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About the Author
The "South Jersey Foodie" is Nicole Pellegrini, sometimes known as sockii. She enjoys life as a writer, artist, webmaster, crafter and avid food-lover living in some of the last vestiges of active farmland in Gloucester County, New Jersey. She shares her home with her partner David, a podiatrist in Woodbury NJ and their six cats: Peanut, Norman, Sammo, Mischief, George and Benny.I believe in enjoying life - and that includes enjoying as many different kinds and styles of food as possible. I am an omnivore with a personal passion for small, sustainable, ethical farming and natural foods. I have little patience for the "Food Police" or those who advocate that one dietary plan is the only "right" one for everyone. Find your personal balance and conscience; make food a joy in your life - that's my motto.
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Tag Archives: florence
A Typical Tuscan Lunch and Dinner in Fiesole
Posted in General restaurant reviews, Italy, Regional food
Tagged fiesole, florence, italian food, italy, la reggia degli etruschi, tuscany
Review: Trattoria Accadi in Florence, Italy
Posted in General restaurant reviews, Italy, Regional food
Tagged florence, italy, restaurant review, trattoria accadi, tuscany
Review: Trattoria Angiolino in Florence, Italy
Wednesday in Florence saw us rushing through more museums and historic churches in between the continuing terrible storms. We spent most of the day at the enormous Palazzo Pitti, home to a tremendous collection of art and decorative items. The storms became so severe that even when we were finished touring the museum, we remained under cover in their large courtyard, watching as torrents of rain poured down onto the ancient stonework and lightning flashed over the distant hills.
Posted in General restaurant reviews, Italy, Regional food
Tagged florence, italian food, italy, restaurant review, trattoria angiolino, tuscany
Review: Ristorante Natalino in Florence, Italy
Posted in General restaurant reviews, Italy, Regional food
Tagged florence, italian food, italy, pasta, restaurant review, ristorante natalino
Review: Il Cantinone in Florence, Italy
Ciao! I am back from two wonderful weeks in Italy, whereupon I had the chance to savor a delightful variety of Italian food from both the Tuscany and Lombardy regions. We traveled through Florence, Fiesole, Siena, Milan and also to the northern lake region, each stop giving us a chance to try local specialties – and no doubt come home about ten pounds heavier for the experience (I refuse to even look at a scale for a good two weeks.) I will be trying my best to review each notable stop along the way, today beginning with Il Cantinone.
Il Cantinone is located in the Oltrarno district of Florence, across the Arno river and not too far from the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge and high-cost shopping district. Yet it’s just far enough off the beaten track that it tends to be passed over by many tourists, who must be afraid to descend the stairs to this cellar-level restaurant which does little to announce its presence from the street, save a small rooster sign and posted menu. Yet those who take the plunge (and mind the low ceilings) and will find a delightfully cozy restaurant serving authentic, seasonal Tuscan food. We had discovered Il Cantinone on a previous visit to Florence in 2006 and were pleased to find little had changed there in five year’s time.
The menu at Il Cantinone is fairly simple, emphasizing meats, cheeses, pastas, various styles of crostini and seasonal vegetables. We chose to begin with a simple bottle of house red wine and two antipasti: artichoke flan with shaved cheese (Sformatino di carciofi su un letto di foglie di parmigiano), and a crostone with tomato and pecorino cheese (Crostone con pomodoro e pecorino). Both were truly excellent. The flan was richly flavored yet delicate in texture, delightfully set off by the salty hard cheese. The crostini was one large slice of Tuscan bread, topped with cheese and very ripe tomatoes and served with arugula. Delicious. Tuscan bread on its own is not much to write home about, generally very dry and flavorless, but it makes for the perfect bread for wonderful grilled crostini.
Posted in General restaurant reviews, Italy, Regional food
Tagged florence, il cantinone, italian food, italy, restaurant review, tuscany