Poco-Cocoa

We loved Paris. We adored Paris. We didn’t want to come back from Paris. I don’t even know where to start. Maybe just with this: we LOVED Paris.

I knew we’d be in Milan for a few hours before our flight to Paris, so I did mucho research and found this fantastic restaurant near the station. I made a reservation ahead of time, so when we arrived, they were expecting us. Most of the clientele were stunningly beautiful, amazingly dressed business men and women, and then there was us.

Our waiter (host? owner? nice guy?) asked us to wait just a few more minutes because he had the perfect table that was almost ready for us. He was so excited for us to be there, all the way from good ole’ Texas.

This place. Was so cool. I would go back here in a heartbeat.

“Baby! Sit still right there so I can get a picture of you and the hanging pot and the people behind you!” Justin in the corner!

Lurve.

And the FOOD. People, the FOOD.

Pasta perfectly al dente with pesto bursting with flavor. Creamy risotto all beefy and rich.

Roasted pork, tender and juicy with arugula. Turkey and artichokes with amazing swiss chard.

Again, our waiter was so sad that we were too full for dessert and grappa and limoncello and and and. And we were so sad that this restaurant was so so far away from home.

“Hey baby! Stand still right there under the Campari Soda sign because you love Campari soda!” Justin in the corner!

So if you’re a woman who’s boarding a train to Milan with heavy bags, there will inevitably be several young men hovering near the car entrance smoking cigarettes. And when you try to heft your bag up the steps, they will grab it from you and carry it on the train and put it away and then expect to be paid. And if you pay them one euro they will want two. And your husband will be a bit peeved that you paid them. Just saying.

So because of our arrival mishaps, we weren’t able to eat, buy, or do as many things as we had planned in Firenze. We still had lots of great food, though.

After just a couple of travel days, we were craving some fresh veggies and fruit. Thankfully I had done mucho research, and we knew to head to lovelife for green juice and fruit cups. A perfect pick-me-up!

The wedding day was full of lovely food, too. We had a three (four?) hour lunch at a lovely restaurant (I can’t remember the name!) where the servers were so excited for the happy couple. There was bruschetta and perfect pasta, prosciutto and burrata, artichokes and steaks. Quite lovely.

After lunch, we wandered around the city with Aimee and Josh, and were lucky to stumble into Trattoria San Lorenzo for dinner. (Yes, we were still hungry after all that food. It’s Italy!)

We had carpaccio di manzo (beef) to start, then feasted on gnocchi gratinati, crepes alla Fiorentina, risotto alla pescatora and spaghetti San Lorenzo, full of fresh tomatoes and amazing olive oil. The waitstaff here would not let us leave without having limoncello and grappa (darn). If I could just have one bite of those crepes again… sigh.

At night the streets are much quieter. No hordes of tourists.

It’s easier to get in and out of the gelato shops with THE BEST CHOCOLATE GELATO IN THE WORLD.

Or you could stop at Rivoire for a nightcap (or super thick hot chocolate, tiramisu, and panna cotta).

You could have a martini at Slowly, where they make interesting art out of your olives.

The bride-to-be might drink all the drinks.

Even this guy looks great at night.