"Yes of course I love wine," says Roberto who even names his own personal facebook ala Chianti! Does he know every bottle in the store? "ha ha ha yes of course I do. For sure. It is my store. I have 950 to 1,000 bottles in the store and have been in the business 17 years. 17 years and I have tasted 90% of the wines and have visited every vineyard. It is a must to visit the vineyards. Soon I go to Bolgheri." He has vineyards in
"My favorite is the lamb chops," says Miri, who Soldano says takes care of his facebook, instagram, and the website since, "I know the wine since that is my heritage and the food. Technology is beyond me!" he says laughing yet his team says he is being very honest! "Women are my favorite plate and the rest is side dishes," jokes Soldano.
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.
Many years I have seen the door that leads to such a beautiful restaurant which is the Palazzo Vecchio dated to the 1000AD and wanted to dine inside. With it's charming exterior at night when the Piazza Carmine is lit up and you delight with the laughter of the tourists, you become trasported back to the aristocratic feel that must of made up the Florentine mystery of why there is such amazing art and creation that has come from here. Wait! until you enter the world of the Vecchio family and its still preserved interior. "Yes, I bought the entire restaurant, the sculptures, the lamps, the pictures, the heavy furniture, the hunting artifacts in the Caccia room, " says Francisco laughing as I keep gasping entering each room. His father, Paolo, is busy watering and caring for the gardens that are attached via glass greenhouse rooms! Yes, real ones! A big throne chair graces the hallway near the bar(can we call a huge carved 1-1/2 story alcove a bar?) and I sit in it and say, "Paolo sit here as the king!" and Francisco's father laughs and sits and commands attention. (He looks perfect here!)The tourists that dine here say, " Siamo nel XVILLL, nel XVI onel XX secolo," which translates to "we're in the 18th, 16th, 20th century." That is how you feel when you experience each room with its own ambience that gives it character, from the real working old stone fireplace that is situated with two tiny vintage tables as you enter the hunting room, Caccia! That room is incredibly beautiful with hunting trophies from other bygone eras with old heavy furniture and table of solid worn wood for 1o in the center and 3 intimate tables near the side. Loved it's intimacy and delicacy combined. As you enter the big dining room where you can see the cooks make their famous creations, a huge table is in the center and reminds me of royalty, and indeed probably the aristocratic families, dining here.
RESERVATIONS recommended: Telefono / Phone: 0039 055 2 608414 0039 055 28 10 15
"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 
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! 
Jimmys Leathers Piazza San Lorenzo 2
Bella! 
"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! 
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
AH 
Arlo, "I am 38. I grew up in the country side of Florence and have been a jewelry designer since the age of 14. Everywhere it inspires my creations and I should try to make more." he says. "I have been in Vogue with Dior, Gucci, and of course me! The designs are from the 7th century of medieval period, and the nature of the works I create."
The Empire of Massimo!
"The very first one in Florence that is named as a Bistro is mine. We open all day long. At lunch it is a fast lunch, and at night it is a formal restaurant that is famous for fish. Yes a fish restaurant is expensive yet it is because we must buy the fish and that is expensive." says Massimo. You will instantly want to sit and talk to him. Knowledgeable about many things of the romantic life of eating at one of his famous restaurants. "Yes Romantic. It is important dinner. We renew two kinds of menu here typical of Florence that we serve the lunch and a more formal night of the freshest fish possible. We receive that everyday from the Mercato and we are proud to give a new type of service to the food." he says. The Trattoria Baldovino is located near Sante Croce at 22 Via San Giuseppe, and for reservations which is a must during high season call 055.241.773.
You can immediately see that the two restaurants of Baldovino and il Francescana,are both filled with love. "The Francescana is a old restaurant that people around the world knew. When the owner wanted to retire two years ago, we thought that such a important restaurant we can not let go. 
We must preserve the institution and we bought it." says Massimo. "Francescano has only typical real traditional Florentine food such as the famous steak florentine from cows that you can only find here in the Tuscany region. Like Houston Black Angus only in Houston Texas. Florentine Steak only in Florence. In 1956 the il francescano started as a little Trattoria of two small rooms for the workers of Florence to come and have wine and lunch. And it grew to be bigger and famous." "Since 2015 I have owned the il Francescana and I keep the tradition of the real 25 years of Florentine authentic food that the restaurant is known for since it expanded into the restaurant you see today." says Massimo. I ask if I can go to the restaurant and take pictures. "Yes please do and see the many faces of the people that come to eat. They come because they appreciate high quality and finest ingredients and because although they can go to any restaurant in the world because they are famous, they choose us." he is laughing. "Why? That is a good question. I guess they can just throw down 1,000.00 euros here and that is true. They love the il Francescana since it gives the people a respected feeling and yet a feeling as if one is at home." he says. 
We must preserve the institution and we bought it." says Massimo. "Francescano has only typical real traditional Florentine food such as the famous steak florentine from cows that you can only find here in the Tuscany region. Like Houston Black Angus only in Houston Texas. Florentine Steak only in Florence. In 1956 the il francescano started as a little Trattoria of two small rooms for the workers of Florence to come and have wine and lunch. And it grew to be bigger and famous." "Since 2015 I have owned the il Francescana and I keep the tradition of the real 25 years of Florentine authentic food that the restaurant is known for since it expanded into the restaurant you see today." says Massimo. I ask if I can go to the restaurant and take pictures. "Yes please do and see the many faces of the people that come to eat. They come because they appreciate high quality and finest ingredients and because although they can go to any restaurant in the world because they are famous, they choose us." he is laughing. "Why? That is a good question. I guess they can just throw down 1,000.00 euros here and that is true. They love the il Francescana since it gives the people a respected feeling and yet a feeling as if one is at home." he says. 
"We try to show love. It isn't just about o it is expensive. The reason that we are maybe a little bit higher expensive is that we buy more expensive ingredients and we make the pasta ourselves.
