Traditional Food of Florence, Italy: Mama Mia! The Food is Great!

The traditional food of Italy reflects celebration of life and love and the never-ending romance with food.  Tourists are surprised that eating is a relished national pastime.  Meals are eaten not merely to satisfy hunger pangs to savor the rich flavors and textures. 

La Dolce Vita

It's a slow dance that takes one through appetizers, first course, followed by a second course served with a side dish.  Meal times takes at least two hours and sometimes even longer when wine and coffee is served.  People take it slow to enjoy and relax and have a good time with family and friends.

On weekends, restaurants and sidewalk cafes are crowded with locals and tourists who mix good food with fun meeting old friends and forging new friendships over a plate of cold cuts, followed with rice dishes or pizza, then meat and succulent chicken or fish and vegetables.  The meal ends with fruit and cheese, and heavenly cakes or gelato.  An after meal drink of coffee or wine is served.  The coffee is their equivalent to tea to help the digestive system, hence it is called digestivo.

Dining out in Italy is a tourist attraction in itself.  It's an experience no tourist must miss.  Everyone should try classy restaurants and unpretentious joints that serve great Italian food and pizza.  Follow the trail to bars that serve that serve excellent Italian food - pastas and pastries, and meaty sandwiches for the carnivore.  Extra virgin olive oil is always used in most dishes adding a healthy zing to the food.

The traditional food of Florence is typical of all Italian cuisine though there are regional influences evident in the dishes.  Where Florence food is both cheap and tasty, the place is always swarming with the locals who prefer traditional Florentine dishes.  The preparation of these dishes demand the freshest of fish and meat and using the same simple peasant tradition of cooking hearty and tasty meats, fish, vegetables, and pasta.  

Florentine steak is an A-lister in all restaurants.  This is the Florentine version of the T-bone steak but juicier and meatier.  This is cooked on the grill and served with a wedge of lemon.  One serving can fully satisfy two hungry tourists.  Tourists swear though that they always tackle one serving after a day of exploring the neighborhood, the hillsides, and old museums.

The steak goes perfectly with the soups, also done in the old-fashioned way.  The ribollita is the champion of soups.  The main ingredients used are stale bread and black cabbage.  Tomato lovers can have a tomato based soup anytime they want it.  The pappa con il pomodoro is thickened with bread.  After all that high brow cuisine, this simple but hearty soup can fill you up for another round of sightseeing.

For your Florence holiday, cap it with a stay in a holiday apartment with all the modern amenities of the good life.  Make your reservation ahead of your trip and check out what the package includes.  Reserving your Florence Lodging online is the fastest way to get yourself a nice and comfortable place - which you deserve without going broke.

Find more information in our Florence guide.

Are you looking for a good destination for you next vacation check our Vienna guide.