The two brothers Gaetano and Giovanni Trovato come from a typical big Italian family from Sicily. The mother of the family, Concetta, raised three daughters and two sons and in 1982 she was also involved in the founding of Arnolfo Ristorante together with her son Gaetano and her daughter Allesandra. The other son, Giovanni, joined the restaurant in 1989 after time spent in the Netherlands. Today, the two brothers are the owners of Arnolfo Ristorante and Allesandra is still working at the restaurant as well.

G aetano Trovato is the Head Chef and he is one of the best chefs in the world when it comes to true Italian cuisine. Giovanni Trovato is the Restaurant Manager and Head Sommelier and he is not just offering some of the best Tuscany wines from his wine cellar of 13,000 bottles, he is also one of the best within the hospitality business when it comes to service and making his guests genuinely feel like they are a part of the Trovato family. It is fascinating how a Grand Chef and his brother year after year manage to develop themselves and their restaurant instead of becoming comfortable and just rest on the already made success.

You will find Arnolfo in the heart of Tuscany between Siena and Florence in the medieval town of Colle di Val d’Elsa. The restaurant’s name comes from the sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio who lived in the twelfth century and also came from Colle di Val d’Elsa. The restaurant is situated in a beautiful palazzo from the sixteenth century and you can dine inside, but we recommend the terrace with some beautiful views of the Tuscany landscape.

You can order à la carte dishes like the delicious swordfish with roasted peppers and candied tomatoes or you can have any of the two tasting menus. One tasting menu, called “Discovering Tradition”, only has the traditional Italian cuisine such as rabbit with black olives and ratatouille. The other tasting menu, called “Contemporary Moments” offers a modern cuisine with dishes like prawns with peaches and yellow pepper or scampi and goose liver with strawberries.

It can not be more Italian than Arnolfo Ristorante and Gaetano and Giovanni Trovato will really make you feel like you have come home to a genuine Italian famiglia. Arnolfo Ristorante is a fantastic place to spend an evening in Tuscany at.

Written by Andy