France & Italy With Trafalgar Tours: Day 5 (Part 2)

December 20, 2011

Leaving Florence was difficult, because every ounce of my being wanted to stay and explore the magnificent city further, however I was excited to participate in our next Trafalagar Tour’s Be My Guest dining experience and we would be returning later in the evening.  Within minutes the cobblestone streets and ancient cathedrals gave way to sprawling villas surrounded by olive groves — we were back in the heart of Tuscany again.

I Tre Pini, the restaurant where we would be both cooking and dining, is located in the Chianti region.  It is the creation of Chef Libero, our guide through the food market in Florence.

The elegant restaurant is housed in a 500-year old restored farmhouse with manicured gardens and an adjacent vineyard.  If you are looking for the best in Tuscan cuisine, look no further than this establishment.  Each traditional dish has been passed from generation to generation and I am confident that they have been even further perfected by Chef Libero.

If you have been following my blog, you would know that champagne is one of the loves of my life.  Thus, imagine my delight when I was introduced to a new hybrid of champagne called Fragolino.  It is a sparkling wine infused with strawberries and quite possibly one of the best things I have ever tasted.

Chef Libero has worked tirelessly to create other award winning wines from his vineyard, and while they really were sensational, I kept asking for refills of the Fragolino.

After our introduction to the restaurant and its wines, we donned aprons and hairnets and were each instructed to complete different tasks in the kitchen.  Thankfully, all I had to do was add some bread crumbs to the stew, as I am not gifted when it comes to cooking.  Being a part of the entire process was a special experience for me though and it definitely made me appreciate each bite of food that I put into my mouth more.

Around the 5th course, an incredibly charming gentleman surprised us by performing some classic Italian songs for us.  During his rendition of “That’s Amore” he asked me to dance with him.  How could I say no to that face?

Before we departed, I, of course, had to buy a bottle of Fragolino to gift my family.  I wish that I could have bought more, however my luggage (and honestly myself after all of the food I had just consumed) was already over the required weight limit. . .

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Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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60 thoughts on “France & Italy With Trafalgar Tours: Day 5 (Part 2)

    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      Haha yes I’m sure that’s why you’re craving it so badly, but you know I’ve heard it’s actually healthy for pregnant women to have a glass every once in a while…

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      It was such a brilliant trip and I agree it did just get better and better!!! And Tuscany is truly a special place that I hope everyone gets to visit once in their life.

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      I didn’t think you could buy it, but then I googled it and found a link to a website where you can. So in the post click on the link for Fragolino. I will be buying some more!!! 🙂

      Reply

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