divina

Dario is still real, just having fun! 7pn seating as also for Italians that drive from far away, but need to get back the same night. mostly though you find foreigners, that like to eat earlier! they way the restaurant works, there is no ordering.. and course after course keep coming out of the kitchen, a really fun experience. and 2 hours of eating is a lot. those three and 4 hour meals have a lot of down time! think about it! and for 30 euro with wine.. one of the best deals in town..anywhere Why is his opening a restaurant being a pop food guy? or because Tony bourdain filmed there? Dario's family has been butcher's for over 200 years, but as he has no children.. the steak stops here. Dario helps the local population by employing over 15 people, donating to the rebuilding of the children's hospital and other various things. he is a true renaissance man, over flowing with idea's which he also puts into action, as he is one that follows through. many of the "Tourists" that come to panzano cannot cook as they are in hotels, which them stimulated him to open a restaurant. of course he still gives away tons of free food while one waits in line. the local restaurants do not serve his steak, too expensive, so that is also why he is now opening the Big Grill... where he will only serve steak... three ways. he is also building a garden for the local kids and giving me a space to teach classes in. Dario will never be a pop food guy, but I think people treat him like one, which is a lack of respect! TOURISTS, come into the shop snapping foto's without saying even a HI or Bongiorno which really pisses him off. In Italy, there are a set of manners... one ALWAYS greats the sales people when entering a shop, any shop. ALWAYS ask before taking a foto... anywhere My husband gets really upset... when I take foto's without asking. sorry if I sound overy protective. but Dario is like a brother to me and often I think people get the wrong idea.. especially when looking from the outside.. and if you don't speak the language.. and don't interact you have a totally different view than those that get a chance to actually involve themselves.

Tony and his crew just recently filmed tuscany..and of course at the Macelleria Cecchini with Dario and at Solociccia Dario's restaurant. I think this is being shown this fall. New Scoop... Dario will be opening his new place, the University of STEAK, above the butcher shop this september for steak only dinners! Solociccia does not serve steak.. UofS will only serve steak! Dario's view of it, an entrecote, the classic T-bone " fiorentina" and his huge slab of beef... called the Panzanese! his prefered cut. reservations for either place macelleriacecchini@tin.it usually you need to pick a seating, 7pm or 9pm, thurs, fri sat... or sunday lunch (1pm)

August is summer off season. but I did pick up the calendar of events.... which is online too as listed. Some very interesting classes and tastings.

had a lovely meal at the Tre Galline! I was just thinking again about what I didn't taste at EATALY and wanted to. There is also REstaurant GUIDO running a dinner restaurant and a wine bsar, the beer area had a fabulous grill, I saw a fabulous side of smoked pork, and turned out it was the special of the day.. grilled. I didn't taste the ice cream!!!! way too much food and not enough time. PS Milano is also getting one!

I just read about Safeway superstore... but have not seen foto's, sounds like they are trying too!

ok.. I want to meet someone like me in shanghai. I do market tours and teach one day classes in Florence. My mom grew up in shanghai in the 30's and has gone back often so no problems with eating out or basic tours. but has anyone taken a market tour or a cooking class?

the spinach and ricotta gnocchi are called ravioli gnudi, naked ravioli, one of my favorite. the recipe is on my site. Gnudi or strozzapreti a classic! PS the fagottini at quattro leone are pecorino cheese and pear filled! another Great recipe

WOW. finally got to EATALY in Torino. Located right near the Lingotto where Slow Food - Salone del Gusto is held every other year, in the old Carpano factory. A true temple to food... sort of a IKEA of food, huge layout, tons of high quality pantry food as well as fresh stands, butchers, fish mongers, veggies , gelato etc. The amazing thing really is that there are small Bistro dining area's all over featuring the fish, meat, veggies etc. Great prices for the freshly cooked food. high quality. From their site, lookd like they are opening in New York and Genova soon! First Grom ( also from Torino!) now EATALY! look at America and bring your credit card! notes from my blog

oh my god.. next week!!! send the invites!!

oops was thinking kansas city!!! know there are the kansas side and the missouri side! coming from Florence Italy... the borders are not clear! thanks! no room for dessert! wish I did as a former pastry chef, for me it is the most important part of a menu

here in Italy it is served with chocolates, great combo.. especially giandujia

I was just in Kansas, doing a guest chef thing at Jasper's and had lunch at Micheal Smith's new place. Only just opened.. was FAB! really nice menu, portion size perfect. we had a nice prosciutto and melon salad with arugula and an incredible sort of bruschetta.. with toasted whole wheat bread, topped with sauteed mushrooms, melted cheese, sauteed greens and a perfecty poached duck egg ( very Bistro!) I had the perfect " smithburger" with blue cheese, cooked to perfection perfect fries and a fabulous ale! no room for dessert.. I cleaned my plate.. but saved room for Christopher Elbow's chocolates. I love Kansas!

