandi Vini Di Toscana rules Florence with her 22 plus years of helping nobility within the Florentine walls choose a little dinner wine & mostly French. 

                           Near Santo Spirito Square at Borgo Tegolaio 33/R    #055 26 54 675Image

"I grew up on a farm in France. My father is very curious & if he could not do something he teaches himself to do it. Almost everybody has grapes on their farm. We thought we could learn to cut the vines, harvest the grapes & we do it all except to make the wine. So we would drive our grapes to the local cooperative & they make the wine. All the farmers from the area do the same. The wine they make for us from our grapes is awful. Simply awful. As is most of the other farmers because we do not take care of the land & the grapes for the wine. It takes much hard work & the sun, the wind, the land, the grade of the land, it all has to come together. Many farmers would take care of the grapes & tend to them & of course their wine is much better than most! Now Brad Pitt is living the life of a gentle farmer, tending to his vineyard & before he bought the castle & the land a famous music star had a recording studio in the castle & now he is redoing the music studio & he intends to make music. So it is nice to have him as a neighbor!" Says AnneMarie. 
You think!!?


                                                                           

                                              

   Whether very French & Bourgeoisie upper class looking or sleek & elegant with her hair tucked discreetly behind her ears, AnneMarie is a fascination. To listen to really. You can interject & give a little opinion, yet it is truly amazing to learn so much about the French landowners of vineyards since Napolean & the wine that is produced from these famous lands that I tend to just love the stories. Image
  "My clients after Covid have actually gotten younger & much more curious about wine. Some are the children of people who have been buying wine for enjoyment from me, much much wine, for 20 some years & the people who collect wine from me. I love to drink wine & although I have had 3 experiences with very old classic bottles of wine, which were amazing, I prefer the younger wines that are easier to experience fresh. You take a risk at a bottle of wine that is 1976 or older. You have to open it to enjoy it & you only know when you open it. Some people collect only to collect, & yet I believe a wine is meant to be enjoyed. Collect & drink with special friends & special occasions." 

  AnneMarie says that she loves when a person is curious when they come into the store. That they want to learn & choose a wine after they have taken time to find the right one. "You used to just buy a nice wine for dinner, yet now a 46.00 bottle of wine is to share with friends at dinner, & although it costs a little more, you can appreciate it & truly start the learning process. The young people are very educated in all matters & why should wine not be one of these? 

                  Located at:  Borgo Tegolaio 33/r

             Firenze, Italy. Please call: 055 26 54 675
            or email Anne Marie with questions: at 
                        millesimisrl@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054370248632.

  She has a noble face of the Dante Aligheri family line, yet she is totally French. She lives very near to the new winemaker who we as Americans know as the famous movie star, Brad Pitt, & buys his wine directly from him. "Mostly because of course he has a importer, yet I know what his wine costs, so I buy it from Brad Pitt himself." I say that it is very nice to have such a excuse to chat with Mr. Pitt, too, so that is a added plus! Image
 Actually in the store you can find fine wines, mostly from small vineyards of France of 10 hectares or so, from 20 euros up to 1,000's. Most are at the low spectrum & excellent to drink & to treasure as your special wine that you chose. 

    "Some of the older classic vineyards in Italy are from the 1200s & in France you will only find these from the 1800s because of the revolution that caused all lands to change hands mostly. It is interesting to see." 

                            Mercato Centrale: Florence VegnVeg
                              Piazza del Mercato Centrale 4
                                           Meet Marcella Bianchi, of VegnVeg
                          
