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Florence News & Events MARCH 2014 No. 5
FOOD & WINE
In a Family-Friendly Place
Meet Pino of Salumeria Verdi and Pozzodivino James Taylor & Ivana Scatola To the seasoned student in Florence, Pino is a man who needs no introduction. He is the proud owner of Salumeria Verdi on Via Giuseppe Verdi, a deli and cafe that happily opens its doors to tourists, students and locals. He has attained something of a cult status, particularly among students visiting from America. Some of Pino’s panini are even named after students who left a particular impression, such as ‘Mister Talk,’ and ‘Emily’. Another option on the menu is ‘The Best,’ so-named by Pino in response
to the many tourists and students always asking, ‘’Which one’s the best?’’ Pino will proudly tell you that it is not uncommon for students returning to Florence to show up at his business with spouses wives and children. In fact, Pino fondly recalls serving a sandwich to a former customer 11 years after he had left Florence. Pino is somewhat humbled by his recognition, and attributes his popularity to treating anybody in his cafe “as if they were family”, and to his three pillars of service – “qualitá, prezzo, accoglienza” – quality, price and hospitality. Born of a desire by Pino and his wife
Antonella to go one step ahead of similar vendors by modernising the standard panino and studying flavors that go well together, Salumeria Verdi has grown in both size and success since its inauguration in the late 1980s. It employs ingredients from all over Italy, a factor that is extremely important for its owners, who aim to provide tourists with more than just a taste of Florence, with such produce as pesto from Liguria and cheese from the south. This is an element consciously influenced by Pino’s background. Born in Naples, an Italian region known for quality ingredients, Pino moved to
CELLAR WINE-TASTING NEAR SANTA CROCE
GASTRONOMIA NEAR SANTA CROCE
There are few places more apt to sample Tuscan wine than Pozzo Divino (‘The Wine Well’), where wine-tastings take place in a spectacular cellar dating back to 1312. The cellar features an ancient pozzo (well), while the quality of the niche wine hand-picked by owner Pino easily justifies an interpretation of ‘divine’ in this cosy enoteca’s title. Pozzo Divino also arranges Chianti Classico wine tours and sells olive oil and a superb range of balsamic vinegar aged up to 45 years.
Salumeria Verdi is a prime spot for quality food. This gastronomia has been serving the Florentine public since 1900, and offers a range of fresh pasta, bread, meat, cheese and more. It’s an ideal spot to stop by for a quick and satisfying lunch, and also offers catering services. Salumeria Verdi is also the sister company of nearby enoteca Pozzo Divino and therefore offers a cornucopia of quality wine selections.
Mon. to Sat.: 9.30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; & 2–6:30 p.m. Sun.: Wine-tasting by appointment
Mon. to Sat.: 8 a.m.–8p.m.
Via Ghibellina, 144/r 055 246 69 07 info@pozzodivino.com www.pozzodivino.eu
Via Verdi, 36/r 055 24 45 17 www.salumeriaverdi.it info@pozzodivino.com
Turin with his family at the age of six. Like many Italian migrants who travelled north in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the family’s move was propelled by a search of work and opportunities. Pino settled permanently in Florence after meeting Antonella here, and thus this second permanent move was made for love. Today Salumeria Verdi resembles a veritable ‘Tardis’ (for non-fans of Doctor Who, that’s a space that seems small from the exterior yet is gigantic inside): stretching to the length of three shops, the original delicatessen has expanded into a panini shop with abundant choices to create your own
fillings (much like most American equivalents), and boasts space with some 20 tables and chairs. The Salumeria is quite frankly a feast for the eyes (as well as the hungry stomach); the colors and smells emanating from the place are an irresistible mélange that regularly see queues out the door. Whether drawn by hunger pangs, the itch to get creative with panini fillings or simply the desire to drop into a Florentine institution and share a few words of wisdom with the great man himself, Salumeria Verdi is well worth a visit. Who knows? Maybe Pino will name a sandwich after you.