I prefer lunch at the Teatro, dinner is filled with Florentines that don't know how to line up at a buffet table and it is dinner and a show...sometime very strange avantgarde stuff as Fabio's new wife is an actress.. stop by the site. here it the link this saturday is his wife, Maria Cassi acting. I think music is more international! lunch is less crowded and a blast!

go Mamma!!!

sorry to miss you in Florence but I am in the USA.. Santa Barbara! do look at my dining guide online. Several people have recently recommended La Galleria http://www.ristorantelagalleria.it/ I also recommend Fabio Picchi's Teatro del Sale for lunch. there is a 5 euro membership fee.. but lunch is cheap ( 17euro) buffet... watching the kitchen.. is a blast!

Hathor.. porcini grow on a hot day after it rains... under chestnut or oak trees.. and now is seaon too!!! at least here in Tuscany!!! come on up!

and yes.. regional foods are still regional in Italy. There are a couple of naples style pizza places with some other Dishes from naples, one new sardenian place actually in downtown Florence, and a calabrian chef has two menu's tuscan and calabrian. No Roman food here yet!

I have been i Florence since 1984, when I arrived there were several foreign restaurants, 2 of them were chinese, and 2 sardenian!!! ha ha.. Now, we have over 150 chinese restaurants, 4 indian, 4 japanese, and a zillion shwarma places ( or gyros) owned by the most varied groups of people, Turks, Peruvians, Kurds. I think one of the reasons is they have the money to open their own businesses..get permits.. and someone franchises the stores. the Sandwiches are popular as they are under 3 Euro, and fill one's stomach. I don't think that it is really popular on a weekly basis.. also the fact that going out to eat is so expensive. The nicer International restaurants are expensive. our Mexican restaurant just closed... $25 for fajita's! The birth rate for italians is down in italy and up for the immigrants... Florence has a china town outside the city now, and I am sure they are creating restaurants for themselves..which could be great. I just remember the first time I tried chinese in FLorence they served me Italian style, Pasta first!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I know Marilyn and her programs are fabulous.. I learned to cook mexican with Diane Kennedy's cookbook. I heard Diane speak at IACP once, and she is a tough little thing... but would be like studying with julia in France! I have taken Suzanna's Classes twice in Oaxaca and loved them. I understand Americans and their ways often better than the British...and it was a small relaxed class! higly recommended.

Another Adopted Italian checking in... If you are living in America.. you need big bucks for what Italian get by walking out the door. I don't know one Italian with a ice cream maker... or an expresso machine. Most do have woodburning ovens in old houses or country houses, as wood was free in their land, and electricity was expensive. In Italy... having a electric dryer or air conditioning is considered a luxury... so perhaps it is truer to say trying to recreate a culture.. is expensive! I pay 4.95 euro for a small jar of peanut butter here.. Levi 501's are 100 euro. But i can go to the bar on the corner and get a Illy Expresso for 1 euro! and if i wanted a Pavone machine ( pump) I can buy one for 333 euro! and so can you on the website of my local kitchen store!!! with an american plug.... and shipping included! ( what you save in the tax refund pays for shipping!) one man's heaven is another man's hell.

I quess i was thinking you were looking for somewhere for lunch from the palazzo.. I adore Camillo, family owned and florentines go there.. I latini.. an experience.. crazy.. i prefer DA giovanni around the corner.. Giovanni Latini! brother that split off.. calmer more space. Americans love li giostro.. ( rick steves) always full.. dark.. not for Italians. everyone loves it! REALLY.. owned my a Count. My clients this week adored il profeta a florentine classic and also near by there il Mostrino! cinghiale bianoc also on their list ( they are opera buffs and well travelled.., hated the food at the grand and at the excelsior.. down hill!) Rossini is expensive novell cuisine.. 80 euro??? So if you are talking about dinner... and walking distances from the Palazzo.. many of these are sort of far away! Zibbibo is almost out of town... there is a bus that takes you to careggi hospital.. it is up the tiny street on the left. may have to cab home. I also really like osteria cafe italiano... he also owns the Alle Murate elegant restaurant which is now a musuem.. restaurant! so there is a distance limit...price range???

When I was in puglia.. I adored the Tiella! Tiella -clay pot cooking!!! sorry but I am on a slow connection and cannot put all the step by step foto's here!

here you go... the pancetta arrotolato has pepper. We eat it thinkly sliced as an appetizer or in a sandwich.

I have the polpettone di fagioli on my site too from Luchin in Chiaveri, but his has pesto in it! the naples version called GATTO is just mashed potatoes, bound with eggs and parmesan, and some ham.. fabulous cold! everyone loves potatoes! tweek it and make it yours....

Florence is changing now as all places... but many still close for August! I live not far away ( closer to the market) and will see what I can find out.. places llike trattoria mario and the likes, will be closed. Near the Palazzo... is really limited.. as the edge of the city, with the Fortezza near by and the station taking up most space! I guess you mean walking distance and not cab rides away?