I like the quiet story—the one that runs alongside the main one. We set our sites on going somewhere “interesting,” doing something “meaningful,” and discover along the way that the quiet story is the one that stays with us.

Dario Cecchini, “To beef or not to beef. . .”

Sunday mid-day we went an hour south of Florence to Panzano for lunch at the restaurant, Officina della Bistecca (workshop of the steak). The owner is Dario Cecchini, who has been called the most famous butcher in all of Italy. He has been included in some American cookbooks, is known throughout Italy and is really a living legend. He’s tall, good-looking and gregarious. His staff has been trained in the sweet art of conviviality (cheerful and attentive, I’d say). Dario is so large a personality that when he enters a room, everyone(and I mean everyone) is immediately drawn to him. But here’s the thing—he’s a really nice, caring and generous man.

Josh – Italian Dreaming

We went to the Officina because we knew somebody who had taken an apprenticeship with Dario. Josh held a dream to study the fine art of butchery. Circumstances led him straight to Dario. He wasn’t alone. There were 4-5 apprentices there, from the four corners of the earth. Dario had said “yes” to each of them. Said “yes” to helping them follow their dreams. Josh was smitten with Italy and the Italian people, and rightly so. The only thing better than holding a dream is having it come true.

As I sat watching the drama of the moment, Dario quietly stole away from the cheering diners to embrace and nuzzle the face of his older brother Stefano. I don’t think anybody noticed but me. But then, again, I like the quiet story.