                 Ms. Marcella Bianchi has a very adventurous spirit 
    "I went to college to become a lawyer. In my last years, I thought that perhaps it is not lawyer for me," says Marcella as she starts her fascinating & charming story.      
  "Here is Selena, with the braids, she has been with me all of my 8 years at the Mercato Centrale in Florence," says Ms. Bianchi. "My father is a doctor & after many years at the hospital, he decided to do his own holistic medicine because he did not believe antibiotics. He heals in herbs & natural medicine. I perhaps have always had a pioneering spirit, a entrepreneurial spirit & all of a sudden I said that I am moving to Australia for one year & I packed my bags & moved to Australia where I loved." She tries to find words & I say that in America we say that she "jumped". She says," Jumped?" and I say that is when someone just feels love & does. "Yes, I guess & I didn't want to be a lawyer after all."   She says that she loves her father's independent spirit & his courage to reach out on his own.
  "When I lived in Australia, I worked on a natural farm growing vegetables and all of that for about 6 months. Everybody does that when they come to Australia. It gave me time to appreciate the earth & the natural food & herbs & when I came back to Verona I thought of what I want to do with life. I asked my sister's husband to help me with marketing & we approached the Mercato in Florence with my idea of all natural burgers, vegan & healthy vegetarian options. They were unimpressed & asked in a business way for a proposal to do it. My sister's husband made my ideas into a professional storyboard & we presented that to the Mercato & they said yes. When we opened, I had worked with the Desgo Chef, who is famous in Verona to help me to develop recipes with burgers that are all Vegan & we started here with learning every day from 7:00am to close for 2 years of how to make a VegnVeg ristorante survive!" laughs Ms. Bianchi, yet she is totally serious. "At first, the Italians did not want us. The tourists loved our healthy food, yet the Italians said yuck, where is the pasta & pizza!" She laughs. "It has really become popular after Covid because all of a sudden people want to Super boost their immune system & that is what we do."
  "I guess what I really want to do is educate the Italians & the guests on the ingredients that we use which are 100% natural & completely healthy. And as for me, I always give 100% of myself to a project & I try to improve everyday. We're all so healthy since working here & for the first time the year of 2022, I have had workers come to me & ask to work for me because they say that they are vegetarian & they want to work with VegnVeg. That is very encouraging to me," says the very lovely Ms. Bianchi.
"Some Vegan &Vegetarian places are not very healthy, they use fried veggies & unhealthy sauces or oils, but my concept is about natural & healthy food which happens to be vegetarian at my restaurants. All natural & all without chemicals. I want a very healthy natural alternative to eating Vegetarian," says Marcella. 
   "I have had so many burgers over the years that I can barely eat anymore of these. They're very good yet after 8 years, I grab a salad. My Covid lockdown Years, after opening VegnVeg in Rome & my newest in my home city of Verona, ZIGA, has opened my growing spirit to see what I really want to do with life. I started a garden on my Grandfather's land in Verona & me & friends have divided it into 7 plots of vegetables to grow & herbs. My funny father has made videos on the herbs & the instagram of that project is gianiculum. We do intimate gatherings of 30 clients in the city of Verona with candlelight & tents & food that we make with the herbs & vegetables that we grow." 
              https://www.vegandveg.it/engBest food spots in Liverpool - Anne Travel Foodie
Mercato Centrale - a restaurant in Florence - Tuscany - Italy | La ...
 
                                                              Taverna Divina Commedia 
                                                             https://www.facebook.com/tavernadivinacommedia/
                                                                   Via Dei Cimatori 5/7/r, Florence, Italy
                                                                        reservations: +39 338 6409196                                                         
                 
      Francesco Cofone has owned the famous Taverna Divina Commedia from 2003. He is a very important musician in the Florence region & has made you tube videos & a new CD during his many years owning a famous music club in Florence. Nowadays you can enjoy hearing him play at the Taverna Divina Commedia on Saturday nights starting at 8:00pm where he plays with other musicians he has scheduled. When I asked if the Music Star Sting has come, he says,"That would be great if he came. I would be Wow! to play with Sting. I LOVE STING!"  Provided by tripadvisor.co.uk
      
Taverna divina commediaMedieval cuisine in comfortable and relaxed surroundings inspired by the great work of the great poet Dante Alighieri.La divine tavern comedy and has three rooms (hell, purgatory and paradise), and the same menu and specificall foto
  Of course, what is a traditional lovely Florentine dinner without great wine. The majority is from Tuscany & the rest is from the Italian region.  Francesco says,"We have the best wine. Italy has the very best wine & so I have only Italian." When I ask him if he has other wine! So, we drink Italian wine here.

