On January 9, Italian fashion label Gucci opened the doors to its first fashion-food venue. Gucci Osteria, a 50-seater restaurant in Florence, is part of Gucci Garden, a multi-level venture that also has a museum, 30-seat cinema, boutique and gift shop, all housed inside the 14th-century Palazzo della Mercanzi. The eatery will be headed by chef Massimo Bottura, the man behind the three Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana, which was named the best restaurant in the world in 2016. The chef has described the venture as haute couture meets haute cuisine, which he said is "a recipe made in heaven". On the menu are Bottura's popular pasta dishes, including Parmigiano-Reggiano tortellini, cacio e pepe and mushroom risotto. However, perhaps in keeping with his reported weakness for Shake Shack, the chef also offers hot dogs and burgers — at Gucci-esque prices, of course. Peruvian-style tostadas, Asian baos and a dessert inspired by piña colada are some of the other items on the menu, which have been inspired by the chef's world travels. Dishes start from Dh100. Bottura is also gearing up to open a restaurant at W Dubai on The Palm Jumeirah — an Italian eatery called Torno Subito — later this year, and was in the UAE last October. <strong>______________</strong> <strong>Read more</strong> <strong>______________</strong>
