Italy-UK PARTNERSHIP

LIFESTYLE | 17 www.italchamind.eu O nce one of the most beloved restaurants in Crouch End, North London, Florians was a must-go for the Italian community in the charming neighbourhood.  Located just behind the historic Clock Tower, erected in 1895, the restaurant gained an excellent reputation over the years thanks to the owner and host Franco. Sadly, after almost 20 years, the restaurant closed in 2008. When Simon Piovesan, owner of the restaurant 2Veneti (Marylebone, London), heard that the venue was back on the market, he decided to start a new adventure and bring Florians back. With the precious help of Franco, the venue was re-built on the basis of the original one, keeping the bar area, Florians 2 After 10 years the Italian restaurant in Crouch End has re-opened its doors the posters and the paintings, and building a private dining room with a wine cellar, using old wooden barrels as structure for a beautiful table located in the centre of the room. The cellar, furthermore, contains about 100 Italian wines to accompany the food selection. Florians 2 – the name referring to the second chapter of the restaurant’s life – opened its doors in May 2018. A CASUALWEEK-END LUNCH First things first. We had a table booked for a Sunday lunch, which took almost four hours. As we were there, we did not see the time passing, being spoilt by the staff of the restaurant, immersed in such a casual and familiar atmosphere. None of the guests, from what we saw, stayed for a short lunch – they all took their time to enjoy family and friends time, without fearing they would be asked to leave the table. We really felt like being home for a week-end lunch.  As we read the menu, we noticed typical regional dishes from all over Italy, reflecting the use of quality ingredients in traditional recipes. We were welcomed with an appetizer served on a wooden chopping board: a burrata mozzarella placed over a selection of charcuterie (salami, prosciutto di parma and mortadella) accompanied by fresh bread and focaccia.  The selection was marvellous, so we decided not to order another appetizer but to focus on primi and secondi courses, the way Italian dishes are usually classified.  I chose a plate of homemade gnocchi with wild boar ragout and taggiasche olives (my favourite), which was followed by veal scaloppini in Amarone wine sauce with Dijon mustard and mash potato. My friend, instead, opted for the plates of the day: risotto with peppers and duck, and then swordfish as “second” course. All the dishes were paired with wine selected by our waiter, who accompanied us throughout the meal and eventually surprised us with a choice of two desserts: a cream made of mascarpone, chocolate and amaretto, with pistachio sauce and a slice of orange crostata from the brunch menu. Florians 2, in fact, recently introduced a brunch menu that is available on weekends.  To conclude, what made our experience so good – in addition to the food, which was excellent – were Franco and his staff, who made us feel welcome and comfortable all afternoon. · Florians 2 4 Topsfield Parade Middle Lane, N8 8PR London www.florians2.com