   And here is a funny treasure of Giorgio with the huge Porcini mushrooms in season. Francesco usually buys the Seasonal vegetables at the Mercato Centrale where you can browse & purchase your own if you wish. 
 So what do we do with the Porcini Mushrooms? We serve them on a plate after Giorgio has mixed them, fried them & here they are ready for us to eat.
  The Taverna has a fun feeling to it. The Chef, Giorgio, is always out talking to guests, then he goes to cook your dinner, then he brings it to you. The place is so very artistic with the music playing, Francesco's love, the live music on Saturday night & the various artistic paintings & candles scattered around the charming Taverna, Angela's love, that you feel like you could almost imagine Dante sitting at a table writing his famous poem! Having a little dessert wine with his Italian biscotti.

Provided by sluurpy.it
Or sitting outside receiving inspiration from the many passerby's as they wonder the cobblestoned alleys of Florence. Provided by sluurpy.it
  The Palace Vecchio is about 100 meters from here & you can have your marriage at the Palace & come here to do the dinner party. They said that many people do that & they love to have you. 
 Dante's family house is about 100 meters from here, so that is why Francesco named it after Dante's famous poem, The Divine Comedy. 
  These are some of the traditional dishes at the Taverna Divina Commedia such as: Crespelle alla florentina, Pappardella al ragu di chianina, Tortelli cinghiale e porcini & if you feel as if you would love to be true to Dante of Dante's Divina Commedia, try the pizzas. For instance: Virgilio, Dante, Inferno & Cerbero. Or the Beatrice. Provided by sluurpy.it
  Try Spaghetti alla chitarra con astice, one of Francesco's favorites. 
      Giorgio making Porcini Mushrooms, Zucchini & Artichokes creations for dinner. 
     
