Originally, this dinner was
scheduled for the evening we arrived. However, due to our delay in arriving we
were fortunate to move our reservation to this evening. I am glad we were able
to as this is always an amazing evening.
Dinner at Villa San Michele http://www.villasanmichele.com/ is always the making of a marvelous memory. We all met in the Hotel
Brunelleschi bar for some cocktails. Everyone was dressed so nicely and I could
tell no one had a clue what they were in for.
After our cocktails we
grabbed some cabs and made our way out of the maze of streets in Florence and
escaped to the hills above the city. Immediately, you feel the contrast between
the hustle and bustle of the city and you sense the calm, serenity, and beauty
of the country. As we pass villa after villa lined with olive trees and Italian
cypress groves you realize that something of a treasure is awaiting us.
We proceeded in where we were
welcomed and escorted through the hotel to the beautiful back terrace/garden
were we were seated for cocktails. Nothing like a bellini on a terrace in
Tuscany!
We enjoyed the terrace for
about an hour and then proceeded to dinner on the grand loggia and my usual
table and waiter, Antenello, who has been serving our group for the past ten
years! That is one of the things I love about Italy – the familiarity and
permanence of having the same waiter for all these years. It just makes the
dinner so special.
As the sun set over the
Florence and the wines of the region flowed the evening and our table came
alive! Everyone tried different appetizers, entrees and desserts from a rack of
lamb, to sirloin with a Brunello sauce, veal to lobster – I think every dish
available was being enjoyed at our table. The meal started at 7:30 and we
finished at about 11:30 – nothing like a 4 hour meal in Italy!http://www.villasanmichele.com/