Roses are in Bloom at Villa San Michele, Florence

  • May 26, 2011
Roses are in Bloom at Villa San Michele, Florence
Offering a floral experience with a difference, Orient-Express' Villa San Michele in Florence, has introduced a series of creative dishes and cocktails using the world's favourite bud, the rose!

Available from now until October, while the roses are in bloom, Villa San Michele (a property renowned for its Tuscan cooking school and exceptional gourmet offering) is inviting guests to delve into the delicious delights of this flower, picked from the hotels very own rose garden.

Afternoon Tea is served with fresh iced tea perfumed with rosebuds and petals, accompanied by delectable rose scented petit fours.

Served in the Villa San Michele garden at sunset, guests can sip on carefully crafted cocktails including the Rose Scented Martini and the Sparkling Love cocktail that combines prosecco with rose purée. For the perfect complement, guests can indulge in rose fried petals, a mouth-watering treat ideal for the summer.

Executive chef, Attilio de Fabrizio has created three fresh, light and seasonal dishes to be served in Villa San Michele's elegant, Loggia Restaurant. As a starter guests can indulge in a Field Green Salad with Rose Petals, Vignola Cherries and a Balsamic Vinegar Dressing, followed by a Rose Petal and Wild Strawberry Risotto and finally, for those with a sweet tooth Rose Scented Cooked Cream Including Wild Berry Gelatine and Green Apple Sherbet.

The Rose Experience at Villa San Michele has blossomed following the success of the hotels rose garden, which now features seven different varieties. These magnificent specimens fill Villa San Michele with bright colours and sweet-smelling aromas. There are red roses (Crimson Glory) that symbolise passion and love, orange roses (Westerland Rose) that are a mark of charm, white roses (Iceberg) that represent spiritual love, yellow roses (Rimosa and Goldeneer Olymp) to denote freedom and pink roses (Pierre de Ronsard and Lolita), as a sign of joy and gratitude.

A double room at Villa San Michele starts from 946 Euros (approx £843) inc VAT, per room per night, based on two sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.

Hotel Profile: Villa San Michele