Anyone in Florence already?

Dear all,

Memorial Day weekend has just passed away, I spent the weekend in the Hamptons setting up the Westhampton Beach Atelier, it was nice to see many of you after this long winter. The Atelier will open soon and after few weeks in Florence I will be back to spend the summer with many of you.

Now, tag me in your stories, write to me, stay in touch with social networks and if you need a special personal shopper session online, you can ask to:

personalshopper@jennifertattanelli.com

PALM BEACH AND THE HAMPTONS

Lots of traveling in the last 2 weeks, I bounced back and forth between Palm Beach, Florence and now (till tomorrow) in the Hamptons for the Memorial Day weekend.

This is the first weekend in which Westhampton Beach is back alive from the long cold winter (actually it has not been terribly cold this time), everyone is back opening the summer houses and slowly families will arrive after the school closing in few weeks.

In Palm Beach this weekend has been super crowded, maybe thanks to a Vogue article last month that included Palm Beach on its list "8 of the best destination to travel" this month.

The town joined fellow destinations that included the French Riviera, Capri, St. Barts, Antigua, Napa Valley, Nantucket and off course The Hamptons!

"Palm Beach is the perfect mix of old and new," Aerin Lauder told Vogue. "I am inspired by the new generation that is moving to Palm Beach, but there is still a clear sense of heritage and tradition that has never changed." 

FIRENZE...

There’s a different feel to Florence in June as the schools shut for the long summer and people pack a beach bag at every possible opportunity! The city takes on a new guise as it kits out many public spaces like piazzas and riverside spots with live music, street food stalls, and events lineups that gather people together for the long, hot nights of the season. There’s a feeling of coming together to enjoy a sense of community, as there’s a never-ending list of fun things to do and friends and families enjoy relaxed evenings spent dining and wining.

There’s one event on everyone’s lips this month, the Tour de France! For the first time in its 111-year history, the Grand Départ will be from Italy! There’s great excitement around the historic occasion, with a long lineup of celebratory events around seeing the cyclists start their grueling journey to Nice on June 29.  

The Estate Fiorentina calendar truly signals the start of summer! The packed program is all-encompassing, with music, theater, dance, and more all over the city. The website (www.estatefiorentina.it) pulls together some of the best events of the season, making it a one-stop shop if you’re looking for something to do. Highlights include the Florence Dance Festival, getting into motion on June 8, La Città dei Lettori, a literature festival that sees many special guests in the picturesque location of Villa Bardini from June 5-9, and then there’s Firenze Rocks in the Visarno Arena from June 13-15 for the music lovers, featuring headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Tool.

Florence celebrates its patron saint, San Giovanni, on June 24. Saint John the Baptist is honored with a triumphant parade from via Folco Portinari, passing piazza Duomo and via Calzaiuoli before reaching piazza della Signoria. Flag-throwers draw crowds with historical costumes adding further interest as symbolic ceremonies keep the sense of tradition alive. The fireworks that fill the city are an annual highlight, with crowds gathering along the river to celebrate the city.

Keeping focused on significant figures in Florence for a moment, the city votes for its new mayor on June 8-9, bringing me to reflect on the history of the significant role and the former leaders that have passed through the magnificent halls of the Palazzo Vecchio. Lorenzo de’ Medici, of course, was at the political heart of the city in the late 15th century, as ruler of the Florentine Republic and a powerful Renaissance patron. A fact about him that I always find fascinating is that he was only 21 when he took up leadership, going down in history as the youngest Gonfaloniere (medieval term for a leading political figure or standard-bearer).

A vegetable I love to prepare at this time of year is fiori di zucca (zucchini flowers), as enjoyable to eat as they are to look at! It’s a super easy antipasto or side dish that takes just under half an hour to cook. Take your flowers, and fill them with ricotta and anchovies, sprinkling a little bit of Parmigiano Reggiano (and nutmeg, if you feel inclined!). Really, you can fill them with whatever you fancy, be it potatoes, provola, ham or mozzarella, baking them or frying them according to your tastes. The options are endless! They are as tasty at room temperature as they are when hot, so if the temperatures are climbing out there and you fancy dining on something fresher, it’s best to leave them a while before digging in!

Have a wonderful month!

Yours,

Jennifer