Tuscan roots. Nordic touch

With pride and humility, I am taking over a neighbourhood classic that has been part of Casciana Terme for nearly thirty years. I fell instantly for the soul of Il Merlo — its authenticity, its warmth and its deep connection to the place that surrounds it. To the hills, the woods and the people. To local ingredients, treated with care, and wines made by remarkable growers just a few kilometres from our door. My ambition is not to reinvent Il Merlo, but to continue its story. To preserve and honour the traditions of Tuscan cooking, while allowing the restaurant to evolve naturally with me as its new chef and owner. I come from Norway, and more than ten years in the kitchen have inevitably shaped the way I cook. Those experiences will find their way onto the plate — sometimes subtly, sometimes more visibly — but Il Merlo will remain firmly rooted in Tuscany. A Tuscan restaurant, with a little piece of Norway in its heart.