Do you love the Romance of Florence?
I was staying Nella Piazza Santo Spirito which is known as the ‘Bohemian’ Oltrarno area of the city. When I arrive at the apartment there’s a very exciting, yet familiar, feel to the place. As lady gives me the keys to the apartment she suggested dinner at a nearby Trattoria la Casalinga. It’s was at the other end of the square and when I get there it’s queued onto the street.
I do my usual, walk straight to the front and, when asked, say,
“Of course I’ve booked a table’!
Forgetting I’m not in Glasgow and not a soul knows I’m a pure chancer. The guy looks at me, laughs, then takes me to a Table for One saying,
“Sei furba, ma bella, e cosi ti permetto di mangiare questa sera!.”
He was basically saying I was a fly wee sod but I could eat just the same because I looked ‘alright’. My luck was in, more ways than one, or so I thought. I ordered the baccala, it was finished, so I said I’d have the tripe, there was none of that either. So I asked the lady what they did actually have left?
“Everything else!”
She replied, looking at me as if I was an imbecile. I love how much the Italians don’t give a shit sometimes!
Funnier still was the fact I’d forgotten my purse and when I said, very meekly, to the bossy woman, she was very understanding and although I offered to leave my bag, she was having none of it and said I had an ‘honest face’ and could come back with the money.
When I went back she laughed and said she knew where I was staying anyway because my key holder was her friend and had phoned earlier to reserve the table. They had been expecting me and when I looked over at the guy who had taken me to my table he just smiled and blew me a kiss. They had a right good laugh at my expense.
I love the Tallies!
So, if you ever go to Florence, no matter where you are staying try to take a trip over to the south side of the river to Via dei Michelozzi 9/R 50125 Firenze and remember…phone and book a table…0039 (0)55 218624
Warning: Many of the streets in Florence are cobbled so you need to wear comfortable, but gorgeous, shoes, even in the evening. I carried my heels in a Langchamps shopper which is acceptable in any country day or night!
You are in Italy after all!
MM The Celebrant 