One very special aspect to travel is trying local food. Italian cuisine is known around the world, almost everywhere one travels they can find some form of pizza or pasta. But to be in Italy and tasting the real deal? How blessed am I. Oh to eat amazing food in Florence Italy is indeed a pleasure.
Pasta
To be honest, I am usually not a huge pasta fan. I try to limit my carbs and unfortunately pasta is just that. However, one place I will most certainly make an exception, is in the destination that specializes in pasta. Something I find amazing about Italian pasta, are the number of varieties. It’s astounding to go to a grocery shop here, and peruse the pasta isle. Almost criminal to purchase the dry form, for over at the deli is just as much but freshly made.
It’s the simplicity of Italian pasta dishes that intrigues me. With very few ingredients, the flavour that can be created is simply incredible. I still remember my first Cacio e Pepe in Rome in 2018. With only three ingredients, I was left completely in awe. Because the ingredients themselves are of such quality and picked at peak perfection, the cuisine can be simple yet sublime.
Here in Florence, I have had family members with me for a few days, so I have been able to justify spending on dining out. This is a rarity for me, as I usually cook at my homes, to save money. Pasta dishes I have eaten in Florence have been some of the best and conversely, the least enjoyable I have had.
What to Try?
The best was hands down the Pici pasta with egg, pecorino cheese, pepper and crispy jowls at Osteria Lucignolo. Wow just wow.
Worst was the Cappellacci al Tartufo Fresco (stuffed Tuscan pasta filled with ricotta and spinach with fresh truffle) at Trattoria da Chef Enrico. This was the most expensive pasta dish I tried at €19 and I received two shells with cold stuffing and flavourless sauce. This particular restaurant is definitely geared for tourists, no locals were present, so that tells you all you need to know right there.
Other pastas were the Pici sul Cinghiale (pici pasta with aromatic wild boar ragu) at Trattoria Boboli. Tastes exactly like Chef Boyardee. My kiddos enjoyed these additional dishes immensely.
Beef
Florence is known for its beef, well more specifically the Florentine steak. A massively thick T-bone that is shared between two people. Often restaurants will have meat cases in their front windows, to entice hungry passers by. While I did not order one, the kids did and they raved about it. Costs generally start at €60 for one steak and increase from there.
The three of us did share other cuts of beef on two occasions and both times, they were phenomenal, melt in your mouth, and full of flavour.
I did enjoy a type of beef stew at two restaurants. One in particular, at Trattoria Cesarino was incredible. The gravy full of richness and loaded with peppercorns. The second was at a small local eatery inside a market called Trattoria Rocco. This was a quick lunch in amongst the locals and a perfectly delightful experience.
Sweets
Two places I have to rave about. The first is the gelato from Rivareno Gelato, oh my. My little cup contained two flavours, fig and salted pistachio. The latter was absolutely divine and enters my dreams regularly.
For sweets the best place without a doubt is called Forno Ghibellina and I urge you to visit if in Florence. The ambience is one of warmth and cute chic. There is a constant line of locals, the best sign a place is amazing.
Bakery Bliss
I was told by the chef I shared a taxi with on my first day, that I must taste the maritozzo. Both I and my daughter saw these in the case, looked at each other and knew it was a given that we would be ordering this along with our cappuccinos, fresh squeezed orange juice, cake, and hazelnut tarte.
The Ghibellina maritozzo, let me try and describe this pastry. Think gently flavourful, somewhat dense yeast roll, not overly sweet but fresh like it just came from the oven. Now slather that with the most delicate and lightly sweetened cloud of heavenly cream and you have yourself a perfect, absolutely perfect, maritozzo. It’s the type of pasty you dream about, the cream almost cool as it touches your tongue.
Everything at this bakery/café was amazing and this is coming from someone who is a little bit of a pastry, baking, all things goodie snob.
Visitors to Florence will have no shortage of places to snack and dine. From your perfectly rich cup of coffee to begin your day, to that last sweet taste of gelato as you wobble home from dinner and everything in-between. Taste it all, but look for key signs that tell you where the locals are eating for the best experience. If you see English on the menu? Not there. If you see only tourists inside? Not there. If someone is standing out front beckoning you in? Not there. Enjoy!