I would rather spend money every morning at the Mercato buying the best ingredients than cheaper options. You know? The kitchen at il Francescana is friendly and Italian and real and when you take the pictures at the restaurant please feel free to go into the kitchen and say hi. You would love it." says Massimo. 
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.
At Zio Gigi the Capo is Italian and speaks Italian. Only!
However his fun and friendly team speaks a little Engish and I am allowed to interiew Raluca, "I am the waitress for 10 years and I guess let me see the reason that people come here? It is real simple. The Capo is funny and he sings sometimes as he greets the guests he all of a sudden starts to sing a wonderful opera!" And when I say hi to Gigi he starts to immediately sing!
"And it is because of the fact that we are cheap!" says Raluca laughing. "I want to be honest, too," she adds, "we have the house wine that is very lovely and it is only 10euros and the food pasta ranges from 5.00euros to 10.00euros. The Italian food traditionally and locally is not very expensive to make. We continue that tradition, of seriously, the typical real food of the Italian people and give it to the guests. Of course the Florentine steak is a little more expensive, yet why do we have to make the prices really high if it only costs us a little?" 
"A couple of restaurants in Florence have many years as giving food to the guests yet we have 3 family generations of tradition in Florence." says Andrea."The food is simple, homecooked with only Italians and here at least, a team of 6 family and total of 16 persons working. I love all people yet I am very happy to say that we have real Italians with real recipes of many years. The prices are low because we want it to be a restaurant for locals and tourists to come. The working artisans that make cabinets and artisans and shoes come here all the time along with the internationals that visit and since I have been helping at the restaurant the last 30 years I know many people. The people come in and they always say Hi remember me? It is nice that they love the food." RESERVATIONS or be prepared to wait for that special traditional plate that you have traveled to Florence for! 0039 055 21 8 624 Santo Spirito Square...
I am hungry just talking to him!
Via dei Michelozzi 9red www.trattorialacasalinga.it
Andrea
The charming Medieval Palace is hidden and in plain sight all at once, odd really that after 8 years it is the first year that I saw it! It is raining and cold and I stumble down a alley desperately trying to find shelter, perhaps as the Knights in the 400Ad had done before me? 
"The Eskimo is a elegant restaurant that is a little more upscale and we have fresh fish everyday and live music everyday. EVERYDAY," Francesco says when he tells me the difference between the two restaurants that he owns. "I am from Calabria, which has natural wild beauty and here in Flòrence the difference is the sea side in the south is more gorgeous and the city of Florence in the North is more gorgeous." he says. 
Alright tourists how can you resist these great milkshakes! Yum! And the chocolate chip pancakes are the best, too; however my favorite at the Diner is they have a huge basket of french fries and great Burgers! American style of course! Hope you love it. 
Alright The Diner Florence is located at:
Via dell' Acqua 2 which is now a great segway to the 3rd restaurant, the very famous and very beautiful Acqua Al 2, my fav! 
"Okay honestly we're young guys and of course we want to party. When you are young you always say to friends, hey wouldn't it be cool to own a Pub? One of my friend's mother and father owned the Pub here that is before the Irish pub. We said alright let's open our own and make it a Pub that we can do inexpensive burgers yet high quality, great beers, yet our tastes of Craft beers only and fun events plus sports. That is why we opened. However, I much stress, that it was MUCH STRESS! when we opened. I had never been a bartender before in my life and I learned on the job. The good thing is that we laughed all the time the first year learning it and had the best time and our friends all came here and loved it and laughed all the time too. So we thought, you know it is real fun." said Simone, taking a little bit of a bitter IPA for me to try. It is good but a little face scrunching at the same time. I loved the Red Ale. Yum.
There is something poignant and sad about a favorite bar of yours closing at 3am. 
"Yes, sometimes when I am not in a good mood, yet I must be on for the guests, I must smile, I must entertain. Yet when I meet my guests I start to laugh and smile and the night is better. It is odd. At 3am it is a different type of tired. You know the people are coming here to party and have a good time, so you must be on the party mood. Yet, honestly while the first couple of years we drank and partied all the time at work, now it is, alright let's have a great time and meet people at "OUR" BAR, yet THEY HAVE A PARTY NIGHT, we make them have fun at their party!" says Simone.
"Yes, sometimes when I am not in a good mood, yet I must be on for the guests, I must smile, I must entertain. Yet when I meet my guests I start to laugh and smile and the night is better. It is odd. At 3am it is a different type of tired. You know the people are coming here to party and have a good time, so you must be on the party mood. Yet, honestly while the first couple of years we drank and partied all the time at work, now it is, alright let's have a great time and meet people at "OUR" BAR, yet THEY HAVE A PARTY NIGHT, we make them have fun at their party!" says Simone."Besides ultimately it is my bar. I own it. If I want a free night I take a free night. The first couple of years I was here all the time anyway since even on my free night off, my friends would say, Hey let's go to the bar! and so we went to the bar!" says Simone.
"I don't have any regrets. Hey I like to taste beers. I like to drink beers. I have fun. I am happy I chose my career. I think it is important for people to see the life they have and not have any regrets. I would do my life the same way that it is." says Simone. I say I am happy he says that since I do too. Do I have any regrets in life? Only I would do it the same except I wouldn't get caught number one, and number two I can't think of anything and number 3 I would of stayed and run after my friend Albert like Austin Powers down the aisle with tons of girls running after him! HA ha ha.
"Yes, you know it is experience. What you know now...etc. Yet it was fun the first couple of years and now a different kind of fun. Now it is less stress in O MY GOD HOW DO I MAKE THAT COCKTAIL! Now I know how." says Simone! 