   The food is very good, especially my 4 cheeses pizza that I had. I love the 4 cheeses & unfortunately I ate all the pizza. The music is a mixture jazz, blues, soul & the atmosphere is lovely. The tables are worn, the chairs wooden & mismatched with brings about charm. The walls are adorned with pictures of Francesco's wife's paintings. Angela is a professional artist & she is very eclectic with her mediums, including her artistic candles, & her various etchings.  It has a very cozy feel to it & a very authentic feel to it. It is protected with the historical society. Francesco says that the bottom layer is Inferno & the ground floor is the Purgatorio & the top floor with the winding staircase is Paradiso, from the 3 books of Dante. Very playful & original. I believe you will have a lovely time here & hope you come back the second night, too! Perhaps try one of Francesco's traditional dishes from the Tuscany region & the next try a pizza named for fun with one of Dante's famous characters from his Poem.  Here is the Pizza, "INFERNO!" & it comes to your table like this! 
                                 Simbiosi Organic Ristorante in Florence - Restaurant Reviews, Menu and Prices | TheFork
                          SimBiosi Organic Cafe, Pizzeria & Ristorante
            are the "brainchild's" of the pair of Mr. & Mrs. Donato, thanks very much, of Florence. I am always thrilled when I have actual Florentines on my website, & especially friends from many years. I first met the pair in 2015 when they had just opened the cafe & we laughed about how they had started a baby online business from their homes; baby clothes etc. And here they were with their first Biological Pizzeria. They had never been in the Pizzeria business, yet were very loyal to biological food & healthy food. Now plus 7 years & here they are with 3 very successful respected businesses.   https://www.facebook.com/pizzeriasimbiosi
                              SimBiosi Pizzeria is located at: Via de' Ginori, 56r, Florence, Italy, 50123
     "My first baby is the Pizzeria, where you met me & my wife in 2015, & it is still my favorite. We use biological ingredients, of which we have become famous in Florence for, & we do have vegetarian & vegan options. At the moment, although many people ask us for the Gluten-free, it is very difficult to do because of cross-contamination. To have a totally 100% Gluten-free pizza, you can't use the same pizza ovens or preparation tables as the ingredients that have gluten in them. So, we have biological natural pizza only." says Donato. 
Menu 2024 - Simbiosi Organic Pizza in Florence | TheFork
 Usually I show the ristorantes in the photos, yet the pizzas are soo good that I am only showing the pizzas. When you have reviews that say, "...it is literally the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life up to now," you know that the pizza is the it. 
         And next door at the cafe ready for Brunch! 
   "The way that we choose the ingredients is either visiting the local farmers for the products or they bring these here for us to try. I guess I can say that it is almost 0 kilometer farm to table, yet I can truly say that it is Tuscany farm to table. I enjoy visiting the farms & tasting the great products, though. That is a fun part of being the boss & in the beginning it was very fun to do. We had to choose the wine that way & of course you visit the vineyards & know the owners. We try to choose the small farmers, the ones with the best products, the ones you develop a relationship with, you know. That is what counts." Says Donato.
  The atmosphere is stone historical walls that are typical of most buildings of Florence with wooden rafter ceilings & wooden tables that make you totally comfortable. The pizza makers create right in front of you, which is totally fun to watch!Book a table at Simbiosi Organic Pizzeria in Florence, Centro storico | Quandoo
                                 SimBiosi Organic Cafe is the 2019 edition of Donato's 3 ristorante empire & is as charming or more so than the other ones. It has a historical rustic feel to it, all stone & wood, again, with a floor window to the cellar below. There is a long wooden table under the window & I ask if I could eat down there, but Donato laughs. "That is only for show, for ambience." & I ask if maybe in the future he shall renovate the Cafe to include the downstairs table in the window, yet he just laughs & says that um that is only decoration. Yet he does have news for me on the newest edition to the cafe. "In about 10 days we shall do brunch," he says. Wow, that is definitely a American item, doing brunch. "Yes, we are doing a new menu that shall include brunch items." I laugh & say that he must include Mimosas & Bloody Marys if he is doing brunch, but he doesn't know these American items, so I have to describe what is in each. "O that sounds very cool. We shall have to add these," he says!   Here is a link to the video:       Home - Simbiosi Organic Pizza e Pasta | Pizzeria Ristorante Firenze | simbiosi.bio                                                                                                             https://www.facebook.com/ristorantesimbiosiorganic/videos/1484269225417429
                                    SimBIOsi | FLAWLESS.life - The Lifestyle Guide
          The old traditional charm of the SimBiosi Cafe located at: Via De Ginori corner : of Via Guelfa. "We plan on doing brunch in 10 days," says Donato.
     As I mosey to the place next to the SimBiosi Cafe, the Ristorante, Donato follows & he asks the cook, Leonardo, if he knows what Bloody Marys & Mimosas are.  "Yes but I don't care for the taste of Bloody Marys," says Leonardo & I say that Bloody Mary's are famous in America. All the golfers drink Bloody Marys! It is a golfer idea of a breakfast! Donato wants to know what a Mimosa is made of & I tell him that it is Champagne 
& Orange Juice.  However, if you are in Florence now & need a breakfast item, they have Yogurt & Graola with bananas & fresh berries, or Porridge with bananas & fresh fruit, or Avocado Toast which is 2 slices of bread topped with avocados or try the A Cai Bowl which is served with bananas & fresh berries with seeds! All organic & all healthy, of course to carry on the tradition of their philosophy. They have been doing healthy & natural before it was very cool to do! 
                          
    See? Now that is the kind of food that I totally love to eat. All fresh, natural & healthy. It is so good for you & your immune system & it tastes great. You also feel super fresh after eating such food, so please come & give it a try! 
           And finally my favorite is the SimBiosi Ristaurante located at Via Ginori 60R.
   I call the picture the "quiet before the storm" as you will never see the chairs empty when the ristorante is open. Everybody loves the sharing table where they sit side by side with others dining in the "Alice In Wonderland" atmosphere of fun, funky & top of the line quality food. 
SimBIOsi | FLAWLESS.life - The Lifestyle Guide
  I love the fact that Leonardo, at the SimBiosi Ristorante, the head chef, is from Florence. As is most of Donato's team, & the others laugh & say that they are from Florence, too! As you can see, the organic food that is Tuscan recipes done with a little bit of creativity are so beautiful to look at that you almost don't want to eat it, yet, when I see the pictures, I want to run to lunch! SIMBIOSI ORGANIC PIZZA, Florence - San Lorenzo - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Order Online Food Delivery - Tripadvisor


 Try a little bit of each of the menu or try the degustation to have a very typical Florentine menu, yet the tweak is from Donato & the creativity of Leonardo.

