Sunday 1 pm Florence J.K. Place Hotel – Sunday Brunch

One of my favorite hotels in Firenze, is the small boutique property J.K. Place. Celebrating their 10th anniversary and the inclusion in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 50 Hotels in Italy, the hotel is established as one of Italy’s most exclusive, stylish and high-end boutique hotels. Located in the quiet and exclusive very sought-after address on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, slightly hidden, look for the initials on the door. Stop for a decadent lunch or an aperitif, on a sunny afternoon enjoy people watching outdoors on the piazza.

I feel like a member of a private club in the sophisticated JK dining room, ensconced in plush white wingback chairs in the soothing monochromatic dining room. Fire roaring in the Louis XV fireplace, the eye lingers on intriguing art composed of an eclectic mix of pop art, African tribal adornments, vintage leather books and architectural drawings.

Peruse the inviting buffet of homemade pastries, a selection of granola and fresh fruits, aromatic zucchini quiche, and a variety of hams and delectable cheeses, organic and mixed green salad. Save room for the savory desserts. Menu items are also served, hamburger with fries, Club House sandwich, and delicious handmade Tuscan pasta with fresh vegetables or indulge in a Beef Tagliata with sautéed herb infused wild mushrooms, guaranteed to please.

Glamorous and charming, the lounge attracts hotel guests, local businessmen and elegantly attired ladies. Serving lunch and dinner, brunch on Sunday, decadent cocktails, or an inviting afternoon tea.

 If only JK Place Lounge were closer, I would visit every Sunday.

 

 

 

Roscioli – Roma

Worth circling about the narrow cobblestone streets in Rome to locate this divinely small restaurant tasting room. We offer exclusive private wine tastings and dinners at Roscioli. The rest of the world comes for lunch! The evening tasting consists of a selection of wines and delicacies chosen directly by sommelier Alessandro Pepe and by Roscioli Chefs.

Roscioli Pugliese Burrata The Roscioli family offers a huge selection of delicatessen products selected from Italy and all over the world. Difficult to source, they serve many Italian and French soft cheeses and “crostafiorita; Italian, French, Spanish and English “erborinati” (Blue Cheeses). There are two small Roscioli’s café’s, look for the one down the street from the pop in deli. There is a huge demand for their handmade pizza at the smaller cafe, look for the long lines outside!

For three generations the Roscioli family has been continuously churning out hot pizza at every hour of the day, following an authentic traditional Roman recipe. Their bread is baked with the best raw materials, you must taste their rustic Camargue whole salt and sour dough bread.  Another specialty of the Forno Roscioli is the Larian bread, baked in a wood fired brick oven, packed with raisins, nuts and olives.

Restaurant, Delicatessen, Wine Bar. It is not easy to define Salumeria Roscioli in a definitive way. Alessandro and Pierluigi Roscioli defined the concept in 2002, when they decided to turn the family ‘grocery’ into a multi-functional deli, an atypical restaurant, where the quality of the raw material was the crucial focus. Not by chance the motto on the business card is: “… before cooking“. A mission statement and a certificate of humility, in addition to the quality of the delicacies visible in the food cases and counters, the kitchen at Roscioli is a sought after destination for gourmets and foodies from all over the world.

Winter Season:  Your Majesty White Truffle

Roscioli Roma