Domenica da Dario

Just another Sunday lunch with friends but at the Officina della Bistecca-you leave with more friends than you came with!

I feel really blessed to have worked for several years with Dario, before he became such a media star, when only a few journalists like Faith Willinger were writing about artisans in Tuscany.

Thanks to meeting Burton Anderson and Faith Willinger early in my stay in Florence, I had a great starting point 25 years ago. Feeling like you belong in Florence is not easy, but was easier than Paris for me. I had gone on 4 different trips to France trying to stay and study but didn’t feel at home. Now, 25 years later, I can feel at home in many places in Italy and adore it!

Part of being Italian is Sunday lunch, il pranzo Domenicale, is the time when Italians get together and spend hours at the table over huge meals, spending time talking and catching up.

There is a saying: A tavola non si invecchia– One does not age at the table. As you can see in the video, this is no normal restaurant. The Officina della Bistecca, is where Dario presents three versions of the steak- Tuscany’s 2 pound T-bone, Fiorentina as well as his own creation, the Panzanese and the Costatata.

 

We started with raw vegetables, pinzimonio, followed by Dario’s sushi- a sort of tartare- served raw and cooked. Cooked beans are passed around the table an then the steak orgy starts.
Luckily they pass a platter and serve small pieces, re-passing often to be sure you have had enough. Three different steaks are served at the Officina. The Costata, the Panzanese and the Fiorentina.

Other side dish are oven-roasted potatoes served with the “burro del Chianti” an herb infused lard, lucious!

Save room for the incredible olive oil cake, topped with a crisp sugar pinenut crust along with coffee and some military issued liquors- hold on- they are 40- 60 proof!

We started lunch around 1pm and ended around 4pm- allow enough time to be Italian.
Come hungry and don’t be shy- join in the joy of celebrating food and life.

Officina della Bistecca
50 euro per person

Macelleria Cecchini
click above for website

Panzano in Chianti
Reservations a must!