A Day in Florence between Food and Art

When it comes to hotels and farmhouses, Florence, Italy offers beyond the horizons of you your imagination. The city is destination for the chains of opulent and lavish 5 star hotels. The smaller town accommodations in natural environment of countryside also have a rich interior. Although these locally owned palaces, castles, splendid lodges, indulging pensions and cozy guesthouses are usually expensive throughout the year but you can still get a good bargain and a best deal. If you travel during the off seasons Florence accommodates you even with low a budget.

The wide range of hotels in Florence has something that fits everyone’s mood and taste. The luxury loving and shopping aholic people enjoys at Savoy Hotel that offers both accompanied with the luscious cuisine at its restaurants. Near the San Marco Square, hotel II Guelfo Bianco serves the people who adore Arts and Paintings. The hotel show cases variety of original paintings. For those who travel to Florence to relax in the peaceful atmosphere, Grand Hotel Baglioni, is the best choice. It portray the distinctive Florentine architecture of grey stone accompanied with wooden work

All a long trip is recommended to Florence but in case you plan a short visit to Florence city, it is suggested that you do visit all the museums for which you can take a Florence car rental while you stay in the small town such as San Gimignano, an ancient walled hill town, situated in the triangle of Siena, Florence and Volterra. The primordial towers constructed in 11^th and 13^th centuries have been the center of attraction for those who travel to San Gimignano. 13 out 72 of these towers still stand to catch the interest of the visitors. Many prefer to stay at the mansion from the 14^th centenary. Rural house with high ceilings and iron beds have their own zest.

Many of the farmhouses here have also arranged for cooking classes from where we learned Recipe of Stracotto or “Pot Roast” which is the specialty of Italy as well as UK and North America. In Itly it is usually served with pasta dressed with Chianti wine sauce to enhance the flavor while in UK and America it is usually served with Potatoes. The Recipe is as under:

Stracotto (4-6 persons serving)

- 4 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)

- 3 to 4 lbs. beef (top round)

- 3 medium carrots (thinly sliced)

- Rosemary leaves

- 3 medium onions (diced)

-2 celery stalks (Chopped)

- 2 cups water

- 1 lb. ripe tomatoes (remove the seeds and peel and finally chop them)

- 1.5 cup Chianti or dry red wine

-1/4 cup olive oil

- 1 tbsp. flour

- 1 tbsp. butter (melted)

- 1 lb. pasta (any)

- salt and pepper (to taste)

1. Make a roll of beef and tie it

2. Make small holes in beef and put garlic into them

3. Heat oil in a pan and put carrots, onions, celery, rosemary at one side and place the beef roll on the other. Cook until side of the beef roll are golden brown and the veggies are tender.

4. Now add tomatoes and wine. When the liquid in the pan comes to about half a cup add 1.5 cup water and leave it on stove for about one hour.

5. Now take the meet out of the broth and let it cool down

6. Now add 0.5 cup water into the broth along with flour and melted butter.

7. Constantly stir the mixture for three minutes.

8. Now put pasta in a plate and garnish it with the sauce, place two to three slices of meat on top and serve

9. Add more sauce as per need.

We hope to share more recipes soon. Do visit us again.