    Eating with friends, on a lunch break as a student, backpacking around Europe or here with family. Try the great varieties at each place. The ristorante has some of the most scrumptious food in Florence that I have ever had. Spaghetto aglio e olio, or Maccheroni Al Pomodoro, Tagliatella Di Giu, Lasagna Nel Bosco are just a few surprises in the organic pasta category.Simbiosi - Florence Restaurant - HappyCow
 "My recipes are original & of always the season. I redo the menu 7 times per year. If the asparagus is available now we do that now and in 2 months we do fresh vegatables of the season. I know many in Florence who do the changes not  
as much as we do, yet that is why we're strong. It is fresh homemade pasta, fresh seasonal vegatables & for instance I only know the dessert of the day when my wife tells me what she is making!"
"The Floretina steak is our specialty & we do at least 80grams per day. People fly from everywhere in the world to eat the Florentina Steak. We have a specialty that is very particular, too. It is the small calf, female, of the cow that has never been pregnant & it is named Scottona the rib steak, very tender & very expensive," laughs Gabrieli. And we have the Filetto con patatine, which Americans know as Filet."
      Outside Patio - Provided by Tripadvisor
O my gosh I almost started crying when I saw my friends of 10 years, the team family of Natalino. I have known the mother, sister, brother, family that long.  I am afraid to ask if everybody had survived the pandemic because I have known dear family members who haven't. I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!  OK. Gabrieli gets down to business & we all laugh-his wife, I named the duo GG because they are Gabrieli & Gabriela. LOVE IT. I keep talking, hugging kissing taking photos, yet of course we must show you WHY THEY ARE ONE of the best.
   The one item you can ask all Americans, so do you enjoy Emme when she is home in America 3 years! They all come here now to eat!  And of course I tell them here is why. At Natalino they have only Italian wine. And they have only Tuscany wine with red wine. The white wine is only from Italy. THAT IS WHY YOU COME TO ITALY. To eat & drink with your ancestors to meet the lovely authentic Italians, right? So, let's talk about Gabrieli's long journey & history of 35 years owning the famous 1880 restaurant Natalino.  all aperto - Provided by Tripadvisor
                                                            reservations:                     055 289404                                                                                                                                location address: Borgo dell Albizi 17/r                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
      
Provided by readytotrip.com



Provided by thefork.it
"My restaurant is family owned & family teamed. That is a lucky blessing for me because we worked on & privato during the pandemic, yet always here. Now I have 22 totally team members & 1/2 i0s family," says Gabrieli. My wine is totally Italian. My recipes are all mine as I am the one who started the kitchen 35 years now. I train all my staff to do the recipes that I created. Provided by Bing Places for Business
  The old district of Sante Croce, the old church of S. Piero Maggiore hosts the ristorante Natalino. It has been here 130 years & the fresco on the wall depicts original owners Natalino, the host standing
& the master Annigoni sitting with his back to you while on the left is the artist's father of Roman Stefanelli. 

                                                  Romano Stefanelli - Official website

        One of the most important original artworks of the entire Florence art history is here:




 "My recipes are original & of always the season. I redo the menu 7 times per year. If the asparagus is available now we do that now and in 2 months we do fresh vegatables of the season. I know many in Florence who do the changes not  
as much as we do, yet that is why we're strong. It is fresh homemade pasta, fresh seasonal vegatables & for instance I only know the dessert of the day when my wife tells me what she is making!"
                   (20+) Ristorante Natalino | Facebo
"The Floretina steak is our specialty & we do at least 80grams per day. People fly from everywhere in the world to eat the Florentina Steak. We have a specialty that is very particular, too. It is the small calf, female, of the cow that has never been pregnant & it is named Scottona the rib steak, very tender & very expensive," laughs Gabrieli. And we have the Filetto con patatine, which Americans know as Filet."
 
