If food is your forte then Florence is the city for you!
Florentine food is influenced by its medieval history and geography. Their most famous dish is Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Steak Florentine), which is a t-bone cut of steak weighing between 2-8lbs. It’s cooked on a grill, over roasted chestnuts to provide a smoky flavour and it’s seasoned with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Chargrilled on the outside and pink in the middle. It should always be cooked in this fashion and the chef would be offended if you request it to be cooked to your liking, we would therefore not recommend this dish if you do not like your meat on the rare side. If you fancy trying this local delicacy then, due to its size, you might want to share this with a friend or colleague. If you do order this dish in a restaurant then don’t be alarmed if your server shows you the meat, prior to cooking- this is all part of the experience. It’s an opportunity for you to admire the cut of meat before it’s cooked.
Another Florentine dish is Lampredotto, this is one that might not be to everyone’s taste- it’s a sandwich made of tripe. You can order it with a spicy sauce or green sauce. You will find this dish served at street vendors and outdoor markets around the city.
As you would expect in Italy there are many great pasta dishes to try. Local pasta dishes worth noting are:
- Pappardelle al Cinghiale, a wild boar ragu served on flat pasta, similar to wide fettuccine.
- Pici al Ragu Di Cinghiale, similar to the above but served on a traditional Tuscan pasta, known locally as ‘pici’. Pici are thick, hand-rolled pasta, like fat spaghetti, normally it contains no egg and is stretched by hand.
- Tagliatelle ai funghi e tartufi, a rich and creamy truffle mushroom and porcini mushroom sauce, served on tagliatelle.
Finally, you cannot go to Italy and not try the gelato. Florence is the birthplace of gelato, so it’s no surprise that many of the best gelaterias are here. Locals swear that La Carraia, located on the Oltrarno side of Ponte alla Carraia, is home to the best gelato anywhere. How many flavours can you try whilst you’re there? Let us know or better yet, tag ICS in your pictures #ICSMeeting.
Additional Information
Florence the food lover’s paradise PDF
ICS 2017