Interior view of the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, which debuted by the House of Gucci in Firenze in late January
The House of Gucci, who continues to reign as one of the top brands in the world these days, has done it again. This time they have debuted the Gucci Garden inside the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia, which houses the Gucci Museo. The concept, totally the brainchild of Creative Director Alessandro Michele, is a newly designed space that features a store with one-of-a-kind items, available only on site and the already infamous Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, a restaurant by the three-Michelin star chef. Also included are the Gucci Garden Galleria exhibition rooms curated by critic Maria Luisa Frisa.
The Dining Experience……
On planning our visit to the Osteria prior to leaving the states, I felt great anticipation and excitement for myself and other members of the BPP Tour group, as I made our reservations, to have the opportunity to visit and partake in the dining experience that I had read so much about in all of the top fashion and design publications. I must say that I had very high expectations on ‘the look’ of the restaurant, having seen so many awesome images online, I knew it would be spectacular to the eye, it was Gucci after all and I am a longtime fan and most recently, a true believer in the trend-setting style of this IT luxury brand under its new creative leader, Alessandro Michele. However, what I had not expected was the high quality of the dining experience. The food, created and prepared under the direction of three-Michelin star chef, Massimo Bottura, definitely pushed the fashion-food envelope as Harper’s Bazaar can be quoted as describing what for us was a divine and unique experience in itself. I was naive to the creative genius who Michele recruited from one of Italy and the world’s most famous fine dining eateries, Osteria Francescana, based in Modena.
The 50-seat Dining Room had many design elements that were special….I was particularly enamored with the floral stenciled flooring throughout
Our waiter, one of many that sported the Gucci floral aprons….loved these!
Our intimate group of tourists had a very special evening dining in the Osteria. Enjoying the evening were Shelley Reeves, Jennifer Fitts, BPP Tours Director, M.A. Shute and yours truly
The Menu
Image courtesy of Instagram
The Osteria serves Italian classics, like Parmigian Reggiano tortellini (my selection and served to perfection!) to also a mushroom risotto that was as deliciously decadent as the fashion the Gucci House produces. All served on the Gucci designed floral tableware, part of the newest Gucci Home Collection recently introduced.
Two of the four desserts offered on this very special but limited menu.Created by Bottura especially for the Gucci Osteria were on the left, Amarena cheesecake, basically a deconstructed cherry cheesecake and on the right the very special and most popular Charley Marley, a decadent chocolate treat.
Exclusive shopping at Gucci Garden…..
Giftables from the newest Home Collection available for sale within the curated collection in the Gucci Galleries adjacent to the restaurant.
Gucci fashions available and ready for sale….being a GG gal, my credit card cried out for me to purchase this outfit.
In browsing the large selection of coffee table tomes for sale, a passion of mine, there were many written by the esteemed chef, Massimo Bottura…..here is the Chef holding the one book that I purchased as a definite take-away from this visit, “Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef“…….only challenge: just who of my many family and friend restauranteurs do I give it to????
My sales clerk at the adjacent gallery, so helpful and offered me his card to phone him for any future purchases, as none of the exclusive one-of-a-kind items are available online….in store only! Remember this for your visit.
Arrivederci Gucci Garden..…..exterior of Gucci Museo, located at the Palazzo della Mercanzia between Piazza della Signoria and the Piazza di San Firenze. The Gucci Eye us the designated symbol of the Gucci Garden. Gucci website is quoted as saying, it is “a hypnotic territory that alters the state of consciousness and perception. A place full of magnetism, dispersed in the gallery rooms, Osteria da Massimo Bottura and the boutique.”
all photos from Gucci.com and Roz Pactor iPhone
Great post and blog…..please do lose that guy’s business card though! Ha
Sorry, Al…..if you look closely at the photo that’s my Am Ex card sitting on the counter, ready to go!!!
Wish I could have been along!!