Insider’s Florence | Savor Florence

Florentine food tour? Count me in!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — My first treat of the day.

Syracuse University Florence puts a big emphasis on students getting to know the city they’re living in. One of the ways they accomplish this is by offering a series of trips called “Insider’s Florence.” Last Saturday’s Insider’s Florence was particularly appealing – it was a food tour. We were told to bring our appetites and a sense of adventure, and to prepare to both taste and learn about some of the best Florence has to offer.

We started the day at a local pastry shop for a “typical” Italian breakfast. We learned that Italians generally choose sweets for their first meal of the day, and then we learned about the different types of pastries and how to order them in Italian. I chose a fruit and custard pastry (shown above). It was delicious!

Then, we made our way across the street to a coffee shop that takes particular pride in its coffee. We learned about the differences between Italian and American coffee (espresso, anyone?) and at which times of the day it’s appropriate to drink which types of coffee.

We learned that the cappuccino – a favorite among American students and visitors – is traditionally never taken after noontime. That’s because Italians suspect that warm milk is bad for your digestion after lunch. However, since it was still early, we were able to enjoy the foamy treat anyway. We even got to see how it was made!

Now properly caffeinated, it was time for us to head toward Florence’s Sant’Ambrogio Market. This market has been in operation since 1873 and is still a favorite among locals. I can see why! The wide variety of fruits and vegetables, homemade pastas and sauces, fish, meats, cheeses and other specialty products – almost all of which are made or grown in Italy – was mind-boggling.

Having worked up a bit of an appetite after walking around the market, it was time to learn about another Italian tradition – appertivo. Appertivo is a designated extended appetizer time, featuring special drinks and small snacks. It’s usually enjoyed before dinner time, but since the tour didn’t last through dinner, we had it before lunch instead.

A finished appertivo meant that it was time for lunch! We made our way toward the city’s center to a little restaurant serving up traditional Tuscan staples. Here, a healthy sense of adventure was almost more important than a healthy appetite.

Italian meals are generally served in multiple courses. Our first course featured a sampling of Tuscan meats.

Then came a sampling of traditional sides dishes.

Lastly, the main course.

After eating all that, we were left wondering how we could possibly fit anything else in our stomachs. But of course, there is *always* room for gelato.