Head chef Matteo, formerly of Le Cirque head chef New York
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,
when I ask if they collaborate. "We worked together initially in choosing the location, the international flair of the restaurant, the lighting for instance from ebay of famous designer Tom Dickson architectually renowned, and the 1920s era is both of our choices. Yet the bar we both wanted as a sit down to eat bar, which there is few in Italy, yet many in chic Manhattan, is custom made for us with lighting underneath that we turn on at night. The Barstools are a combination of three designers that custom made these for Bar e Cucina, the chairs all custom made, and the tables, and I even wanted a pure industrial look with plain concrete on the floor yet constructurally that seemed impossible to do." says Matteo walking me to each section of the 35 seat restaurant, including the bar seats.
reservations : +39 055 282634
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. As you see Erion playing with his new toys the super cool taps of Art 17 birreria, come in and have some great beers in a super natural cozy atmosphere of where everybody is a friend, you can hear great live music on the weekends, and everyday taste about 5 new beers if you are tiny like me or big maybe more! 
https://www.facebook.com/Art.17birreria/
https://www.facebook.com/Art.17birreria/"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. 
...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...).
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.
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!
How poignant, sad and majestic is the reality of beauty...the statue of David,
I think based on the mystery of "God" of Micheangelo's pieces I would of married him! Wow!
"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 I'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
"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
They have 3 sections, the garden which is vaulted, reminds one of a quiet Villa, the old Tavern in the cellar which leads you to the Renaissance, the first room which is 2 story high and accompanied by lots of wooden tables and heavy seats, tons of people laughing and talking and did I mention the food!
Anybody else love truffles? 
Questa foto di Trattoria dell'Orto è offerta da TripAdvisor.
Arturo is old school, about as old-school as you can get! The lovely aspect of the real Italian cuocos who also happen to be capos is that they have such great stories. Arturo was worried that the Italians couldn't read my English story on him and so I have a two fold story, English and Italian! 
"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! 
Trattoria San Pierino and Trattoria Sant' Agostino of Florence 
"Alright ready, I am the owner of two restaurants, one is Trattoria Sant Agostino and the other is the newest one which is Trattoria San Pierino. The two unique things about each is that the Trattoria Sant Agostino, which is located steps from Santo Spirito Square is that we are the only restaurant in Florence that deep fries the Florentine Steak with Egg whites, and you have to call me a day before for lunch or early say about 12.00 to do dinner. It takes a while to marinate the sauce. Alright and the restaurant here is that it is the only place in Florence that has the farina flour from Ferrara Italy. A finest flour that makes the pizza very soft. The Florentines love the thin pizza and since I am a traditional Florentine I do too." says the very happy and young looking, Saverio. "I have been the capo here one month and at Trattoria Sant Agostino about 10 years." he says. "We participate in a couple of events such as the wine tastes and the food festival of one day that is named Triticum which is on 11.22. 2017 in Florence at Piazza Pier Vettori at the Palazzo Confesererceuti. We are showing how to make the piazza and of course you can eat it!" he says. Alright we shall.
"Alright ready, I am the owner of two restaurants, one is Trattoria Sant Agostino and the other is the newest one which is Trattoria San Pierino. The two unique things about each is that the Trattoria Sant Agostino, which is located steps from Santo Spirito Square is that we are the only restaurant in Florence that deep fries the Florentine Steak with Egg whites, and you have to call me a day before for lunch or early say about 12.00 to do dinner. It takes a while to marinate the sauce. Alright and the restaurant here is that it is the only place in Florence that has the farina flour from Ferrara Italy. A finest flour that makes the pizza very soft. The Florentines love the thin pizza and since I am a traditional Florentine I do too." says the very happy and young looking, Saverio. "I have been the capo here one month and at Trattoria Sant Agostino about 10 years." he says. "We participate in a couple of events such as the wine tastes and the food festival of one day that is named Triticum which is on 11.22. 2017 in Florence at Piazza Pier Vettori at the Palazzo Confesererceuti. We are showing how to make the piazza and of course you can eat it!" he says. Alright we shall.
http://www.trattoriasantagostino.com/
https://www.facebook.com/trattoriasantagostino/
Trattoria Sant' Agostino is located at via Sant' Agostino 23R, Florence, Italy 50125 Tel 055 281 995
....the charming rustic traditional Trattoria 1958 of Sant'Agostino and the modern Naples inspired Trattoria San Pierino both show the creative and inspiring side to the happy Capo, Saverio, who says, "I look young since I am always happy. I am never stressed. I love my new idea of great pizza at San Pierino and I love to try to do new things!" he says. 
https://www.facebook.com/TrattoriaSanPerino/ Via dell?Oriuolo 18/r, Florence, Italy 50123 tel 055 200 1225
The Small bar and Kitchen Florence ITaly Piazza San Pier Maggiore 3 red 
Benvenuti all' OSTERIA DEL PORCELLINO
"Since I am here 6 days per week, and we are open 365 days a year, the one day that is my play day I always see the Tuscany country. Yesterday I went to Sienna, here let me show you." he says happily as he shows me the lovely pictures of his day in Sienna. "I always see different restaurants and visit Tuscany vineyards. I love that. And I enjoy eating quality food and yesterday ate steak in Sienna. The people that own the vineyards, and especially Frescobaldi are my personal friends. As you can see from my wine, I have almost every Frescobaldi wine that they offer!" says Alesandro.
I personally love the Frescobaldi wines and family. 
"I love white wines, especially the white wines of Tuscany. I am the person that chooses the wine for all the restaurants. My dad is young, yet he is retired and I am the one who runs both the Il Matti and the La Braceria. A new fish restaurant is opening soon too, and I will let you know when. The La Braceria is a very posh restaurant with only 35 seats and a must reservation every night. La Braceria
If you want a certain cut of beef you can request that one day ahead of time. And in addition, I would say that at La Braceria it is a very intimate romantic restaurant, where here at Il Matti it is a family restaurant." says Alesandro. http://www.labraceriadiscandicci.it/
If you want a certain cut of beef you can request that one day ahead of time. And in addition, I would say that at La Braceria it is a very intimate romantic restaurant, where here at Il Matti it is a family restaurant." says Alesandro. http://www.labraceriadiscandicci.it/The young capo, only 24, is a delight. "I spent 6 months in New York, and now I am back in Florence. I love the Americans and always talk at the tables with the guests. It is my passion.! " he says. 
