Earning a Livelihood in Tuscany, Really

When I post on social media, I have to crack up at the posts I get. Such as, ‘Wow, enjoy!’ or 'I’m jealous!’ Because these posts imply that we’re living a charmed life, where daily pressures and worries are non-existent. Yes, there is charm. There is the natural beauty of the countryside just a few minutes away from our home. There are real medieval castles. Yes, there is amazing farm-fresh food available to us every day–and at reasonable cost. But its also about work, keeping our business solvent and growing, which has been a lot tougher in these economically challenged times. And Italy has really felt the pinch. Fortunately for us, work has been steady these past few years, though we never know what’s coming just around the corner. Since most of our work originates from overseas, we like to do home-based projects with the scope of aiding the economy and local businesses we admire. And that means we donate our time and resources to do that. We recently shot footage in her tastefully appointed restaurant that has received great reviews in touted guides like Gambero Rosso.

The sweet restaurant/bistro Uva Spina is in the historic medieval center of our city, literally steps from our home. It is one of a handful of “young” businesses that have opened over the past few years. That’s been a challenge given that so many shopping areas have shifted to brand-new commercial centers with big chain stores, many with really cheesy names, outside Italy’s moribund historical centers, and independently owned businesses have taken a big hit because of this trend. So I say, if you visit Italy, please spend your dollars in the smaller, independent stores when you can!Boasting an elegantly prepared menu and an excellent wine selection (and not just Chianti), the restaurant/bistro has a mix of dedicated local clientele and foreigners visiting this lovely corner of Tuscany. To keep her business going in turbulent financial times, the talented owner/chef is now planning a relaunch to tap into a younger market by creating more affordable, but equally delicious, dishes. The relaunch team was great to work with and we’re equally happy with our footage. We’ll be going into the editing room shortly to edit the promo during the next month. We’ll also be profiling chef-owner, a local valdarnese, who cooked a private lunch at our home for a party of 10. Stay tuned!