          I love Napoleone's beautiful Decor, and philosophy of Life here with drawings from the website:

              You never feel so much love as when you see 

                                                                          your beloved again.
                                     Rosey &  Francisco's Napoleone Restaurant in Florence
                                            
                                             Trattoria Napoleone: Owner and Chef. Nice guys! - Picture of ...
          The cool funky new painting of the owner, Francisco's Napolean Restaurant in Florence depicts the Tuscany countryside. Inside is a gorgeous beautiful palazzo from the Vecchio Family heritage and has many rooms to discover. It has such beauty that you must do a little tour upon entering and enjoy a romantic initimate dinner once you are in!       

                                                           Piazza del Carmine 24 Florence 

 Outside is a beautiful terrace perfect for nice weather with huge umbrellas and a fun team.

As you enter the Palazzo of the Vecchio family, now owned by Francisco, who is a gracious and fun host, you notice the beauty of the works of art, the antique furniture, the sculptures and gilded mirrors that adorn every  inch of the solid stone building. The Palazzo Ristorante has rooms, and each one is unique and different. Gorgeous.  Stunningly beautiful and I seriously didn't even care about the food for the first 2 interviews! I kept asking where does   that come from? O my gosh where does that sculpture come from? O my gosh is that real? O my gosh is  that a beautiful fireplace!                   https://www.instagram.com/trattorianapoleone/

           "I saw it and said yes, yes and yes," Francisco says, "I loved the restaurant and I bought it all!"
20180405_201704_large.jpg - Picture of Trattoria Napoleone ...

                                            

                               I have the great pleasure to meet Francisco's wife, Rosey, who has bouncing curls and perfect skin, and is totally loved with her entire team. She promises to give me pictures of her to add to the site, and I am waiting! 


                                                                      Piazza del Carmine 24 Florence

That Francisco knows the choice of his menu and which wine compliments it is important. "I know each wine that I present." he says, "and mostly my wine list is to enhance the choice of dinner. We are known for the food, honestly, although you love the ambience of the restaurant, the real reason I chose Napoleone is the finest reputation that it had already had for its food." He does have a few new wines such as the Chianti Classico Castello di Verrazzano Riserva of Castello di Verrazzano, and Pinot nero Riserva of Poggio della Buttinera, and "A surprise this year,!" says his charming director, Valerio,"is the new Craft Beers. Yes, we have 2 craft beers named Birrificio Citta vecchia del Prioli Bionda and Ambrata!" NapoLeone - Florence, Italy - Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews ...
       https://www.instagram.com/trattorianapoleone/Trattoria Napoleone
   "The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and exquisite and since I loved it that much, I didn't really want to change it. I have added some new menu items, to make it a little more creative from my point of view, yet I love the decor. In April I am redoing the entire outside with the umbrellas and making the floor new. For now, we have musssels soup, and Salt cod with leeks, for instance or try the fresh fish fry. These are just additions that I chose. People come here since we are such a friendly and fun team," jokes Francisco as everybody laughs. "The ambience of being surrounded with such beauty of the Palazza and of course we hope the food!"
      Here is the beautiful Capo, the lady Melina, who along with her husband, Nicola, own Mamma Napoli, which is the number one pizza restaurant in all of Florence. It is situated right on the Mercato square at Piazza del Mercato Centrale number 17/18r. That lady I love so much. She is kind and sweet and funny and had me and Louis, the translator, laughing so much! 
                                                     We had to say BRAVO to Melina!             
                                                            https://www.facebook.com/MammaNapolibyCellini       Mamma Napoli By Cellini, Florence - San Lorenzo - Menu, Prices ...                                                          
   
