Florence’s 2017 Thanksgiving Choices

One of the few, but largest downsides of being abroad in Italy in the fall is missing out on eating a grandiose Thanksgiving meal with your family. Thankfully, there are number of restaurants around the Florence area offering a traditional holiday meal to indulge in.

The Most Economical

PINO’S SANDWICHES – SALUMERIA VERDI, via Giuseppe Verdi, 36/r.  Tel. 055/244517.

Pino’s is a deli that is a favorite of many college students in the area. The atmosphere and friendliness of the owners — Pino, Antonella and Martina — is top notch.

There are two choices, available all day from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm: a platter (€6) or sandwich (€5). The first is a plate of roasted turkey breast, chestnut gravy, green beans and mashed potatoes. The sandwich features the turkey, gravy and if desired, chestnut stuffing and brie cheese, all nestled between crunchy, warm bread.  Beverages are an additional cost.

Readers are invited to participate in Pino’s Thanksgiving sandwich and meal GIVEAWAY.  Either follow us on Instagram (magentaflorence) OR like the Magenta Florence & Vista Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VistaMagenta/) by Wednesday, November 22 to participate in a random drawing of winners, who will be announced on our Facebook page, on the same day at 5 pm.

Pino’s Sandwiches has been around for over 25 years and is located right in the heart of Florence and is the creator of the first “Thanksgiving” sandwich in Florence.

Benefit & For Students

GOLDEN VIEW RESTAURANT, via de’ Bardi 58/r.  Tel. 055 214502.

According to owner Tommaso Grasso, the holiday represents above all, “an opportunity to give back.”

With a wonderful and romantic view of Ponte Vecchio, the restaurant is holding a benefit Thanksgiving with proceeds given to Elaine Poggi’s Healing Photo Art onlus. The scenic works of photographers of this non-profit organization are enlarged and gifted to decorate otherwise bleak walls of hospitals in Florence and the U.S.A.

The menu for the evening — available between 6:30 and 11:30 pm — starts off with vegetarian quiche, to continue with turkey, stuffing, baked ham and gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, panfried pumpkin with walnut sauce and creamed corn.  To finish, one can select a house dessert or pumpkin pie with custard cream.  The meal’s special price is €40; €20 for students.

QUINOA, vicolo di Santa Maria Maggiore, 1

The first 100% gluten free restaurant in Florence is offering a traditional style meal tto enjoy for both those with celiac disorder and not.

Beginning with a starter of butternut squash soup and gluten-free croutons, the evening’s supper continues with sliced stuffed roast turkey served with gravy and cranberry sauce and a side of mashed potatoes and vegetables; for dessert, a delectable pumpkin pie with ice cream.

This irrefutable deal comprises €25 for this meal accompanied by a glass of wine and unlimited water starting at 7:30 pm.

A Two-Day Celebration

ACCADEMIA RESTAURANT, Piazza San Marco, 7.  Tel. 055/217343.

Although renowned for their pasta, Academia has been serving Thanksgiving Dinner for number of years due to the influence of Gianni Lacovitti’s American wife.

From 6 to 10 pm, Accademia is serving a full-course meal featuring cream of pumpkin soup, cornbread, turkey with apple and sausage stuffing, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and gravy. The dessert offers an array of delicacies such as pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie and pecan pie.

The entire dinner costs €35 excluding beverages; however Accademia also offers a lunch deal with the same food the following day, Friday 24, for only €18.

A Second Chance

LA CUCINA GHIANDA, via dell’Agnolo, 81-91/r.  Tel. 055/3860534.

La Cucina Ghianda is owned and run by former doctor Iacopo Iandelli. After working for many years as an oncologist, he opened the restaurant during a year’s sabbatical. Now, Iandelli is the full time chef and owner of Ghianda to bring the joy of food to people instead of unfortunate diagnoses.

The meal features all the classic features of Thanksgiving.  Diners begin with pumpkin and pear soup, or pumpkin and speck gnocchi, accompanied by homemade cornbread.

