Personal Perspective: The Local Food Scene in Florence
Our JBF team members have wrapped up the first week of event planning in Florence. What’s their take on Florence? Theresa Brazale shares her views on how she’s been eating behind the scenes of TuttoToscana!
An Appetite For Adventure
As a student of the Apicius International School of Hospitality, we are coming to the end of our first official week in Florence. As part of the event planning team for the TuttoToscana events to be held at James Beard Foundation in New York City, we are encouraged to experience firsthand the people, customs, and my favorite thing about any culture, the food! By truly experiencing Florence, we can then properly portray the essence of Tuscany to our guests attending the events on October 22 – 25. Which brings us to this week’s assignment, a documentation of our experiences thus far based on Florence cuisine. Sounds like a tough task I know, but someone had to do and I was ready to take on the challenge one delicious meal at a time! So as I hit the streets of Florence and the surrounding areas, here’s a little peek at my findings thus far.
Diversity: The food in Florence is as diverse as its people and its landscape. From the idyllic hilltops of Fiesole to the city streets of Florence, there is something for everyone here. From Santo Spirito to Santa Croce, each varying neighborhood seems to offer a myriad of possibilities with their own personal take on the local cuisine. While mixing tradition and innovation, Florence can appear both simple and complex at the same time. While touring the streets, I couldn’t help but notice the mixing of the old and the new. From the traditional, old-style pizzeria located next to a modern, eclectic bistro, I was able to simultaneously witness the past and the future of Florence. The fact that a city can still honor its long-standing traditions and heritage, while also embracing the future of cutting-edge cuisine, really says something special about this amazing place!
Passion: It’s been said that you are what you eat … so I say, eat with all your heart! In my experience here, I’ve noticed that the people of Florence are passionate about their food and wine. From your corner bakery, to the butcher, to the wine producers, everyone here projects a sense of pride and honor in their offerings. From morning till night, this passion radiates through the streets of Florence and is contagious, enticing you around every turn. This love affair of food for me starts in the morning as the delicious smell of pastries waft out of the local bakeries inviting me to devour them. Next is the ever present gelato stands, tempting me each day to try out the latest flavor. In the afternoon, it’s shopping at the San Lorenzo market where you can’t help but get caught up in the buzz of excitement in the air. Finally, the evening comes and you’re drawn into the magic of Florence at night while socializing and feasting with friends at a local aperitivo.
Adventure: The best way to learn about a place is to taste it and luckily for me, Florence has been a wonderful teacher! My advice to anyone traveling to Florence is to approach food like you approach life …. Be Adventurous, Take Chances, and Be Open To Possibilities! During this week, I have allowed the sights, smells, and tastes of Florence to be my tour guide as I searched for the cities hidden treasures. This sense of adventure, led me to gooey pizzerias, scrumptious trattorias, and local steakhouses where the bistecca alla fiorentina makes you weak in the knees. It even led me to a secret bakery for pastries at midnight (based on a tip from a local) where I was treated to what can only be described as little pieces of heaven. As for being open to possibilities, I’m one for trying all of the local Florentine delicacies at least once including the odd, but wildly popular Tripe. In which I soon discovered that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of ingredients is sometimes the best way to go with foreign cuisine. Throughout this week of culinary delight, I discovered that Florence has a lot to offer. As a result of this assignment, I can attest that my budget and pant size have never been tighter. And yet, my heart and soul have never been richer as I continue to be captivated by this city.
Remember, ART is all around you” in Florence including the FOOD.
Ciao for now, I’m off in search of my next great meal!
– Theresa Brazale, Special Event Management Team