The elegant , sophisticated beauty of Vincanto.
http://www.keysofflorence.com/ A TOUR BY CArRIAGE WITH THE WONDERS OF CHIANTI
A TOUR BY CArRIAGE WITH THE WONDERS OF CHIANTI 
The Coolest about The Keys of Florence Company? The people, I had the pleasure of meeting Roberta and Eleonora, and chatted with both about the company. "I am the Manager of the Apartments of the Keys of Florence, of which we have about 48 here,. They are all luxury apartments and they can range from 70.00 euros to 300 euros per night. The fun thing about the apartments is when the tourists book to stay from one day to one month, they don't know that we are also a highly qualified tour company of the city and they are always pleasantly surprised that they can manage the entire city just from booking their place to stay!" says the young adorable, Roberta. "I have been here 4 years and I am only 20 years old, yet I probably know much more about he city than most people. It helps if you are trained in art history, which I am, and of course it helps if you love culture!" she says. 
"Yes and a cool story of Dante is that in the 600s or is it the, wait I think it is the 12 th century, Dante fought on the wrong side of the war in Florence and the city exiled him to Ravenna. That is where Dante is buried, in Ravenna. However, now Florence wants Dante back and the city of Ravenna says too bad you shouldn't of exiled him!" they say laughing.
"I've only been here one month, yet I've been to the Uffizi, which is the third most important museum in the world, by the way, many times already. I LOVE that museum. It has the famous head that is in the movie, Dante, in it. THE REAL ONE, I mean, it is amazing, " gushes Eleonora. She is the tour manager of "22 tour guides. The Tour Guides of Italy all have to be licensed and it takes at least one year of schooling to have your exams. It costs several thousands of dollars and you can tell that what is important to Italy is the highest quality of promotion of its cultural, historical figures, and historical buildings, and of course the food and wine." she says.
"We have many more than 22 tours, though. We have tours to the wine country and tours on horsebacking and we're working on more tours. I love the city. It has so much history and stories to tell. For instance did you know that in the most beautiful church in the world, Santa Croce, is the body of Michealangelo buried? Yes. Most people think that the body is buried in the Vatican, yet it is actually buried in the Medici chapel since Michealangelo was a artist of the Medici family." she says.
Reservations: 055 045 3121
at Via del Trebbio/ 8r
reservations: 055 287178
We are all here to make the restaurant carry on the tradition that is it's original intent." she says. 
We are all here to make the restaurant carry on the tradition that is it's original intent." she says. 
"Yes that is my view everyday, EVERYDAY!" LAUGHS DANIELA...it is charmingingly funny to think of all of us tourists coming in awe of the Piazza and the statue of David and yet Daniela sees it as her backyard everyday! "Alright sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon..." she laughs and I wonder if she is speaking of her husband coming in the mornings or afternoons to the restaurant or the famous view of the Statue of David that is on the famous Piazza, where the entrance to Micheangelo's Original Statue of David awaits."
I insist that we talk to each table and learn the stories of the people. It is not a restaurant that you rush food and leave. It is to have a good time with the guests. I enjoy the guests especially now the year now it is real friendly Americans that come. Every year they come, yet this year for some reason they are super friendly. And I communicate with the Chinese and Japanese and the Asians with hand signals usually if they do not speak Italian or English. Every culture tells me something new. I want these guests to remember us." she says.
Of course the food is important...ha ha ha! "Yes they come of course because of the beauty of the Piazza and they want to see David, however, they come back here for a couple of reasons, one is the food since it is very good. Yes it is Tuscany, yet Italian and a little touch of international. The wine is all Italian and Tuscany and my husband is the wine master. He chooses the wine. The people that come here maybe stay at Florence 5 days and if they find us the first day it is amazing that they come here everyday to eat. I would say it is because of us!" laughs Daniela. "We are happy and friendly and they have a lovely vacation with us. The food is excellent or they wouldn't come back and the chef is here 20 years." she says. 
"We have about 20 bikes, 40 Segways, and 8 Vespas, and in addition with have 3 Wheel Carts with 3 people with 1 driver and 2 of these on private tours. They do all around Florence tours to Vineyards in Chianti to lunch in Chianti on the Segways or Bikes or following the 3Wheelers on Vespas.
We Always make it educational and fun. An Experience. When you come here we only have professional licensed guides that make it a fun experience. The best guides make it the best tours." says Sonny laughing. "At the Segway Chianti tour you drink Chianti of course, and eat a Italian lunch in the vineyards, which is fun and pratical all at once! 
Sonny, who owns Segway Point in Florence, is great.
"I started the Segway with 10 in 2010 and everyday from 2010 and 2011 and 2012 the people loved Segways and I had to buy more Segways. One day in 2014, the Grandson of Salvatore Ferragamo called me and said that he had his own private polo Segway Team and asked if I wanted to form a team to play together. I said yes and we started the Florence Segway Polo Team. Now I have Segway Polo Team classes where groups can come from 2 people just to learn or 6 and more to play with our team. It is 80.00euros per person with 4 hours of Learning and playing with the team on Segway Polo. And yes it is real fun." says Sonny when I ask if he has a great job!
