New Years Eve 2008 Florence

Eating out on NYE is something I've always avoided. Not only because I was usually working, but because it is over priced and filled with what I like to call, dining amateurs.  Well, being in Firenze for NYE 08 had me out and about - to a restaurant called Buca di Mario. I had passed this place on my daily walks and peeked in a couple of times. From the outside it looked small and quaint with a handful of diners and staff. You had to go through two doors and down some steps to a cellar like room to see the little entry way.  Since I couldn't get in to the other 3 places I wanted - I called BDM and got in. When we arrived for the 9:30 reso, it looked as though we'd be the only ones dining that night- the room we entered was completely empty. We were greeted by 4 different people, all smiles and up beat voices asking us to come this way.....

We rounded the corner and WHOA! It was a the HUGE place with 6 different rooms, all under the streets of Florence. Each room more impressive than the next. We were taken to a room in the back, all tables set in white tables clothes and the prefixe dinner of the night. The room started to fill with local Florentinians and the night was about to start.  

A table of 4 guys sat to our left and a table of 8 others to our right. We had a menu of 8 courses and every single one was MASSIVE and delicioso. 

An aperitif of champagne and strawberry puree to start

A plate of house made sausages and pate

A house Tuscan puree soup with white beans

Farfalle pasta with truffles and zucchini cream sauce  

Big tortellini with pork sugo 

Breaded leg of lamb chop 

Sliced filet with rosemary potatoes 

Osso Bucco with bone marrow finished the savory course

Housemade Tiramisu with a chocolate version on one side of the plate and a vanilla one on the other

Vin Santo and house made almond biscotti

Dessert champagne 

Shots of Sambucca and Lemoncello where passed around also

The owner came in at midnight and brought a cart, yes a 3 tiered cart full of champagne. Every table got one and it was being poured by one of our many servers. We all got up and gave each other kisses on the cheeks, hugs and Buon Anno was said a million times.

The guys next to us had a birthday at the table and they brought out a gigantic tiramisu with what looked like a Roman Candle on it - it was sparking fire and they turned down the lights and sang Happy Bday, Italian style. Classic! He was super embarrassed, but it was so cool. 

We walked the streets of Florence on the way back to our apartment and saw lots of people lighting bottle rocket type fire works and falling over drunk. It is a memory I won't forget.