Locanda Sant'Antimo

We left with full stomachs and very full hearts. The family, chef, and staff were incredibly patient and warm, even with the language barrier, and they didn't charge us anything extra for the special requests. We're from India and vegetarian, and two friends only eat Jain food, which rules out root vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, eggplant, and mushrooms. We weren't expecting much choice in the mountains, or even to find an English-speaking restaurant, but this family went to great lengths to understand us. Lorenzo spoke only Italian, so he called his son Cristian, who knew a little English and did his best. Cristian, his mother, and the chef worked together with translation tools and a lot of patience. On our first evening they could offer cheese pasta and pizza, since the tomato sauce was already cooked with garlic, and there was no egg-free dessert available. We asked if they could make tomato sauce pasta and pizza without garlic, plus tiramisu without egg, if we returned the next day. They did, with huge smiles and such generous spirit. It was Italian hospitality at its best, and we couldn't have asked for more. Indian travelers heading to the Tuscan hills should visit Cristian and the restaurant. For Jain food, call ahead and send the request in writing, ideally translated from English into Italian, so they can prepare.