Italy: Florence & Tuscany
Florence Photo Album. (Written September 22, 2008) Ahh, Florence and Tuscany...I (Stacy) have dreamed about seeing these cities en Italia for half my life. A little known fact about me is that I actually have a minor in art history and this is an art historian’s paradise. We arrived at Firenze Santa Maria Nouvella train station with giant smiles on our faces. My Dad and step mom Judy warmly greeted us and walked us through town to the 2 BR apartment in the heart of the city across from the Ponte Vecchio. They are here in celebration of their 15-year wedding anniversary and we are both honored and blessed to be here with them during their special time.
Cappuccino, panini, pasta, pizza, gelato, proscuiotto, pecorino romano, wild boar salami, olio, pomodoro and vino…deliciouzo! Food and drink just doesn’t get better than this. My taste buds are on overload with every bite and sip. I must tell you about this moto bene (very good) meal we enjoyed on our 2nd night in Firenze. Dad heard about Il Latini from a friend who said it was an experience not to be missed and very important to order “la specialite de la casa” or the specialty of the house. No menus here. Our reservation was at 19:30 but we arrived at 19:15 with 50 people already mobbed together outside the entrance on this non-descript street. We could see a single group of people finishing a meal which we assumed to be the servers. Suddenly, the glass doors opened and the mob got tighter. The four of us linked arms in defense and our name was called. “Mi scusi” I called as I pushed past people. You’d think that we were waiting to see Madonna with this pushy group!
A friendly, tipsy waiter sat us down at a table for four complete with a two-litre bottle of Chianti. Ham hocks drooped down from the ceiling as a functional decoration above us. A high-energy vibe filled the room as folks were seated. It’s interesting how humans love the feeling of exclusivity in a situation like this – and I didn’t even know what I was in for! I get a kick out of human nature.
The courses began to flow. Proscuitto (the best I’ve ever had – so tender and not stringy whatsoever), spicy stuffed mini-peppers, salami slices, caprese salad, pate, bread and tomato wheat risotto. Next course – spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli and penne Bolognese. For the main course the four of us had different meats – wild rabbit, veal, prime rib and lamb – all so tender, fresh and delicious with a side of spinach and roasted potatoes. For dessert a chocolate cake, lemon cake, some sort of strudel and something else. By this time, we’d just about finished our second two-litre bottle of Chianti and none of us could recall the 4th dessert dish. And what did the waiter bring next? A glass of moscato spumante (a sparkling dessert wine) and some other wine liqueur. By now the four of us were toasted, dying laughing at just about everything and enjoying each moment with one another. It was a night to remember (or at least of what I can remember of it!).
Another highlight was listening to street musicians play in the piazza at night while we licked gelato. The acoustics amongst the old columns and statues with gentle up lighting was surreal. The Uffizi, Michelangelo, Botticelli…Firenze. It was everything I imagined and more.
Cappuccino, panini, pasta, pizza, gelato, proscuiotto, pecorino romano, wild boar salami, olio, pomodoro and vino…deliciouzo! Food and drink just doesn’t get better than this. My taste buds are on overload with every bite and sip. I must tell you about this moto bene (very good) meal we enjoyed on our 2nd night in Firenze. Dad heard about Il Latini from a friend who said it was an experience not to be missed and very important to order “la specialite de la casa” or the specialty of the house. No menus here. Our reservation was at 19:30 but we arrived at 19:15 with 50 people already mobbed together outside the entrance on this non-descript street. We could see a single group of people finishing a meal which we assumed to be the servers. Suddenly, the glass doors opened and the mob got tighter. The four of us linked arms in defense and our name was called. “Mi scusi” I called as I pushed past people. You’d think that we were waiting to see Madonna with this pushy group!
A friendly, tipsy waiter sat us down at a table for four complete with a two-litre bottle of Chianti. Ham hocks drooped down from the ceiling as a functional decoration above us. A high-energy vibe filled the room as folks were seated. It’s interesting how humans love the feeling of exclusivity in a situation like this – and I didn’t even know what I was in for! I get a kick out of human nature.
The courses began to flow. Proscuitto (the best I’ve ever had – so tender and not stringy whatsoever), spicy stuffed mini-peppers, salami slices, caprese salad, pate, bread and tomato wheat risotto. Next course – spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli and penne Bolognese. For the main course the four of us had different meats – wild rabbit, veal, prime rib and lamb – all so tender, fresh and delicious with a side of spinach and roasted potatoes. For dessert a chocolate cake, lemon cake, some sort of strudel and something else. By this time, we’d just about finished our second two-litre bottle of Chianti and none of us could recall the 4th dessert dish. And what did the waiter bring next? A glass of moscato spumante (a sparkling dessert wine) and some other wine liqueur. By now the four of us were toasted, dying laughing at just about everything and enjoying each moment with one another. It was a night to remember (or at least of what I can remember of it!).
Another highlight was listening to street musicians play in the piazza at night while we licked gelato. The acoustics amongst the old columns and statues with gentle up lighting was surreal. The Uffizi, Michelangelo, Botticelli…Firenze. It was everything I imagined and more.
posted by Stacy @TheZenGirl at
8:55 AM
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