Is Florence for foodies? Food & Drink

When I told family and friends my destination for the second half of my year abroad, I was usually met with the response: “Wow, Florence is a beautiful city, you’ll absolutely love it!”, however, to my surprise, no one ever mentioned the food. To me, good food was associated with the entirety of Italy, so I was perplexed as to why everyone was only talking about art and architecture when I mentioned Florence While art and architecture really are such important aspects of the city that make it as remarkable as it is and nothing should ever take away from that – the Florentines also make some outstandingly delicious food Although Florence may not be famed for its pizza like Naples or its pasta like Bologna, it offers so many of its own regional culinary delights – and let’s not forget about the Tuscan wine

Florence is renowned for its high-quality meats with the most famous dish hailing from the city being the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) This Tbone steak from the Chianina breed is an absolute must try if you visit the Birthplace of the Renaissance. When you order this dish, you do not choose how you would like the meat cooked, but instead the chef serves it how they best see fit with this cut – and it never misses the mark Usually served with roast potatoes or cannellini beans, it is the perfect dish all year round.

Another notable staple of the Florentine cuisine is Lampredotto Lampredotto is primarily street food, and it is a sandwich made from tripe – the fourth stomach of a cow – and a crusty bread roll. It is made by stewing the organ with tomato, onion, carrot, celery, and a collection of herbs, and once cooked, thinly sliced, placed in the roll, and topped with spicy salsa verde While this meat may not sound like the most tantalising dish, your taste buds will be suggesting something different!

Another local delicacy you can discover in Florence is schiacciata, a type of bread that can not only be found in Florence, but throughout all of Tuscany It is very similar to focaccia except it is much crispier, chewier and flatter (schiacciata literally means flatten or squashed in Italian!) It is often used to make a variety of sandwiches using meats, cheeses, and vegetables, or is just eaten on its own as a flatbread, often topped with tomatoes and herbs. You will find this bread freshly made in most sandwich shops up and down the city for a very reasonable price - it is the perfect lunch on-the-go

And finally, I cannot talk about Florentine cuisine without celebrating Tuscan wine. Tuscany is most known for its red wines, more specifically, its Sangiovese-based dry reds These grapes make some of the most sought-after wines in the region, and across the world. For example, the Chianti Classico, the Brunello di Montalcino, and the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Any of these wines are a must-try if you are visiting Florence, especially if you are indulging in a Bistecca alla Fiorentina

In conclusion, Florence is one of the most beautiful cities of art and architecture in the world, but it is also the home of multiple regional culinary delights where there truly is something for everyone – so yes, Florence absolutely is for foodies!

by Lydia Brindley