Dinner overlooking the Mugello hills from La Fornace dei Medici.
La Fornace de ‘Medici is a historic building in the outskirts of Florence, just 18 kilometres away, that we recommend to see and admire the enchanting panorama of the hills, especially at sunset time when it becomes an unmissable spectacle. The restaurant and the adjacent Resort “Le Colline del Paradiso” result from a very long renovation of an ancient furnace designed by the architect Buontalenti at the behest of Francesco De ‘Medici in the 1500 a.d.
The Fornace de’ Medici is surrounded by a family-run organic farm that produces ancient wheat called “Verna”, a very low gluten type of wheat, but also vegetables and local game (wild boar, roe deer and much more), all from the private estate of 110 hectares that you can admire from the panoramic terrace. The dining room is elegant and welcoming. The atmosphere is magical; the green hills of Mugello surround the large outdoor veranda, the panoramic terrace can booked for private dinners.
“La Fornace De ‘Medici” restaurant has a menu focused on the genuineness of zero-kilometre products and the excellence of Tuscan products, and Chef Giuseppe Frabetti uses the most advanced cooking techniques to enhance the flavours. From the menu we recommend the Tris di Chianina, the Terrina di Fegatini with jellied vin santo and fruit salad, the Potatoes Pici cooked in Sangiovese wine and Cacio cheese, the Verna wheat pappardelle with duck bolognese, the Verna wheat ravioli stuffed with “Pappa al Pomodoro” soup with Pecorino Crosta Fiorita.
At the restaurant La Fornace de ‘Medici, among the second courses not to be missed, we have: Baked guinea fowl with roasted potatoes, fried Tagliata di Chianina and the inevitable Florentine steak. The desserts are all homemade, a very tasty Tiramisu, the Pudding de ‘Medici, an ancient recipe revisited, Winston Churchill’s chocolate cigars, two flavoured with gianduia chocolate and two with dark rum.
The wine list expertly studied by the owner Guido after years of careful selection includes both the great Tuscan excellences and small emerging companies of great quality. Numerous events are organized on the theme of wine, and it’s fair to say that it is one of the restaurant’s strengths.