 The lady of 26 years, Melina, in Florence, that is a record, with a Italian award winning chef, who is Raffeale, funny, too, and the team is too kind. You can sit outside or inside and have warm only italian speaking real old-school capos telling you their funny stories and truly caring about you as a person. LOVE THAT PLACE.   The pizza? The best in Florence. 
  And if you want to feel as you are a Princess, come to the velvet chairs inside with a  long table room, and order a special cake! photo1.jpg - Picture of Mamma Napoli By Cellini, Florence ...
   You know there is pizza and then there is pizza, and for me to eat at Mamma Napoli, I have to workout the entire day, run many miles, drink water and chow down once I come to the restaurant with friends and family. You will recieve a very big pizza and you can eat it all yourself or share, yet it is so good and r
efreshing. To just enjoy the pizza of your choice, that you end up sitting down to dinner and eating the entire pizza!
                      Which is my plan tonight!
             The award winning Maestro,
                  Raffaele at work! 
Raffaele won the title Pizza Chef emerging in Central Italy top Number one in 2014!Mamma Napoli - Home - Florence, Italy - Menu, Prices, Restaurant ...
                https://www.facebook.com/MammaNapolibyCellini
  I guess when it comes to being creative, Mamma Napoli takes the cake, so to speak. After 26 years, you must start to discover new and cool ways to present the Italian cuisine, and the restaurant, although traditional and old-school, is very playful and funny too!   Alright you have been in Florence a couple of years on vacation and ate the Pizza and finally decided to try the Florentine Steak..here it is and I must admit that I only had 1/2 of a Florentine steak in my total of 8 years covering Florence, yet it is so big and I loved it.Industry Analysts on Twitter: "Maurizio at #mammanapoli is the ...
   Okay, you are more into the history of art in Florence? Try convincing the artist bound historian to visit here since the famous artists Benvenuto Cellini was born in the building! 
   While your artistic  historian admires the building, you can try grilled meats and fishes, rustic dishes, pizza cooked with the wood-fire brick tiled oven, and Tuscan and Naples recipes of many years. Enjoy!
                       
  The team, getting ready to learn the real art of making the best Italian pizza! Having fun, with grace and respect seems to be the norm here at Mamma Napoli! Here at Piazza Vecchio Mercato Centrale 18r.
"You know Alberto started Tuscani 1 at first with many sceptics. He had only antipasta with 4 meats and cheeses and one item, the Florentine steak. People said O you can't just offer meats and cheeses you have to have pasta and other dishes. Yet Alberto said that he is only specializing in the antipasta of salami, proschuitto, finocchima salami with fennel, soft cheese with honey from pianza, the famous Florentine steak as the only meat dish. It worked. People loved the highest quality of the best products and they came. Now today, here at Tuscani 3 you can have two kinds of pasta which is the street food that you are eating now, " says Barbara, the beautiful tiny delicate wife of Alberto. "The two pastas tortelli and ravioli are only found at the Tuscani 3. If guests ask for it, we send them 5 minutes from Tuscani 4 or 5 minutes from Tuscani 1 to Tuscani 3 to eat the pasta. Honestly it is a Tuscan experience of long conversations with great wine, atmosphere and the best highest quality of cheeses and salamis of the Tuscan region. That is our expertise. We do not feel that you can have a expertise of 15 pages of a menu. How do you know each product? How do you know each person that gives you such? We, me and Alberto take drives and we just drive wherever we want. If we see a place of interest, perhaps a farm of wine or cheese or pigs, we go in and we say hi and we try the products. We find many of highest quality and interest and we eat and buy. It is that simple." says my very lovely personal friend, Barbara, the wife of Alberto. 

   "And here in 'Tuscani 3 we started the see in the window chef as he prepares the two pastas for street food takeaway and sit down service. Everybody loves to see him make the pasta and you eat it as he makes it!"    055    2853 36                        Located at Via Dante Alighieri 18red

 "You know if you want some great cheeses of the region, some great Tuscany wine, and you want to try the real Florentine steak, which is about our speciality, come and try. We have family oriented and cozy Florentine rooms where you can get to know each other and have a great evening. Albeto is very proud of his products and showcasing that quality to his guests." says Barbara."And Tuscani 4 is coming in a couple of days. I am happy that we are starting to think about bringing a Tuscani restaurant to America." 

             reservations:  055 906 5557


 You can find the smaller intimate Tuscani                                           at 

                     Via de Federighi 37 red. 

"The 3 places we have now are all beautiful, rustic, and authentically decorated with charm to bring coziness and a atmosphere to linger. It is a place for experience. Yet we spend many hours and miles driving and finding the right farmers. And we have tons of fun doing it." says Barbara as she introduces me to her great friends, one from New York, who teaches her husband English, and her name is Janine, her Sicilian husband, Francesco. We eat tortelli, drink much wine, and taste the salami and different cheeses that melt in your mouth in the 3 hr. lunch. "I am from New York and moved here after meeting my husband in Sicily. I met Barbara and teach her husband english. They are great friends now and I can tell you that she loves to tell us stories of the farmers and the people that her and her husband drive around the countryside and find. They choose the best quality products. You can taste how good these are...here try that...." she says and if you meet her you must try. I ATE A LOT! of food and such a lovely afternoon of conversation. 

