I’ve often found Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy over-hyped, leaving me disappointed. However, during my recent trip to Tuscany, I decided to take a chance at a 2-star Michelin establishment: Ristorante Arnolfo in the charming region of Colle di Val d’ Elsa. Architecturally, it is one of the most stunning restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. This new location (after 30 years) unveiled in August 2022, sits just outside of town, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a magnificent view of the old medieval village and the restaurant’s gardens.
Arnolfo is an ultra-modern oasis with no expense spared on its creation. While some might find its design very modern and minimalist, I found it exuded a friendly and welcoming ambiance, largely due to the owners and well-trained staff. It is a family-run business, with Giovanni Travato warmly welcoming us at the door. He graciously led us on a tour of their impressive cellar, housing over 8,000 bottles, and emphasized a commitment to creating a harmonious relationship between food and drink, offering an exceptional array to enhance our experience.
We were introduced to Giovanni’s brother and chef, Gaetano Travato, in front of his spectacular open kitchen. Chef Gaetano, who trained with Roger Vergé, the founding father of Nouvelle cuisine, travels extensively across the region to source the finest, seasonal 
ingredients. The restaurant takes its name from the 14th-century architect Arnolfo di Cambio, whose birthplace is just a stone’s throw away. The ambiance of the restaurant is dreamlike, ultra-modern, adorned with beautiful Italian artworks, and bathed in natural light, creating a captivating space where we were pinching ourselves to be there.
Chef Gaetano offers 3 distinct tasting menus: a Contemporary Renaissance, a Traditional Archipelago, and a Vegetable Cubism menu. Guests have the flexibility to mix and match from these menus, which must be a challenge for the kitchen, but they do so willingly and gracefully. Chef strives to incorporate sweet, bitter, sharp, and crunchy elements into his dishes, each presented like a work of art, almost all with a spectacular result. Attention to detail permeated every aspect of this Relais and Chateaux property, from design, aromas, music, and table settings to their exquisite dishware.
The cuisine at Arnolfo reflects Gaetano’s diverse training across Europe’s top kitchens, combined with influences from his Sicilian heritage and Tuscan surroundings. To complement the menu, Giovanni curated an exceptional wine selection, enriching our dining experience further. Each dish celebrates the bounty of the region, from handmade pasta to risotto, showcasing the essence of Tuscany. For food enthusiasts, Arnolfo is an unmissable experience, truly exceptional in every sense.
Recommended!
Happy dining,
Shanea
05/23/2024
