Springtime In Florence...With Lunch!

Last week, we made a quick trip to Florence to get some more canvas and art supplies for Johnny. It was an early train, we spent several hours there, then back home before dark.

All I can say is...why can't we do this in California? We'd love to hop a train and be in San Fransisco in an hour and a half! Without a car to hassle with! Ok. Done griping....hehehehe. For now.

Thankfully, it was a beautiful day, and the Spring blooms were well on their way!

I'll let the photos do most of the talking...

Passed by this private garden on our way to a public garden!

Near the Arno River.

We always enjoy a visit to the Giardino Bardini, especially during springtime. Best views ever, and loads of loveliness. A good hike up, up, up...with the reward of Prosecco at the top! What's not to like?

I can never get over the Cercis (Redbud trees) here! They get huge.

We were about a week early for the full blown wisteria display, but it was still impressive.

More wisteria.

Please...is there anything more beautiful?

It was a very nice day...actually warm!

Mr. J looking a bit knackered. 
Lunch is just around the corner, thankfully!

We'd bought the art supplies to pick up later on the way to the train, so all that was left was a late lunch, thank you.

We keep returning to a favorite vegetarian place we discovered way back when. It's still the same, still good and we adore the owners. 5eCinque, for vegetarian and vegan delights. There is no meat, no fish.

This time, we started with a Ligurian focaccia, stuffed with melting cheese. I mean, why not?

Thin, crispy crust that's almost not there, with gooey warm cheese.

I chose corzetti with an almond and marjoram pesto.
It was so great. I want to recreate this pesto. I love marjoram, and you 
don't see it used here much. The pasta itself was perfect, too.

Johnny loves risotto, and this was a classic with saffron.
No chicken broth, though, so maybe not "classic".

Though it was almost too much, we split this artichoke and potato
"polpettone"... hard to describe, but really good!

A scrumptious vegetarian take on meatloaf!
No dessert...just espresso to finish our day.

 I don't think we'll be back to Florence on this trip, but you never know....