The main course showcases a heaping portion of turkey that carved right in front of the customer, with gravy and cranberry sauce on the side. The dish is finished by chestnut stuffing, buttered corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts cooked to perfection.

For dessert there is an option of homemade pumpkin pie, sweet potato pudding or pumpkin whoopie pies (sponge cakes in the shape of a macaroon filled in the middle with cream).

The feast starts at 7:30 pm and costs €30 per person, comprising water but not wine. A discount of €5 is available for international students.

A Healthy Touch of Gourmet

BAR & CUCINA, via dei Neri 12/r

For a fixed menu price of €35 per person (drinks not included), this recently inaugurated restaurant offers a meal that will surely tantalize the taste buds. Bringing the American festivities to Italy, the restaurant will offer a choice of either pumpkin or sweet potato soup as the entrée, and a turkey roll with chestnuts, sausage, apple and raisin/whole wheat bread stuffing served with cranberry sauce as the plat de résistance.

Sides of mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, baked sweet potatoes, sautéed black kale, green bean casserole and baked fennel will be included with oven-roasted vegetables including Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and turnips.

The dessert of course, will be pumpkin pie which comes with whipped cream and a pecan sauce.

There will be two sittings at 7:30 and 9:30 pm. Booking is required and can be done by calling 055/282634 or by e-mailing info@barcucina.com.

On Friday, Nov. 24, the basic meal is repeated as a sandwich (€10) filled with roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

An American Influence

FRANCESCO VINI RESTAURANT, Borgo dei Greci 7/r

Owners Fabio LaBrusco and wife Jody (originally from Florida), will be serving their own Thanksgiving menu from 7 pm on Thursday, in their special wine cellar-style restaurant.

The evening meal will commence with an Italian antipasto. The starter consists of creamy pumpkin soup which will be followed by roast turkey stuffed with sausage and artichoke served with sweet cranberry sauce, fluffy mashed potatoes with truffle shavings, sweet potatoes, corn soufflé and green beans.

A special pumpkin roll, a sponge cake with a swirly cream center rolled in the shape of a log – is dessert.

The price of the meal is €30 and includes water; wine is extra. One may choose a slimmed-down version excluding the antipasto, soup and dessert making at a total price €20 per person.

The price of the meal is €30 and includes water for the table. It is possible to choose a version excluding the antipasto, soup and dessert making at a total price €20 per person (wine or other beverages are not included in either option but customers will sure find it hard to resist purchasing a glass with the wide selection of fine wines exhibited in the cellar).

Reservations can be made by phoning 055/218737.

Thanksgiving All Day

HARD ROCK CAFÉ, via dè Brunelleschi, 1.  Tel. 055/277841.

This branch of the Hard Rock café has been located opposite the Piazza della Repubblica for a number of years and features live music and interesting decor. Recently, Hard Rock Café Firenze made the exciting transition to 100% 0 mile food for its traditional menu. This means that all the food served is grown and harvested in Tuscany, increasing food freshness.

A Thanksgiving meal is available from noon to 11:30 pm on Thursday and consists of corn chowder served with a chunks of bacon followed by roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and cranberry sauce, and finally pumpkin pie with whipped cream. There is also a DJ set after 5 pm and a buy 2 get 1 free deal on Miller beer all day long. The whole meal costs €28 per person including soda and €33 per person for the meal, soda, and one Miller beer.

A Tasty Abundance

L’OSTERIA DI GIOVANNI, Via del Moro, 22.  Tel. 055/284897.

L’Osteria di Giovanni is a restaurant in the heart of Florence located between the main station of Santa Maria Novella Station and the Arno river that prides itself on its national and international staff, but whole hearted Tuscan soul. Giovanni, the owner, is married to an American woman and has experimented with American flavors in his cuisine for a long time; especially on Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving, Giovanni is planning on serving a glass of prosecco with bite-size portions of bruschetta with various toppings as antipasto; a choice of pea, basil and ginger soup or savory pumpkin-filled tortelli as a first course; turkey and chestnut stuffing; sweet potatoes, green beans and pearl onions and a choice of pumpkin pecan pie or chocolate cheesecake for dessert. The whole meal will cost €50 including drinks and coffee and the portions are very large.