Here the 13th century walls on the left behind the piano and across from it is 17th century walls! Why the difference? "I don't know why. The 1300 ones used to house the merchant carts and maybe they built a structure in the 17th century on the other side. See the difference?" We examine the walls. Pretty cool. "I added the piano and I added the pictures and the new colors. That is about it. The rest is from the original owner...I've only owned the restaurant since 2 years and before that a wine bar." The difference? "The restaurant is more work!" he laughs. "I am happy now. It is what I want to do." 
http://www.vecchiomercato.it/for reservations call 055 211978
Glamorous and intimate with seatings of only 65, the real authentic family owned restaurant has been here over 50 years, and has the etched crest in the doorway to prove it. "We are proud to give Tuscany products and especially form Maremma which is the southern section of Tuscany. The wine is from there too and if you come in you must try the wild boar in its various forms, which of course is only good with red wine and that is why we specialize mostly in the red wine of Maremma where the wild boar roams free. 
The wild boar destroys the grapes from the farmers and the vegetables and that is why we must hunt the wild boar. It eats all that it sees. Yes they can get quite big and we go hunting with the dogs and the guns. To be honest, when my father used to go hunting he would stop and take pictures of the hunt, but I don't have time to take out my IPHONE and say "Stop Wild Boar" I want to take a picture!" he says laughing and his table of 4 team, including the cook start laughing. They are at the table sitting with us as we interview before opening that night. Are they eating the wild boar? I ask. "NO they are eating chicken!" 
The wild boar destroys the grapes from the farmers and the vegetables and that is why we must hunt the wild boar. It eats all that it sees. Yes they can get quite big and we go hunting with the dogs and the guns. To be honest, when my father used to go hunting he would stop and take pictures of the hunt, but I don't have time to take out my IPHONE and say "Stop Wild Boar" I want to take a picture!" he says laughing and his table of 4 team, including the cook start laughing. They are at the table sitting with us as we interview before opening that night. Are they eating the wild boar? I ask. "NO they are eating chicken!" 
"The restaurant is set in a 15th century Palace and the tiny cocktail bar next door is a 11th Century Palace. We work with the beauty of the structures and the restaurant has a open garden in the back and two different staircases up to two different levels and rooms. The upstairs is private as is the gardens where you can have a special intimate dinner. At times we can have as many as 100 people here and I do it all myself. Of course I have runners help me, yet I wait on each and every table myself and talk to the guests. I don't use menus, since I know the special inventive items everyday, I am the one who deals with the highest quality fish everyday and know what the chef is having and I know the traditional Japanese menu that we have everyday. At first the Inventive Menu and the Japanese Menu were together. Yet I the new owner said that the Inventive menu isn't so inventive if it is the same everyday. So, now we have the everyday Japanese menu and we have the Inventive menu which is inventive new everyday." Let's just say it looks yummy!
"We
went to America in the last 20 years and went 5 times to New York and
San Francisco and Las Vegas and San Diego and everywhere and really
wanted to open a Music Bar in terms of how America had these Pubs. We
have Blues that are live and we love both the Rock and Roll and Blues.
People come here since they love the music, I hope they love me and
Mateo and of course the atmosphere of the Pub. The
Music is important to us and the pub revolves around it, as a matter of
fact, the drums that are attached to the ceiling are Mateo's real
drums." says Virginia.The Virgin Rock Pub is open from 3pm to 3am everyday and the most important aspect is coming in here and having a nice pint and chat with Mateo and Virginia, and of course listening to the music. Virginia's favorite band is Guns and Roses and we're both kind of digging Aerosmith!
VIRGIN ROCK BAR ...live music ciao!
Via Dell'Agnolo, 78/r Call 342 516 1096
When I ask Virginia to ask Mateo his favorite band since he speaks basically only Italian, he says, "The Doors!" Okay! It shows that we're in the early to late 30s age range here!
Most Importantly is COME HAVE FUN
AND DRINK A COUPLE OF PINTS.
Via Dell'Agnolo, 78/r Call 342 516 1096
When I ask Virginia to ask Mateo his favorite band since he speaks basically only Italian, he says, "The Doors!" Okay! It shows that we're in the early to late 30s age range here!
Most Importantly is COME HAVE FUN
AND DRINK A COUPLE OF PINTS.
my favorite pint of Guinness and buffet for only 4.50 euros ! 
Borgo degli Albizi, 17/r - 50122 Firenze -
055 289404
I first met the family that has owned Natalino in Firenze for 25 years about 3 years now. I interviewed Gabriele, the son, and the matriarch mother, Alessandra. Today sitting with honor at family table at lunch, I interviewed Laura, Alessandra's daughter and her nephew Alessandro, Gabriele's son. It is a funny treat and Laura makes you laugh a lot!
"It is my mother's restaurant since her and my father started it in 1993. I started working for her in 1995 at a early age. I have much fun here and I am happy that I do the restaurant. If I could have a choice of anything it would be to do Natalino since it makes me happy to have something that makes people proud to come to. It is difficult work and with my brother, Gabriele, of course we argue. Um, everyday!" she laughs good-naturedly. "Doesn't every brother and sister argue? See I am the type of person that asks my boss, who happens to be my mom, about every decision. Whether it is where to seat the important guest that is coming here for the first time, which wine we choose for the restaurant or if we should redecorate the tables with the glass tops...I always ask. Gabriele is the type that the next day you come into the restaurant we all have new wine glasses! I guess that is the difference!" Laura says laughing. 
"Although my mother looks like a little frail Italian Grandmother, she is the boss. She rules with how do you say? A iron fist in a velvet glove. She is the boss and she chooses all of the wine and all of the food that we serve. She speaks ONLY ITALIAN! and she wanders around the tables talking to the guests only if they speak Italian. We all speak english and talk to everybody. Everybody smiles and nods at her, yet they should know that the entire feel of the traditional Natalino is because of my mother, " says Laura with the utmost respect. "Hmm, let's ask Alessandro that question," she says when I ask if it is funny to work with her mom. "AAA, " starts out Alessandro, "is it always funny? Is it fun to work with my Grandmother? It can be." he says trailing and Laura and I laugh. "She is the boss," says Laura finishing his sentence. "I would say yes I hope so that it is a fun day since it is my life here. We are a simple people and a simple family. We try to be friendly with our guests and to be kind always with everybody. Yet we, me and my mother and brother, we are 3 different bosses and sometimes the heads have different ideas!" Okay got it! And the food?
