Sunday, February 14, 2010

Italy Trip Summer '09

FLORENCE, ITALY (FIRENZE)





Our tour in Italy started in Florence where we stayed for a couple of nights at Hotel de Ville...We strolled around on that same day, why wait, right? Took pictures of the Duomo (pictured above left)...The next day, we checked out this elegantly renovated Palazzo di Tornabuoni where you can buy a vacation property...It's so beautiful, you would wanna have it but for a PRICE :D Never mind, for that price, I can always come back and stay anywhere in Italy...



We ate at this restaurant called Obika, a mozzarella bar...I didn't know it's a chain because I just read a blog recently about Rome and mentioned that there are 2 branches in Rome and I saw it in Chicago, too...Anyway, we had a very good lunch, as you can see below...We also had great meals at other restaurants such as Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco, Four Seasons Resort, Antinori and Trattoria Dei Quattro Leoni where I had this Pasta stuffed with Pear and Cheese (Pictured below)...We also visited some museums like the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, Pitti Palace, Uffizi and Boboli garden...





On our way to Tuscany, we saw a lot of Sunflower farms, it's so beautiful...I've never seen anything like this before...Of course, we got off for photo ops :) Then we stopped by for lunch in San Gimigniano, where I had this Agnolotti with Truffle shavings and my hubby's was Chicken with Mushrooms in Cream sauce, YUM! San Gimigniano is a walled town...You enter through a gate and inside, you find many shops and restaurants...Streets are so narrow and packed with tourists...







Below left is another restaurant where we had nice Paninis and salad and of course, the beautiful Siena on the right...





We went on a day trip to Banfi, Montalcino and Montepulciano...We joined the wine tour and bought this Brunello that my hubby loves...We ate at their restaurant La Taverna that night and had a very memorable evening...The setting is so rustic and the food is, what else, Buenissimo!!! You could taste the freshness of their produce...The juicy Roma tomatoes, the crunchy carrots and cucumber, mmmm...











We stayed at this beautifully restored farmhouse in Gaiole in Chianti, the Capannelle...We really lucked out during our stay because it was just the three of us in the entire place...We had the whole farmhouse to ourselves...It's such a perfect place at a perfect time...A little piece of heaven...The farmhouse is a property of Villa San Michele in Florence...The place is run by the one and only, Vincenzo...He would prepare breakfast everyday at 7:30am...The breakfast is set out on the patio overlooking the village of Gaiole...What a perfect setting! Vincenzo also prepared lunch and dinner for us...This guy can really cook and you can tell that he loves what he does...Very well trained and proper...He can be serious, too...But once you get to know him, he's a very cool guy :)




Top from left to right: The view from Capannelle; Crostini prepared by Vincenzo; The Farmhouse Capannelle; Braised Rabbit from a restaurant in Gaiole




Top from left to right: Vincenzo preparing our last night's dinner, as well as assorted hors d'oeuvres and Capannelle wines; The sitting room on the 2nd floor




Top from left to right: It's like a Profiteroles kind of dessert; Tiramisu and Capannelle wine that kept us wondering how much our bill is gonna be because we had no clue how much it costs; Tomato slices with Anchovies


Top from left to right: Braised Prawns; Shrimp Risotto and Veal Scallopini with Capers by Vincenzo



Below are different Salads and Veggie Pasta that Vincenzo prepared for us





Gaiole in Chianti is a very quaint and sleepy town...You see more people early in the day than in the afternoon, guess, they're having their sieta, too...There are a few restaurants and small shops...I love the fact that it's very clean, peaceful and traditional...You would feel safe to walk around...



Below are images of Capannelle property; Overlooking Gaiole; The Pool area; The Patio; The steep road to Gaiole


















Our week long vacation was so much fun, it's a complete rest and relaxation because we stayed at the farmhouse most of the time...More guests checked in right before our stay wrapped up...Do we wanna go back to this place again? Definitely but not for a week, maybe just a couple of days and then move on...Next time, we will rent a car so we can be more flexible...

Ciao!!!