OSTERIA LA PAGLIETTA, SAN POLO IN CHIANTI
True tuscan country, only about a half hour out of Florence, San Polo is less like a small town and rather more like a loosely connected collection of private country houses, vineyards and olive groves….all nestled into surprisingly steep hills. The scenery is spectacular. The closest real town is Strada in Chianti, a charming little village with at least one of everything you would need to enjoy life in the country.
What San Polo has, however, is La Paglietta. Just the kind of place you were picturing in your head way back when you were planning your trip to Tuscany. It’s in a quiet and green setting, no traffic, no noise. When you come upon it you wonder why there’s a large restaurant here in the middle of deep country, but you don’t wonder about that for long because the place fills up for every sitting. You soon find yourself surrounded by italians who know where to go when they’re hungry. The setting is unpretentious, the food is very good, the staff is always so welcoming. It’s a very happy place and I can promise you’ll come away well-fed and content. The menu is traditional tuscan fare and you can suit yourself…anything from pizza (cooked in a wood-burning oven of course) to full course seasonal menus. Good wine is a no-brainer here. The place is in the middle of the Chianti Classico zone. And then there’s Aldo. He’s always there because it’s his place and he loves what he does. You can even watch him cook a few of his favourite dishes on his website videos. Tell him you watched and his grin will become even wider than usual. That’s me with Kim, doing research!
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