So let’s talk about my gourmet tour of Florence, a fun way to discover the food and the markets of Florence. My tour includes San Lorenzo Central Market and Sant’Ambrogio Market that we will reach walking through Piazza Duomo and the Middle Ages district. The Central Market is larger and more touristy while Sant’Ambrogio is smaller and always busy with locals. They have one thing in common: the products they sell are of extremely high quality! Most of them come from local farms (for example cheese, olive oil and meat among the others) and the ingredients they use to prepare local specialties are always fresh and genuine.
We will easily reach the city markets with a nice stroll and I will explain you how wine was sold 'till the last century through our “buche del vino” (wine doors) that you can still find in hidden corners of the city. In the two markets that we will see during our gourmet tour, you will experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of these historic landmarks. You will also find out how little things have changed during the centuries! You will recognize the main ingredients that are commonly used in Tuscan cuisine and see how they are accurately selected. You will learn about the origins of some of our traditional dishes, such as the pappa al pomodoro or Lampredotto.It will be fun to experience the mouth watering smell in the air close to one of the oldest street-food vendors in Florence while preparing Lampredotto, Coccoli and Bombolone. Lampredotto is similar to tripes, it’s one of the stomachs of the cow that’s boiled with vegetable broth and dressed with a special herbs sauce in a panino (sandwich, roll). It is commonly sold by street food vendors and MUST be accompanied with a glass of red wine! Coccoli instead are bites of bread dough which are deep fried into boiling olive or seeds oil and salted, like a small ball of fried bread. The Bombolone is pastry, filled with chocolate or cream, it can be described as being similar to a donut... but I have to say it tastes much better and if you don’t trust me, you better try it!
Schiacciata is one of Tuscany’s best bakery treats, it’s made with flour, water, yeast, salt and olive oil. It looks as a flat bread and it’s so yummy especially if you eat it with Tuscan prosciutto or salami... And talking about prosciutto or ham, did you know that there are more than 30 different varieties of ham in Italy? During your gourmet tour you will find out the main differences and learn how they are made. You will taste a typical Tuscan salami that you won’t find anywhere else, the fragrant finocchiona, a salami that’s been created for the first time in the Middle Ages and it’s characterized for the use of fennel seeds that give it a special aroma.
Last but not least, at the end of our food and wine tour you will be able to spot a high quality gelato and to distinguish it from the less genuine ice cream thanks to the tips I will give you. Get ready to choose among many delicious flavors….pistacchio, stracciatella, crema buontalenti….you will soon get addicted to them!
The gourmet tour of Florence will be the most perfect experience you can do to treat yourself and to get into the locals’ traditions. Let me know if there is something in particular that you would like to taste and I will include it in our tour. Let me know if you have some food allergies or if you are vegetarian and I will do my best to create the most mouth watering experience for you!
For more information and suggestions on the best tour for your needs, please contact me at info@guidedtoursofflorence.com