For our second year anniversary, Tommy and I decided to visit the tiny town of Colle di Val d’Elsa, about 30 minutes from Siena. I had been wanting to visit this city because I’ve heard about a phenomenal two Michelin star restaurant located there called Arnolfo.
Arnolfo is located inside a hotel and the ambience is absolutely beautiful and classic.
Arnolfo was the perfect restaurant to spend a special occasion. The ambience was romantic and elegant but not over the top. The food was exquisite in terms of presentation, originality, and flavor. First, I loved that they served numerous amuse bouches that were all executed well and tasted amazing. Some of my favorite dishes of the meal were the langoustine, scallop, baby pork and squab. The langoustine with foie gras was a combination of ingredients that I would never think of. Sweet langoustine with buttery foie gras served with creamy pâté, crunchy crumble, and passionfruit sorbet was something truly wonderful. Somehow all the ingredients worked so harmoniously together. Another dish I loved was the scallop with vanilla cauliflower cream. Again, I never thought to put vanilla and cauliflower together but the flavor was divine! The baby pork with lentils and caramelized apples was another showstopper. The pork was extremely tender and paired perfectly with sweet caramelized apples. Lastly, the squab, one of their signature dishes, was outstanding. Perfectly cooked squab breast with juicy grapes, earthy chestnut cream, and rich goose liver was a great way to end the savory dishes.
Arnolfo truly has been an extraordinary fine dining experience from the atmosphere, service, and food. Therefore, my overall rating is a 9/10. It will absolutely be a meal that I will never forget.