        Here the lampredotto of Tuscanino 

    Ristorante-Pizzeria LO SPUNTINO of Florence is a original Florentine Ristorante from 30 years with a American Success story except the only Americans are the guests & me the journalist! Intriqued?

              One of the 3 Capos is Joan Bonilla, who is 1/2 Florentine & 1/2 Dominican. 

   His story is one of a miracle from the "dishwasher to the Capo" that you always hear of, dream of & is very difficult to achieve. Pictured here facing the camera, with the big smile, next to him behind him is the very funny lovely cook, Lucia, & Mickal the chef along with the funny shy bartender/waiter. 

 Here is the lovely Lucia holding one of the pizzas that just came out of the oven! We asked her to do many poses & she is quite shy, yet we all had fun with Lucia's pictures! 
  AntiPasto Toscano with a Huge Kilo of Florentine Steak can be shared with 2 people at the tiny price of only 50.00 euros! What! I say? That is about the price of a kilo of Florentine steak all by itself! The team laughs & says that yes that is why they always have to have at least 30 to 40 of these deals everyday because couples love to share it! 
   I am so impressed with the fact that the trio of Joan, Lucia & Nicola shaped the pizza-slices only of a casual pizzeria into the very cool Ristorante-Pizzeria that it is today. They have a full-time chef Nicola, who along with his fun mom, Lucia, make traditional Tuscany dishes & Italian pasta favorites such as my favorite that is Cacio e Pepe, or the spaghetti carbonara that every Roman citizen tells me that they love; the Gnocchi al gorgonzola, rucola e noci, or the Gnocchi pomodoro, mozzarella e basilico, & Ravioli ricotta e spinaci al tartufo. They have the famous Florentine steak at 45euros per kilo, or better yet do the couples deal of 2 people or more & have the antipasto with the kilo of Florentine steak for a total of 50 euros which is so inexpensive & of course the reason that everybody does that & shares! Pizzeria Lo Spuntino Firenze
   Joan says that almost always when 2 or more people order the Florentine Steak & Antipasto combination that they splurge on a good bottle of wine. "Usually they probably didn't think they could have a Kilo of Florentine Steak so inexpensively, so they always say, Alright now we can afford some good wine, & they order a nice bottle from our list. I do it that way because I want people to have a nice dinner & so I tried to make it affordable & fun to come here. We love the team & we love our place," says Joan when I ask if people choose to splurge a little bit more since they got such a great deal to begin with! Yes they do.
Joan said he worked at the same ristorante about 20 years, starting at the age of 20 with the original couple who had owned it, yet it was very casual at the beginning. "We were made famous for the pizza slices. The owners had all the place redecorated about 5 years ago, then they decided to retire. They said that I should have the Pizzeria because I had worked for them everyday from 10:00am to midnight & I loved the Pizzeria. So I became the owner of the Ristorante-Pizzeria the last 5 years along with my partner, Lucia, who is all. She does the cooking, the serving the guests, the bartending-she is everywhere. Her son, Nicola is the Master Chef & he is on vacation a couple of days. We shall send pictures of all of us dressed up in our chef's outfits when he comes back," Says Joan. 
  I tell the team that they all look a little intimidating in their group photo as if they are bouncers instead of cooks & servers, yet there they are waiting for you to come-please try their great cooking!
  Overall, it is a young team of 30-40 with much enthusiasm for life, their Ristorante-Pizzeria that they have shaped & a laughter that they all have with each other not taking themselves too seriously. They spend way too much time with the guests chatting; so much so that the other team members are always calling them back to the kitchen or bar & they absolutely love their guests. So, hope you give these people a try & have fun. If you haven't tried the Florentine steak, here is a great place to try it along with a nice bottle of wine.Pizzeria Lo Spuntino Firenze


Pizzeria Lo Spuntino Reviews: Food & Drinks in Tuscany Florence– Trip.com