Archives for April, 2012

Lunch at Coquinarius Restaurant in Florence

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 under Archives, Italy | No Comment
Coquinarius restaurant Florence

Coquinarius restaurant Florence

My first meal in Florence was at the charming Coquinarius restaurant.  My Florence for Foodies tour guide buddies Nat and Sam recommended I pop in to include the wine bar/restaurant in one of my articles.

Inside

Inside

brick ceiling

brick ceiling

This cozy Italian bistro only houses 10 tables, so even for lunch it’s best to make sure you make a reservation.  The brick ceiling and walls and wood banquettes and tables provide a charming setting.  I came to try their famed crostini plates.

Bianco di Pitigliano

Bianco di Pitigliano

My waiter recommended a nice glass of Bianco di Pitigliano to go with my mixed crostini appetizer and scozzese salad.  The wine was delicious.  Coquinarius has an extensive wine selection so I recommend to ask your waiter to select a bottle that will complement your order.

Mixed crostini plate

Mixed crostini plate

My mixed crostini plate was plenty for lunch all by itself.  I wasn’t expecting such large portions.  Included in my assortment was the following:

mackerel and avocado crostini

mackerel and avocado crostini

I started off with the mackerel and avocado crostini – both were light and resembled a mousse topping.

sun dried tomato and halibut with pepper jam crostini

sun dried tomato and halibut with pepper jam crostini

I moved on to the sun dried tomato and halibut with pepper jam crostini crostini.  Both were hearty and very tasty.

liver, sausage and cheese, and goat cheese and fig crostini

liver, sausage and cheese, and goat cheese and fig crostini

My favorites were the last three – the liver (delicious), sausage and cheese (like a ragu) and the goat cheese and fig crostini (a perfect match – creamy goat cheese and fruity fig).

Next came my Scozzese salad, with lettuce avocado, warm chicken, huge pieces of salty fatty bacon (the best part) and balsamic vinegar.  A perfect choice to match with the hearty crostini.

scozzese salad

scozzese salad

The chef also sent me out a sample of their ravioli with pear and cheese – Ravioli ripieni di formeaggio e pere – this was an excellent dish.  I was trying a full portion of this the same night at Quattro Leone restaurant, so I was happy to taste Coquinarius’ version of this dish.  If you are very hungry go for the cheese and pear ravioli, if not so hungry try the crostini appetizer.

cheese and pear ravioli

cheese and pear ravioli

I highly recommend enjoying a meal at Coquinarius while in Florence, just make sure to make a reservation ahead.  Another plus is it is on the same street as the famed gelatoria Grom, where you can walk over for some dessert.  Located at Via Delle Oche, 15. Call 055 230 2153 for reservations.

A Visit to Florence’s Famous Leather School

Posted on Apr 11, 2012 under Archives, Italy | No Comment
The Scuola del Cuoio

The Scuola del Cuoio

The Scuola del Cuoio, Florence’s famed leather school, is located in an annex of the monastery behind the Sante Croce church.

Santa Croce Church

Santa Croce Church

Through the back to the leather school

Through the back to the leather school

Up the stairs to the leather store

Up the stairs to the leather store

Most come to the church to view where some of the cities most famous historical figures are buried.  I came to learn about the school and to peruse the many beautiful purses.

The school was created to provide a livelihood for orphans taken in by monks after the World War II to teach them a craft.  In 1950 the school opened its doors to clients allowing them to purchase the students’ hand crafted items.  Today the workshop still operates as a school for the selected few students that are accepted.   One of a kind handbags, glass cases, briefcases and coats are made and sold at the school.  After interviewing Tommaso Melani Gori, the marketing director for the school and the grandson of one of the founders, he took me on a tour of the grounds.

Ostrich pelts

Ostrich pelts

Bags, coats and accessories are made from crocodile, calfskin, lambskin, deerskin and ostrich pelts.  Above are some ostrich pelts waiting to be turned into purses.

Students making purses

Students making purses

Tommaso let me go behind the scenes to check out the students making bags.  Only a dozen are selected from all over the world to learn to craft unique hand made leather items.

More students crafting leather items

More students crafting leather items

Student making a purse

Student making a purse

Pelts used for purses

Pelts used for purses

Tommaso doesn’t just direct the school’s marketing efforts, he also designs bags.  Here are some of his designs.

Tommaso's line of bags

Tommaso's line of bags

His aunt, Francesca Gori, also has her own lines of purses.

Francesca Gori, making a purse

Francesca Gori, making a purse

One of Francesca's line of purses

One of Francesca's line of purses

Francesca's purses

Francesca's purses

One of Francesca's purses

One of Francesca's purses

I really loved the braided purses.

braided bags

braided bags

braided bags

braided bags

braided bags

braided bags

Tommaso offered me a very large discount, so I purchased one of the school’s most classic (and cheapest!) designs.   Here is my bag.  They also stamped my initials into the inside of the purse.

My purse

My purse

My initials

My initials

Guests can walk through the halls of the school to view employees working on purses and the many handbags for sale.  The school also has a huge showcase room housing wallets, keychains, eyeglass cases and other goods for sale.  You can visit the Scuola del Cuoio at Piazza Santa Croce, 16.

Interview with Tommaso Melani Gori from the Leather School, Florence

Posted on Apr 11, 2012 under Archives, Italy | No Comment
Tommaso Melani Gori

Tommaso Melani Gori

Tommaso Melani Gori is the marketing director of Florence’s Scuola Del Cuoio (Leather School) and the grandson of one of the School’s founders.  He also designs many of the handbags created and sold at the school.  I sat down with Tommaso and chatted about the famous leather school and it’s students and hand-crafted one-of-a-kind items.

 
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