It is a gorgeous place and a gorgeous location and a great people watcher place and of course we love to meet the Italians and eat great food...
It is a gorgeous place and a gorgeous location and a great people watcher place and of course we love to meet the Italians and eat great food... Near Il Barroccio V. Vigna Vecchia 31r
is a amazing 20+ year Tuscany kitchen that is homey and classic. The owner sometimes in the busy season has the help of the cuoco, yet in the little section as you enter is a computer on a small table and his handwritten checks for tables. It is amazing that on some days he is the cuoco and the waiter! How does he do all of it? "I am passionate about my life and my restaurant, young I think!, and you say I look shy yet I am not shy. I only look shy. I love to have guests to my home everyday for dinner. When you come here you are a guest in my house and of course when you come to my house, I cook the food!" he says. Yes however 30 to 50 people as guests everyday for 20 years that is a lot of people.
For Reservations click on the link
below or call: 055.627.109
It is named "the little restaurant that could," for a reason. "Guests say that when they come to eat at 6:45pm they end up staying and having a bottle of wine or two til 10:00pm. I love my guests, if they want dessert and they want another bottle of wine and they want to talk about Florence and Italy and Chianti wine, I let the guests stay!" he says. The huge picture of tons of bottles of wine on a cart dominates the tiny room's wall and I imagine that it is a subject of many of his guests questions. "Yes they always ask if that is a real picture and they want to know the story. Let's just say the Italians love Chianti as much as the tourists!" 
Giovanni has great "Italian Grandma" food as I love to name it. The kind my very Italian Grandma from Modena used to make for us everyday. "The people who come here usually know us since we are a little hidden from the tourist traffic. They come for a week in Florence and if you read the trip advisors, you can see that they come here everyday of the vacation. They say they feel like family and when they come and say, Giovanni make us something special, I go to the kitchen and cook dinner. That is every night. Every item is special and of course we have Florentine Steak and the Tuscany dishes yet it is my cooking and recipes. I hope that you bring me many lovely and fun guests," he says. I say yes that I do to!
"The restaurant, Il David, is 3 Generations old and is made from my Grandfather in the 1950s. It is unusual of a restaurant on a famous Piazza to keep in the generations since so many people come to buy these! We love our restaurant and it is from my Grandfather, my mother,Giovanna, and me which is 3 generations. My father used to be at the helm yet he passed away. My sister, Barbara works with me and we run from the bar to the Casse to the people all day. I insist that we talk to each table and learn the stories of the people. It is not a restaurant that you rush food and leave. It is to have a good time with the guests. I enjoy the guests especially now the year now it is real friendly Americans that come. Every year they come, yet this year for some reason they are super friendly. And I communicate with the Chinese and Japanese and the Asians with hand signals usually if they do not speak Italian or English. Every culture tells me something new. I want these guests to remember us." she says.
"Yes it is a beautiful view and in the summer with the fountain and the people it is always funny. Always. There is so many tourists that come and they are always surprises to watch. Yet I remember that the restaurant's food is special too. The Florentine Steak is unique in Florence in that we give 1/2 a kilo where everybody else is one kilo. That way a little person, such as me, since I eat the Florentine steak a couple times a month, can manage the 1/2 kilo!" she laughs when I ask if she always eats the Florentine steak. "We have pasta and old dishes from traditional Tuscany too..." she adds.
"My father has a wine business named Better Wines and I have a selection of 125 wines in my restaurant," says Frederico. "We have a large selection of French wines too, which is unique to Florence since most of the restaurants only carry Italian wines. Since my father gives me the production company names we are priveleged to choose the best. However, if you come to my restaurant you can expect to spend between 30.00euros to 70.00euros and that includes the best wine. As you can see, the table here is from the 4 Seasons and they chose us for lunch! That make me very proud of that fact that people recommend my restaurant, yet it is affordable for everyone." says the young and funny Frederico.
"I went to Hospitality school here in Florence and after the first 2 years I chose the restaurant sector. I finished the 3 years and went to work about 20 kilometers from here at a Michelin restaurant 3 years. I learned the very formal service and more importantly I learned how people appreciate attentive service. And from here I went to New York! Yes I know yet I loved working in the Tribeca region very much. I loved New York and Ioved the American people. I have since been to Los Angeles and I love that too!" says Frederico. "The process here is one day I asked my father if he would love to help me open my own restaurant at the age of 28. We renovated the entire restaurant and he is one of my partners along with my friend, Edoardo. Every person here is a friend of mine. And we hire the American students at the Cooking School too. They're cool, nice and want to learn. We like the Americans." he say
"Silk scarfs, real ITALIAN SILK SCARFS are very rare," says SASHA, WHO OWNS THE BRAND NEW ITALIAN BOUTIQUE on Borgo De Greci 39 red, in Florence, Italy. "We're only here a couple of months,, yet I thought a long while about my represtentation of my idea of fun and young Italy combined with tradition. We have Missoni, which is world known and Just'O" he says and I say WAIT!. Just'O? I LOVE JUST'O. ROME HAS A HUGE BOUTIQUE OF JUST'O. "Yes I chose 5 of the Special items and have these here." he says. 
"you know the funniest thing about us is
that it is about 70% girls in here at night and
30% guys!
Every night a lot of people come and
it is always girls!" 
intimately, as one Pub owner told me in Dublin, "it's a Pub, Emme, it's just a Pub.
