I have agonized for days over whether to include Canapone or not in Florence by Mark. The decision had nothing to do with the food, ambiance or clientel since it is without doubt my favorite dining experience in Florence. My hesitance stems from the fact that it is still little known even by local Florentines and that is part of its charm.
Canapone cannot be called a restaurant in the classical sense since they are licensed as a "Cultural Association" and do, from time to time, run cooking courses and hold exhibits. However, it's main raison d'etre is as a small but delightful locale to enjoy homemade pastas, succulent meat dishes and pugliese recipes with a hint of asian flavouring.
For lunch or dinner, I know no one who hasn't walked away from a meal marveling at the flavors and revelling in the light and joyful atmosphere. The photos in this article will serve little since the decor changes with the seasons. In summer, it was a veritable garden exploding from the doorway onto the street. Last winter, a chandelier of stuffed white polar bears made an amazing contrast to the fuchsia walls.To enter, you ring the bell, reinforcing the feeling that you are one of a privileged few who know about this secret. The room itself is small and holds not more than twenty people, typically a mix of bohemian, fashionistas and local friends. The two girls who run the front of house are as delightful as they are lovely. Next to the dining area is a small bar reminiscent of something you would have found in 1920s Paris scene. Everything, even the bathroom, screams with personality!
To try and do credit to the food in writing would be impossible but I will insist that you leave room for desert . . . the chocolate souffle is as delicate as it is sinful, the tarte tartine melts in your mouth.
Canapone http://www.canapone.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment