Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Antico Ristoro di Cambi – Home cooking in Florence

True Florentine home cooking can be found at the family owned and operated Antico Ristoro di Cambi. This is not a fancy place, no tablecloths or fancy glasses, just good regional cuisine and genuine Tuscan wines. The dark heavy wood tables and benches set the atmosphere. This is a place for the locals, very few tourists ever find their way to this hidden treasure-cove of local delights. Food quality is the name of the game here, you can choose your cut of meat directly from the front counter.


Antico Ristoro di Cambi was born in 1950 as a wine bar with some appetizers. Over the years they have added a few dishes however the menu’ remains very limited to about 10 local recipes. Not every dish is available every night. During the week the family will prepare two or three specialties each night. The lack of a traditional menu’ should not be a reason to not visit this restaurant. This is an invitation into a local family’s home where the table is shared with other guests and the portions are abundant. It is an experience in Tuscan life.

The main dishes are hearty, Ribollita, La Fiorentina, Grilled Sausage, Baccala’ in umido, Pappa al Pomodoro, dried meats, and desserts made in house. The kitchen is run by the women of the family and is spectacular. Some good local table wines and a few Super Tuscans round out the experience. If you want local life in Florence with real people and truly traditional food then this is the place for you.

Antico Ristoro di Cambi
Via S. Onofrio 1R
Zona Porta San Frediano
Tel: 055 217134


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4 Comments:

Blogger a.c.t. said...

Wow that looks amazing. I love the fact that they only cook a few specialities a night, it means you might try something you might not usually try and the quality of the dish would be top notch.

4:52 AM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

ACT These are the places I love. They are not superficial so the only reason to go there is for good food, and they do a great job at really good food!

6:24 AM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you for your kind words about my son. You know, I really do think in a good way, he has a better diet than most kids because of his reduced intake of sugars. I'd love to voluteer at one of the camps when he gets older. As for the teachers, I agree, they should be trained. I've read stories online about other teachers who have absolutely no clue about the affects of high/low blood sugars on students' learning abilities.
I just have to say too, I love your blog, especially the recipes. I love Italian food, and being from AZ it's so hot right now, having dinner late around 7 or 8 no one is too hungry, so I'm glad to see you post a recipe for Pappa al Pomodoro . I'm glad you stopped by for a visit.

12:39 PM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

Christine - I am glad to read you appreciate the recipes. Christine writes several blogs and I read one about her life. She has some very interesting insights.

Please stop by again. With the temp here in Dallas at the 100 mark I will be publishing several Italian summertime favorite recipes. Most quick and savory.

4:05 PM

 

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