The restaurant is charming and has a open glass kitchen with a very French Provincial look to it. "That is odd since we bought the restaurant and it is the way still that we bought it. However, we hope the year of 2017 to redecorate it and yes I want to do a French elegant look to the restaurant. Of course it is a Italian restaurant and all real homemade Tuscany food, yet I am French and I know how to decorate!" Lea is laughing, trying to help her little boy eat chocolate Easter eggs, and smiling at the twins all at the same time as the interview. Do they ever go out for elegant romantic dinners? I ask. "Um....no!" they both laugh. "We are too busy doing the restaurant, the babies, and when we go home we only do family time with each other." I guess at the moment they had enough romantic nights.!
"Aldo is the waiter and he and I am always with the people. My husband helps his cousin in the kitchen and they are the big cooks. Me and Aldo have real fun with the guests who are almost always tourists and it keeps us busy talking to that many people of different languages. I speak Italian and French and English and my husband speaks Italian and English and Albanian." She says. When I ask if they always ask for the Wild Boar?
"The special is the Florentine Steak and honestly people come here since it is only 1 kilo for 35.00euros for two people. That is why they come and we of course have the pasta with wild boar. The Americans love that. No I do not have Trippe since we do not eat Trippe why should the people that come here try it." she says. Um....YUM
While I eat the very fattening food, I ask the young wife of Francesco's brother, Lorenzo, if she has many Ferragamo shoes! She blushes shyly and admits, "An entire closet full!" and I ask if she has about 125 shoes or more and she nods yes! "Yet most are dressy and high heels and it is impossible to walk on Florence's cobblestones with high heels." she says. Wow I would love to see her closet! http://www.trattoriapandemonio.it/
"We had a Creative Aperitivo Group come here and ask to do a privato party. We made food for 60 people and expected that many.
That Saturday night about 250 people came since they promoted it on social media and the internet and they were standing outside and inside and at about midnight we ran out of all of our alcohol! People were yelling at me "WHERE'S THE FOOD!" And I kept saying that we thought only about 60 people would show up! Seriously. Yet 1/2 of the people didn't even pay since it is only me and my brother behind the bar and a girl helping and we just couldn't make it to everyone. And I was just learning how to make drinks. IT WAS INSANE! Trust me. Fun yes yet at the time JUST INSANE! Next time, I shall hire more people to help out with all the guests that come!"
That Saturday night about 250 people came since they promoted it on social media and the internet and they were standing outside and inside and at about midnight we ran out of all of our alcohol! People were yelling at me "WHERE'S THE FOOD!" And I kept saying that we thought only about 60 people would show up! Seriously. Yet 1/2 of the people didn't even pay since it is only me and my brother behind the bar and a girl helping and we just couldn't make it to everyone. And I was just learning how to make drinks. IT WAS INSANE! Trust me. Fun yes yet at the time JUST INSANE! Next time, I shall hire more people to help out with all the guests that come!"
The gorgeous cobblestoned Via Santo Spirito... 
"When I go to the table I am very honest with the guests. I say that I am still learning. Trust me you can't fake my inexperience, yet at the same time in the last 2 months I have become quite a good bartender!" says Alexander. "I come from a family that sets very high standards and I expect to set the same high standards. I didn't drink alcohol til now. Okay now I must taste the drinks to make sure that I am making the drinks right!" he says laughing. "Hmm...am I happy? Let's say that I am never satisfied. I am always trying to make better, yet I believe that I have a high quality place where friends can come and chill and spend a couple of hours drinking and socializing and having a good time. They come here and drink one drink and go to dinner and come back. In one week we shall have a entire new menu. Right now it is food from Beirut Lebanon, and France and Italy...let's say International. Yet now the last 4 days I have learned to cook since I just hired a new cook. I am learning new skills everyday!" he says laughing. "Mostly and honestly since I went back to Lebanon after 1 month and asked my friend who is one of the most sophisticated and experienced bartenders in the Beirut culture to teach me. And he had to teach me everything about bartending. And I learned silly things such as how to shake a shaker! Seriously. I had to learn it all. I jumped right in. I had to. I didn't have a choice. And now I am successful. I am happy and proud of what I have created." says the charming Alexander! 
You must come to chill and check out the fun and natural ambience of GOSH!
IL Gatto le Volpe "The Cat and the Fox"
"The Americans always come in and they try new things when I sneak in the intestines one time to see if they would love it or the Trippe or the Oxtail into the menu I always wait to see if they say yes. They say, "O I love that food, what is it." They admit that they would be a little hesitant to try it if they knew what it was. Yet when they do they love it. The Asians try it all. Now I have more American friends than the Italians! When I travel I rarely stay in hotels always with friends. " says Michele the 33 year old capo of the Pinocchio named Il Gatto le Volpe. https://www.facebook.com/ilovegatto/ Via Ghibellina 151\r
"The Americans always come in and they try new things when I sneak in the intestines one time to see if they would love it or the Trippe or the Oxtail into the menu I always wait to see if they say yes. They say, "O I love that food, what is it." They admit that they would be a little hesitant to try it if they knew what it was. Yet when they do they love it. The Asians try it all. Now I have more American friends than the Italians! When I travel I rarely stay in hotels always with friends. " says Michele the 33 year old capo of the Pinocchio named Il Gatto le Volpe. https://www.facebook.com/ilovegatto/ Via Ghibellina 151\r
"Florence and Italy is and should be known for the culture, the affection and sincerity of the people, and the food of course. In 2009, the Italian law is lifted to let anybody who wants to open a restaurant business to do that. Before it was limited to the population per establishment. Now you can do anything that you want to do! It is both a blessing and it is bad of the competition around. The tourists are scared that they try the food and it is bad. We have to educate the people that if they come to here they love the experience and the quality of the real fresh food. I want the people to come here and have a good time and tell everybody that they loved it. My serious vision is to satisfy the guests, and to make the homemade food the best. To allow the guests that they must understand what they have in front of the plate. They ask all the time to explain the food and that is a pleasure to me. I used to be the chef and I know all there is to know about the cooking of Tuscany. It is sad if the guests eat and they don't like the Florence culture because the food was awful. I truly believe that money is not a object to the people. If it is a wonderful experience and they love the food they don't care how much they have to spend." says Michele. "If buying a sandwich is a Florence experience it is a sad day for Florence. Eating a good home cooked Italian dinner is a real cultural experience." he says.
