There is a discreet elegance in the way Florence welcomes certain events, transforming them into experiences that combine art, beauty, and flavor. This was the case for the presentation of “A Menu for Every Occasion”, the new book by food blogger and author Alice Del Re, which enlivened the refined Lucie – Mirror Room of the Tornabuoni Hotel.
More than just a presentation, the evening was a meeting of taste, emotion, and conviviality, in perfect harmony with the author’s style and the atmosphere of the famous Florentine hotel.
A gastronomic salon in the heart of Florence
The Lucie – Mirror Room at the Tornabuoni Hotel, with its reflections and soft lighting, was transformed for one evening into a veritable literary salon dedicated to food and memory.
The event was introduced by Marco Del Lama, General Manager of the hotel, who emphasized how the Tornabuoni shares with Alice’s book “the same vision of hospitality and beauty: both arise from the desire to make those around you feel good.”
The author welcomed the audience with her characteristic spontaneity and grace, recounting the genesis of her editorial project:
“A menu for every occasion,” she explained, “is the synthesis of ten years of Pane, Libri e Nuvole (Bread, Books and Clouds), the blog where it all began. At first, it was a space for sharing recipes, but it soon became my diary, a place to intertwine food, memories, and feelings.”
The book: fourteen menus to recount life
In the volume, Alice Del Re proposes fourteen themed menus designed to accompany the most significant moments of life.
There are intimate dinners and festive lunches, birthdays and evenings with friends, but also those ordinary days that become special when you light a candle and set the table with care.
“Each menu,” says Alice, “is a little story. There are the scents of my childhood, the flavors of my experiences, and the emotions of every season of life.”
The result is a book that blends recipes and storytelling, transforming cooking into an emotional language made up of details, gestures, and memories.
In the heart of Via de’ Il Tornabuoni, among Renaissance palaces and historic boutiques, Il Tornabuoni Hotel is a meeting place for art, hospitality, and contemporary style.
Its Lucie – Mirror Room welcomed guests with its usual refined atmosphere: warm lighting, fresh flowers, and attention to detail that made the evening even more special.
After the conversation with the author, the focus shifted to flavors. Chef Simone Tarchi, Executive Chef of Il Magnifico Restaurant, reinterpreted some recipes from the book, offering finger food inspired by Alice’s menus.
Alongside, glasses of sparkling wine and smiles accompanied a convivial moment that combined signature cuisine and authentic hospitality.
“It’s wonderful – commented the author – to see how my recipes take on new life thanks to the sensitivity of a chef. It proves that cooking is, first and foremost, about sharing.”
Alice Del Re, the gentle voice of food storytelling
Known for her polite tone and ability to combine aesthetics and simplicity, Alice Del Re is one of the most recognizable voices on the Italian food scene.
In her blog Pane, Libri e Nuvole (Bread, Books and Clouds), she has been writing about cooking as a form of expression and personal narrative for years. Her new book is a natural evolution of this: an invitation to rediscover the pleasure of preparing and sharing, with authenticity and grace.
“You don’t need a special occasion to cook with love,” Alice reminds us. “Every table can become special if you prepare it with care and a desire to welcome.”
Her philosophy resonates throughout the pages of the book as well as in her public presence: a cuisine made up of memories and everyday gestures, where taste meets soul.
In the background, Florence confirms itself as the ideal setting for events where culture and gastronomy intertwine naturally. The city, with its timeless elegance, is the perfect place to give voice to projects that speak of authenticity, creativity, and beauty.
In the dialogue between the writing of Alice Del Re and the hospitality of the Tornabuoni Hotel, a rare harmony was created, the kind that arises when food is not just nourishment, but a story, an emotion, a universal language.
The evening ended with toasts and light conversation in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, leaving those present with the feeling of having taken part in something intimate and precious: an encounter where cuisine becomes memory and conviviality becomes the art of living.