No Meat

L’OV OSTERIA VEGETARIANA, Piazza del Carmine, 4/r (vegetarian restaurant).  Tel. 055/2052388.

The restaurant, located across the Arno river (Oltrarno area) is not just for vegetarians, but rather un posto per tutti (a place for everyone)!

At L’OV, their version of Thanksgiving involves: butternut squash soup with croutons as the starter, a flavorful soy main course with stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes as the main and pumpkin pie with ice cream as the sweet. A glass of wine and water comes with the meal and the entire cost is only €25.

All You can Eat

HOTEL HELVETIA & BRISTOL, via dei Pescioni, 8

Helvetia&Bristol is a lovely hotel located near Piazza della Repubblica.

The Thanksgiving buffet is dazzling: corn on the cob with garlic butter and herbs, roasted sweet potatoes with ginger and lime, dates wrapped in bacon, endive salad with cheese and walnuts, green beans with almonds, Brussels sprouts with caramelized apples and bacon, baked cauliflower, turkey with chestnut and herb stuffing and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy.

The dessert section’s choices include cheesecake with raspberry topping and chocolate cookies. The drinks menu has interesting selections: a sparkling cranberry cocktail, pomegranate juice, prosecco, Chianti wine, white wine, and water (still and sparking) at no extra cost!

The entire meal costs €68 all inclusive and reservations are mandatory for the feast. Reserve your party a table now by calling 055/26651 or e-mailing reservations.helvetiabristol.fi@starhotels.it.

Decorated for Thanksgiving

TRATTORIA IL PORCOSPINO, Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 11/r .  Tel. 055/217700.

For Thanksgiving, Il Porcospino will be serving its guests turkey with gravy and stuffing, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, sweet potatoes and green peas, accompanied by cranberry sauce. The evening will be complete with a generous serving of apple pie. Adding to the festivities, the dining area’s walls are adorned by Thanksgiving turkey and pilgrim decorations

The price per person is €27 excluding beverages.

The Origin of Florence’s First Thanksgiving

HARRY’S BAR, via Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 22/r.  Tel. 055/2396700.

Enrico Mariotti, Italian for Harry, opened this famous bar in 1952 with inspirations for it to become the “Boston bar” of Firenze. Located right on the edge of the Arno River, Harry’s has been graced by the presence of glitterati such as Paul Newman, Robin Williams, Margot Hemingway, and Chelsea Clinton. Former mayor of San Francisco, Diane Feinstein even bestowed Enrico with the key to San Francisco.

Harry’s Thanksgiving dinner is comprised of a starter of creamy pumpkin soup with bacon, buttered corn on the cob, sweet potatoes followed by roasted turkey with chestnut, carrot, and onion stuffing plus cranberry sauce. For dessert, citrus cheesecake, while coffee and biscuits are complimentary finishers.

The entire feast costs €60 per person with mineral water and coffee (wine or alcoholic beverage not included).

Upscale

IL PALAGIO AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL (ground floor of the Palazzo della Gherardesca). Borgo Pinti, 99.  Tel. 055/26261.

The Michelin star restaurant is complete with beautiful vaulted ceilings, wonderful views of the hotel’s majestic gardens, and potential seating in an outdoor terrace if the weather allows.

The restaurant offers an elegant Thanksgiving dinner from 7 to 11 pm that includes artichoke and prawn salad with pecorino cheese, chestnut risotto with Borzillo sausage and truffle sauce, pumpkin risotto with thick cut, cured and crispy bacon on top, succulent turkey with herb stuffing with cranberry sauce and sweet potato purée, cinnamon pumpkin Bavarois (a pudding similar to the texture of a panna cotta made with gelatin and thickened with eggs) served alongside almond liquor ice cream. Coffee and biscuits will conclude the meal. The total cost is €95 per person, drinks excluded.

Happy Thanksgiving a tutti! (michael samson)