Archive for 'Restaurants & Cafés'

If you wish to treat your partner to a whole new level of romance, book a lavish meal for you both in what is considered to be the smallest and most romantic restaurant in Tuscany, and possibly even the world! Designed to host only two people at any one time, this cosy little venue is called ‘Peperino’ and is an ideal place to spend a lovely evening together.

It’s situated in San Minato town in the province of Pisa where there is a fantastic range of luxury villas and other holiday rentals in the area for couples to book an enjoyable stay for a few days and bask in an area of glorious scenery.

How to describe this remote restaurant in the Tuscan countryside, Murlo is one of the many hamlets that you can find off from the ancient Cassia road that leads from Siena to Rome …? SURREAL? This is probably the appropriate term to describe this place.

Perhaps because you’ll see and hear colors, sounds and smells that you thought no longer existed, immersed in a place unchanged by time and make you feel so far away from your world, but more than ever with our feet on the ground; or maybe because the place has always been managed by the legendary Brunello, with his beautiful Nigerian wife Stella.

It’s a mix between a bar, a typical Tuscan inn and a country house, where you’ll probably have lunch in the veranda among the spices planted in the garden and washed table cloths spread out in the sun to dry which Stella will collect while singing songs from her homeland ; or maybe because here you can still savor the delicious traditional homemade food served in large bowls and without too many choices (you eat what they cook for you), among which dominates the wild boar: in the ragù, roasted and in sauce – hunted and cooked by the man Brunello himself.

This is the philosophy that I’ve seen here: the concepts of “kindness, service, family atmosphere” are not contemplated, Brunello and Stella come as they are, as God made ​them. The place is, as mentioned, very special and not everyone will like it but if you’re in the area and want to feel the “Tuscan soul” you shouldn’t miss this experience.
I have to take my kids there soon.

Chef cook Roberto at Il Silene restaurant in Pescina (Seggiano) is contacting us to inform us that on November 4, 2011 at 20.30 hrs he has organized an interesting dinner tasting program together with some very important producers of Prosecco like Teobaldo Rivella with his “Montestefano” and Loris Folladore for “Casa Coste Piane”.

Imagine, the only VALDOBBIADENE Prosecco producer working with the natural method producing a truly exceptional Prosecco and you can drink it again and again since it has this natural effervescent ! Of course the producers will attend the dinner and will be happy to reply to all your questions.

The cost will be € 80.00 per person INCLUDING WINE, reservation is required since the restaurant is not that big and there will be many …. glasses…

Contact Il Silene directly for reservations.

If you’re going to be in Tuscany for a week and you have a passion for cooking, I strongly suggest you book a one day cooking class. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn in a day from a professional chef. If you’re travelling with a group, a cooking class can be a great group participation event.

In the coming weeks we'll highlight some cooking class locations throughout Tuscany. Today I'd like to introduce the cooking classes held at Ristorante Malborghetto located in Gaiole in Chianti. The lessons are held at the restaurant in the morning before lunch service starts. The meals you cook are based on the wishes of the participants, each meal includes four courses, an appetizer, homemade pasta, main course and dessert. The participants share the food they cook along with a selected wine for each course.

Would you like to learn of all the good things and the good places to eat from the very start of your holiday?

If so then why not learn about the best places to eat around Florence from 10am - 2pm Monday to Saturday by taking part in the Taste Florence tour?

This tour will take you all around Florence, introducing you to some of the local, regional and national Italian specialities, including wine and sweets.

They visit more then 6 locations for a wide variety of tastings and it is recommended that you take the tour on your first or second day in Florence so that you know what to eat and where you can find it.

Taste Florence has been ongoing for years and it is the original tasting walk. It's hosted Chefs, Journalists and food bloggers, Gourmands, Foodies and also Vegans, Coeliacs and more. They can accomodate anyone and the aim is to bring a better cultural feel to your holiday so that you can taste the essence of Italy rather then just coming to see the sights. In fact, it’s so highly rated that Tripadvisor have given it a certificate of excellence! So don’t hesitate, act now and take the tour!

If you are booking a vacation rental near or in Florence then don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to treat your palate.

We look forward to seeing you here!