November is always a busy month on the food and wine scene. Here’s a round-up of the best events in Florence.
Vino è
On November 12–13, 2016, food and wine lovers attend Florence’s Stazione Leopolda for two days of Italian culinary excellence. Organized by Federazione Italiana Sommelier Albergatori Ristoratori, the event welcomes over 100 wine producers from all over Italy and 8 fine wine tastings, as well as cooking shows by leading Tuscan chefs such as Nicola Damiani (Osteria di Passignano), Simone Cipriani (Essenziale) and Maria Probst (La Tenda Rossa). On Sunday, November 13, from 11am to 7pm savour little-known and more famous labels at the tasting counters. Also on the Sunday, at 1pm, Giancarlo Gariglio, editor of the Slow Wine book, with Katarina Andersson, Fisar sommelier, translator and blogger of Grapevine Adventures, will lead a guided tasting through Italy in English.
Tickets cost 30 euro for non-members of Slow Food or Fisar, 20 euro for Slow Food or Fisar members.
Biennale Enogastronomica
Eighteen days of food and drink in Florence with the return of Biennale Enogastronomica (November 10–28). Art, music, literature, talks and themed events go hand in hand with markets, tastings and cooking shows. Don’t miss the Florence Wine Event (EX3, viale Giannotti 81-85) on November 19–20, with cooking demonstrations by Gianluca Bruno, of Eataly, and Matteo Lorenzini, of Se.Sto sul Arno. A day devoted to Tuscan olive oil (November 26, at EX3, viale Giannotti 81-85) will focus on this year’s new oil with cooking shows by Fabio Bianconi, of Ristorante 321, and Luca Lacalamita, of Enoteca Pinchiorri.
For more information, call 055 2705233 or email biennale@confesercenti.fi.it.
Food and Wine in Progress
On November 27–28, 2016, top chefs and sommeliers will gather at Florence’s Stazione Leopolda to celebrate Italy’s food and wine scene. Organized by Associazione Italiana Sommelier Toscana and Unione Regionale Cuochi Toscani, the likes of Gennaro Esposito (Torre di Saracino, Marina Equa – 2 Michelin stars), Valeria Piccini (Da Caino, Montemurano – 2 Michelin stars), Vito Mollica (Il Palagio, Four Seasons Florence – 1 Michelin star) and many more will delight tasters with their stellar contemporary cuisine. Expect international dishes too as two cooking show will feature fragrant Thai by Prato’s Naga Thai Bistrot and Japanese specialities centred on beer by Chef Hirohiko Shoda. AIS sommeliers will host guided wine tasting sessions over the two days, spotlighting the best wines from the 150 Tuscan producers included in the Association’s 2017 guide.
Tickets cost 20 euro for adults, 10 euro for AIS members, 5 euro for students. Children under 12 years free.
