Lunchtime in Florence

The first day of classes we needed sustenance by lunchtime........so we went to Trattoria Casalinga which is just around the corner from the school. This is well recommended, as it should be. A good honest meal for a fair price....

It is busy, mainly italians and is family run.....

By Wednesday we also felt we couldn't stagger back to the apartment before eating and tried 4 Leoni.

This has many outdoor tables in a small little piazza. We watched a lot of cars coming around a tight 90 degree corner

 and wondered why on earth they chose to take that route, many of the drivers looked rather distressed....... We found out why yesterday when we took our car out of the parking lot for the first time......there is no alternative!  We twisted and turned on very tight streets and lo and behold we suddenly recognised where we were!

However it wasn't lunchtime and so no-one saw my terrified face!

The food at the 4 Leoni was excellent and we will go back.....

And the Tiramisu...... we did share......note the 2 spoons!

Then Friday we had an exam to see what we had learnt during the week.......not much, it would appear judging by the many red cross outs!  So once again we decided we needed to lunch out! We had noticed an interesting restaurant on our walking route to the school which was never open when we passed.........this is actually the small street we had to turn onto at that 90 degree corner!

Suddenly it was open for business.....last Thursday was its first day. It is called  Toscanella Osteria.

 We had no problem getting a table but I am sure that will change quickly.

The food was very good, the restaurant itself is very interesting and the cost of lunch was the lowest so far. We will definitely be going back! After all its on our walking route to the school...... and as we found out also on our driving route....

The owner  Fabrizio Roberto Gori is an artist and we wondered if the art on the wall was his....

Apparently where the restaurant is today was a meeting place for artists including Brunelleschi and Masaccio.