Travel for Food Hub The Food Blog for Travel Lovers
Florence is home to some out-of-this-world meals. This Italian city might be famous for its magnificent renaissance arts masterpieces, but it is also known for its luxury Italian restaurants. These uniquely sophisticated eateries serve wide selections of traditional Tuscan cuisines.
Unfortunately, you won’t find these dishes anywhere in the world except in Florence. This is because every region in Italy has its own special regional ingredients, recipes, and flavors. Luckily, I have compiled a list of 6 traditional foods in Florence you can’t miss on your next visit. I am sure you will thank me later.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
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If you are a meat lover, then you will love this dish. Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a large T-bone, fire grilled on the outside and seasoned with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. It is, in fact, Florence’s most famous steak and it is served in almost every restaurant in Florence. But I have to warn you: bistecca alla fiorentina is meant to be shared and it is a little expensive. So make sure you go with a couple of friends. That way you can share the delicious meal and the cost.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale
If you had anything against wild boars in the past, you will definitely change your mind after tasting this meal. It is made from pappardelle, a type of pasta that is unique to the Tuscany region. Pappardelle are long, flat and wide, and for this meal, they are eaten with a sauce that is made from Cinghiale, a wild boar that is widely loved in Florence. The boar’s diet is rich in fruits and nuts, which makes the sauce surprisingly delicious.
Panzanella
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If Florence has the Bistecca alla Fiorentina for meat lovers, then panzanella is the perfect dish for salad lovers. It is the medieval salad of the Tuscan people. It is made with stale pieces of bread that are soaked in water, squeezed dry and then chopped into size, then diced tomatoes, onions, basil and, sometimes, pepper are added. Finally, the salad is dressed with olive oil and vinegar. It is a totally refreshing snack that is popular during the summer. So don’t forget to grab one when you visit Florence.
Pane Toscano
For this Florentine food, salt is intentionally left out. But don’t let that scare you off because it’s one of the best local foods in Florence. Pane Toscano is a large roundish loaf of bread that is baked without salt. It has a thick, chewy crust and it is made with sourdough, which gives it a slight tang.
TAKEAWAY: This bread was originally salted, but after a war that made salt expensive in the Tuscan regions, Florentines learned how to live without salt. And that tradition survived.
Schiacciata
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If you don’t like the Pane Toscano, you might consider tasting this instead. Unlike the former, this bread is salted, and it is quite flavorful. The Tuscans make theirs using more salt and oil to give the bread the token look and flavor of what they call schiacciata. This bread is thin and smashed, and it can be eaten as a snack or made into a sandwich.
Gelato
Gelato is famous throughout Italy, but I don’t think any is better than the ones prepared in Florence. It is made with base milk and sugar and was originally invented for Cosimo I De’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. But before you put your money into one, let me advise you. Avoid the sellers on the streets, and if the color of the pistachio flavor is anything brighter than a dull greenish brown, please take a walk. To enjoy a good gelato, have it for dessert at one of the luxury Italian restaurants.
