Irene in Florence, a taste of Tuscany!
At first, Irene is a real person, the Mother of Sir Rocco Forte, founder of the group that owns the Hotel Savoy in Florence. But Irene also is a wonderful restaurant, quite feminine, where we feel really good, just like home with a Menu full of Tuscany flavors. Luxe Magazine tested it. Focus.
Irene, perfectly located at the heart of Piazza della Repubblica
A charismatic Chef
Giovanni Cosmai, Fulvio Pierangelini and Paul Feakes
At Irene's, the Kitchen is led by Chef Giovanni Cosmai and supervised by the charismatic Fulvio Pierangelini, famous all around the world, praised by his colleagues (Ducasse, Troisgros, Veyrat...) and considered as one of the best Italian Chefs and Chef per se in the world. He made his big debut with Roger Vergé at the Moulin de Mougins. Then, until 2008, he was at the head of the two-stars restaurant, the famous Gambero Rosso at San Vincenzo, South of Livorno, that is closed now.
Fulvio Pierangelini and Paul Feakes
Risotto, a beautiful lady who needs to be caressed....
Today, Fulvio is Group Rocco Forte's consultant, giving his impetus and print to the group's restaurants, from Italia to London, passing through Brussels and Sicily.
According to him, you have to cook simple things with exceptional products treated with respect and delicacy. For example, he describes the risotto as "a beautiful lady who needs to be looked at, caressed, cherished..." , what a great story! Fulvio Pierangelini is a Chef but also an artist, with a language that belongs to him only.
Octopus salad to start
Local products and gastronomy generating emotions
The traditional lasagna
The Italian menu is really subtle, with some fresh associations. We love the Fish tartar with its vegetables sorbet but also the octopus served with beets and radishes and the tasty raviolis filled with pappa al pomodoro without forgetting the Lobster Linguine.
Linguine with Lobster
A design straight from the Fifties
The restaurant room
On the design side, the atmosphere is truly inspired by the fifties, Italian without being formal. Green and yellow lights, design armchairs, lovely tableware including some nice champagne glasses, finely crafted and unpaired. A pure and stylish decoration. On the tables, few flowers but above all, some fresh vegetables, a bottle of San Vincenzo olive oil and a Modena vinegar, you are in Italy after all! The welcoming is warm, thanks to the charismatic Paul Feakes, the restaurant's manager.
A great moment and a good address that we recommend if you are in Florence!
Olive oil and Modena vinegar
A charismatic Chef
Giovanni Cosmai, Fulvio Pierangelini and Paul Feakes
At Irene's, the Kitchen is led by Chef Giovanni Cosmai and supervised by the charismatic Fulvio Pierangelini, famous all around the world, praised by his colleagues (Ducasse, Troisgros, Veyrat...) and considered as one of the best Italian Chefs and Chef per se in the world. He made his big debut with Roger Vergé at the Moulin de Mougins. Then, until 2008, he was at the head of the two-stars restaurant, the famous Gambero Rosso at San Vincenzo, South of Livorno, that is closed now.
Fulvio Pierangelini and Paul Feakes
Risotto, a beautiful lady who needs to be caressed....
Today, Fulvio is Group Rocco Forte's consultant, giving his impetus and print to the group's restaurants, from Italia to London, passing through Brussels and Sicily.
According to him, you have to cook simple things with exceptional products treated with respect and delicacy. For example, he describes the risotto as "a beautiful lady who needs to be looked at, caressed, cherished..." , what a great story! Fulvio Pierangelini is a Chef but also an artist, with a language that belongs to him only.
Octopus salad to start
Local products and gastronomy generating emotions
The traditional lasagna
The Italian menu is really subtle, with some fresh associations. We love the Fish tartar with its vegetables sorbet but also the octopus served with beets and radishes and the tasty raviolis filled with pappa al pomodoro without forgetting the Lobster Linguine.
Linguine with Lobster
A design straight from the Fifties
The restaurant room
On the design side, the atmosphere is truly inspired by the fifties, Italian without being formal. Green and yellow lights, design armchairs, lovely tableware including some nice champagne glasses, finely crafted and unpaired. A pure and stylish decoration. On the tables, few flowers but above all, some fresh vegetables, a bottle of San Vincenzo olive oil and a Modena vinegar, you are in Italy after all! The welcoming is warm, thanks to the charismatic Paul Feakes, the restaurant's manager.
A great moment and a good address that we recommend if you are in Florence!
Olive oil and Modena vinegar
Novembre 2015
By Katya PELLEGRINO
