one of the best tartares yet: quail egg, smoked eggplant and Sicilian ricotta salata (Hotel Brunelleschi)

Eating in hotels has always turned me off but Italy has showed that sometimes the *best food is served at (very few) hotel restaurants. *Best meaning: presentation, chef-focused creations, awareness of the international palate (thus not afraid to play with flavors), service and ingredient quality. Why would you want to eat at a hotel restaurant? Because these places are pretty much the surefire bets for fine dining in a city stuck in traditional trattoria ways.

Check out my latest piece on Vogue, where I sampled several restaurants (and sweat many days at the gym to make up for it) to come to a conclusion of a fine list of 6 hotel restaurants in Florence.

Link: http://www.vogue.com/13482348/best-food-in-florence-guide-hotel-restaurants/

As the intro mentions, I intentionally left out the obvious suspects and Michelin super stars.

Mega grazie to all the venues who hosted me (and the gym who put up with my many sweaty visits during this “research” period) and Georgette Jupe (THAT Girl in Florence) who helped me get to know Irene at the Savoy Hotel (and answering all my questions!)

Here are some shots from the meals- enjoy!

the dining room at Hotel Brunelleschi’s Ristorante Santa Elisabetta- dining in an ancient Byzantine tower
Hotel Brunelleschi’s Gambero Rosso Ravioli
Hostarium Bibendum (one of my favorites)
Their fancy play on Pappa al Pomodoro with Basil Sorbetto
Bibendum’s Gambero Rosso wrapped in Vermicelli (and fried) and accented with cacao and orange
Villa Cora Dining Room
Pardon the light, but this Pistachio crusted lamb was delightful at Villa Cora
fancy fusion sushi at Fusion (Art Hotel, Lungarno Collection) Quail egg truffle, anchovies with soy butter
Bibendum’s silky frutti di mare spagetti for the win

In your fine dining trust,

Curious Appetite

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