Alright when in Paris and around the world my first years I really wanted an American Breakfast...welcome to Florence, Italy where you too can eat to the heart's content the lovely Italian food of Il ristorante Pizzeria Il Gatto le Volpe all day and night and in the morning venture to the little Boboli Gardens to see the beauty, have a French Toast and a American Scrambled Eggs and Fresh Fruit before the gardens and spend the day as a aristocrat...only to trek back across the Ponte Vecchio Bridge to have another dinner at the "The Cat and the Fox" aka Il Gatto le Volpe for Pinocchio fans! 
"Say hi to Mario 83 years old." says Michele who is the young 33 year old capo of Il Gatto le Volpe in Florence Italy. "He has been here the last 27 years and is like a family to me. I started waiting tables at the age of 11 years old since my mother became ill and grew up here. The first day that I waited tables all alone is the Easter Monday, typically the busiest day of the year in Italy and it was fun and funny to do it all myself since I am that young. Now I would go crazy!" he says laughing. Pictured is Mario and Carlos the culinary genius's of "The Cat and the Fox". 
"HERE HERE HERE," says the Boss as he tells us to follow him everywhere and starts making desserts. We are very happy to try the desserts, too. "And the pizza you must see how it only takes 1 and 1/2 minute to make the pizzas!" Yep that is how long it is! Quickly and ready to eat now! 
...and the beauty and simpicity of a real Italian restaurant.
Which one is the Boss... the Mama and Papa from Calabria and the team from Naples make up the hilariously funny yet O MY GOSH that food is to die for!
Below is Mr. and Mrs. Nicola who speak only Italian! and they're totally gracious and kind and real Italian Grandmothers and Grandfathers in the sense they keep feeding and feeding and feeding you food that is Ravioli Cellini(Nicola's recipe) and Star Pizza filled with Salami surprises and lovely Naples dessert...Yum! http://www.mammanapolibycellini.com/
A young Asian kid is making desserts and Nicola starts taking over. The young Asian starts giggling. "He likes to make these." he says. When I ask Marcus the funniest thing about working with Nicola now? "Um...he is funny. He is everywhere at once and we love him. He is very affectionate and he has great recipes that he is always talking to the kitchen about. The funniest, though, is when he goes tot he pizza oven. He loves to watch Raffeale make pizzas. He is very proud of him." says Marcus touching his head as if in thought and laughing. "There video the pizza man. Raffeale!" shouts Nicola as Raffeale walks to us. "Video him making the pizza!" says Nicola with the help of Marcus who just grins and follows him everywhere shrugging his shoulders with a big smile on his face. How long has he worked with Nicola? "About 6 months now." 
"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." 
http://www.trattoria-armando.com/trattoria.htm 
the elegance of the hidden restaurant is a safe landing place for the international stars of Teatro...
The Ok Bar at Florence used to be a tiny bar and Osteria about 14 years ago, and the family grew, Alberto is the son and he joined the team when he is 12 he says, and they opened up next door to include a BEAUTIFUL ADDITION and bigger restaurant. The mother is long blonde hair and all glamourous and young and I tell her she should be out in the front greeting the guests not hidden in the kitchen! Beauty shouldn't be hidden in the kitchen...life is out front as Liza Minnelli says, What good is sitting alone in your room? Come here the music play...life is a Cabaret Old Chum only a Cabaret old Chum come to the Cabaret... 
"The very first one in Florence that is named as a Bistro is mine. We open all day long. At lunch it is a fast lunch, and at night it is a formal restaurant that is famous for fish. Yes a fish restaurant is expensive yet it is because we must buy the fish and that is expensive." says Massimo. You will instantly want to sit and talk to him. Knowledgeable about many things of the romantic life of eating at one of his famous restaurants. "Yes Romantic. It is important dinner. We renew two kinds of menu here typical of Florence that we serve the lunch and a more formal night of the freshest fish possible. We receive that everyday from the Mercato and we are proud to give a new type of service to the food." he says. The Trattoria Baldovino is located near Sante Croce at 22 Via San Giuseppe, and for reservations which is a must during high season call 055.241.773.
"You must tell people to come and try the Antipasto Baldomare which is a mixture of the freshest seafood of cold and hot on the plate." he says. "We have octopus on the fire. Which is Octopus on the Grill which makes it a little bit crispy. We have a new way to serve the seafood and we are happy to serve it Salmon Tartar, Tuna Tartar, Steak Tartar and that is the specialty that only we can do. I must emphasize that mine is a high quality fish and meat restaurant at night. Baldovino is becoming famous for that." says Massimo.
Um Yum Yum Yum my favorite!
Have you ever entered a restaurant and instantly adjusted the bow tie and stood up straight? It is a formal authentic Italian restaurant in Florence that gives attentive special service in a formal atmosphere yet the people are happy and talking and normal. "The quality of service is the best and it is a formal nice dining restaurant yet at the same time we have to live good and be happy." says Massimo
door which translates to? If you can solve that riddle you can go eat here! 
I must also say that they are very smart as when I keep hinting after Stephano says,
I must also say that they are very smart as when I keep hinting after Stephano says, Stephano says and Andrea starts laughing again, "Yes we are crazy but professional."
"I heard from a friend in Venecia that they had these real cool lamps in a square and that they would give to sell and I went and bought all 5 lights and came and put them up! It is incredible, really, how I do it. I just see something and I make it myself. I make it happen myself." says the happy as can be capo, Francesco, who has owned the Trattoria near the Duomo the last 2 years. www.trattorialoriuolo.it
