Florence in Winter

The first time I visited the gorgeous city of Florence it was over New Years Eve while travelling form Switzerland down to Rome. What a crazy experience it was! First stop into Italy in 2015 was at a truck stop for fresh toasted panini filled with mortadella and mozzarella cheese while chilling our beers in the snow where our bus had pulled up ready for the celebrations.

As midnight approaches all patrons in the restaurants are given plastic cups to take drinks outside for the last moments of the year coming to an end. Fireworks echo through the narrow streets and teenagers set off crackers through the squares signifying the new year. Surprisingly not as cold as I was expecting either for the middle of winter!

Before we conclude this whirlwind of a visit, off to Palazzo Medici Riccardo for a big bowl of pasta. As you were seated, a waiter came out to give everyone a blanket to put over their laps while sitting under a heater staring at the Fountain of Neptune. A simple yet delicious tagliatelli with lots of garlic and mushrooms was the perfect way to bring in the New Year and I’ve loved this dish ever since.

Ahh smell the leather…

Back to a summer Florentine food adventure and boy was there a lot of food!

All’antico Vinaio: YOU CANNOT VISIT FLORENCE AND NOT EXPERIENCE THIS!!! Every single person I have sent here has stated that this is the best sandwich they’ve ever had in their lives! The most famous sandwich shop in Florence that can have up to an hour wait that’s well worth it. Fresh focaccia bread with fillings such as Sbricolona salami, pecorino cream cheese, artichoke cream, truffle cream, spiced grilled eggplants, Tuscan ham, stracchino cheese, rocket etc
There is a menu with the top sandwiches and not one would ever disappoint and all around €5!

Central Market; This is a foodcourt like market/bar in Florence and here you can get everything from pizzas, pasta, fried seafood, drinks or a wedge from Trapizzino. Todays filling was spiced roasted pumpkin topped with almonds and parmesan cheese with a side of Aperol and a view of one of the many screens playing the soccer.

Trattoria Katti; A family owned restaurant with one of the most charming waiters ever! Started with a fresh tomato and onion salad covered in EVO. Spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and vongole as the main, lots of garlic and parsley made this delicious. To finish, a coffee affogato were the ice cream ball had been rolled in meringue, yumm

Il David Ristirante; Pizza time!!! One thing I adore about Italian pizzas are the thin soft base. The unusual thing about the toppings on this pizza is that they were all divided into sections – 1/4 olives, 1/4 mushrooms, 1/4 artichoke, 1/4 ham! Recommend the house red and a good chat with the waiters who all seem to be related and have relations in Australia!

Gelateria dei Neri; Late night stroll wouldn’t be the same without a gelati! Tonights picks – Coffee and pistachio. Creamy, rich, delicious and all served with a black wafer.

Rooftop bars; Aprivito is so very necessary, order drinks and they are served with some nibbles. Top spots include La Terrazza for Negronis & La Rinacente for a lemon cucumber spritz!

Florence Train Station; I spent a lot of time as I used Florence as a hub on my travels and soon came to have a few go to spots at the station. The cafe closest to the 3rd platform is my top spot for a cornetto overflowing with pistachio cream and an espresso to see you off on your journey.

Truffle & Wine Tour

The beauty of travelling to Florence in mid August is black berry truffle season! Off we head to San Miniato, just outside of Florence for this once in a lifetime experience. We joined Italy Food and Wine tours for this trip!

One of the best experiences of my life! About an hour out of Florence we meet our guide and her little truffle champion dog on their farm ready to hunt for these precious morsels. The smell of a fresh truffle is indescribable and after finding a few, throwing some back and feasting on some cheeky blackberries we head back to the farm for our afternoon truffle feast.

In the kitchen I could very much see myself cooking in, 2 older ladies prepared a truffle degustation. Toasts topped with extra virgin olive oil, hand sliced prosciutto, cheese and a drizzle of truffle honey. Toasts topped with white truffle paste and thinly sliced black berry truffles. Fried radicchio leaves with balsamic glaze, zucchini stuffed with cheese then roasted, then the hero, toast that was cooked in a pan with oil then when flipped an egg added to the top to fry and finished off with more fresh berry truffles.

Two types of pasta came next; Fresh fettuccini in a simple oil and garlic sauce topped with a healthy serving of truffle. Then came the handmade gnocchi with olive oil, fresh grated romano cheese, parsley and more of those delicious wafers of black truffle. To lighten the pallet after all of this food all accompanied by wine made on the farm we finished off with fresh grapes and plums from the garden as well as a rockmelon sorbet. So fresh and delicious, oh and don’t forget the double serving of dessert wine that had an alcohol content of 40%!

Needless to say, we all had a nap on the bus on our detour of a drive home via many ancient vineyards. Our afternoon was spent learning about Chianti wines, the wine makers and the hugely competitive wine industry in Italy. These also were accompanied by more cheese and fatty delightful cold cuts to break up the pallet while wine tasting and you could not say no to that!

What I would give to do this whole day over again and again!!!

FYI pigs are no longer used for truffle hunting as they tend to destroy the truffle once it is discovered.