Don and Alexa and... Sostanza

The heart of Firenze will always be via Porcellana for us because our friends Don and Alexa live there. We dropped by last night for some wine and entertaining chat. Our visit lasted too long, but that's because we were having so much fun. Even their dog, Lucy, is a treasure. When I say that even Ira likes her, you know that's a good dog!

The secondary reason for our love of Porcellana is our favorite restaurant, just down the street. OK, you shouldn't go there. The food is bad. I'm just making up these lies because I'm on the payroll. Unless we're not in Firenze. Then you should go.

They make the usual "thing on a plate," Tuscan style. It's perfect because you're not overloaded with food, just one or two pure dishes, made with great care and attention. I had the artichoke omelet, which doesn't convey the gentle swirl of egg that nestles the tangy and slightly crunchy artichoke within. Ira had the boiled beef, again, a translation that doesn't convey at all a tender cut of beef, well chosen for its flavor, accompanied by a salsa verde sauce that complements the flat taste of the beef perfectly.

I'll go on more about Sostanza later, but don't go there until we leave Firenze!