Our 9 hour flight from JFK to Rome was delayed more the 2 1\2 hours, for a number of reasons, which caused us to miss the high speed train to Florence, we had planned, which in turn caused us to wait for 3 more hours for the next 2 1/2 hour train ride. To say we were tired is an understatement. After a good nights sleep we spent 2 days in Florence, rented a car and drove out to where we are now staying in Greve, in Chianti. I will fill some of that in later, but we had lunch today at what is perhaps our favorite restaurant on earth, La Castellana. It made all that travel hardship vanish completely.
La Castellana is where I developed my absolute passion for bruschetta al pomodoro. It seems that if you just order one to split, the chef does a great job, but if you order one for each of you, the chef is greatly inspired by your enthusiasm for the dish, and goes out of the way to blow your mind. Today was no exception. This has become the standard up to which to which I hold my own efforts and those of others, as well.
La Castellana is a modest looking place on the outside, but on the few occasions we have eaten inside, it is quite charming. On nice days, like today, we prefer the outside dining across the tiny little winding hillside road.
Here is the view from our table today.
We had a bottle of local Chianti and Deb chose tortelli stuffed with ricotta cheese and lemon with gorgonzola and walnuts. She loved it!
I had tagliatelle in a kind of carbonera sauce loaded down with fresh truffles sliced wispy thin, just extraordinary! We have another reservation for lunch on Saturday and cannot wait.
HC
