Europe 2022: Florence Bed and Bites

Our hotel was one block from the Arno River. We stayed at the Hotel Silla. Breakfast was the same as elsewhere but the the patio was lovely.

Florence food ranks up there with some of the best food we have ever had. When Mom and I knew we were going back to Florence, we knew we had to visit two places again for dinner. And that's exactly what we did. But first, I want to discuss the food tour.

We started with the aperitif hour at Club del Gusto. The hour is dedicated to whatever the bar has on hand for snack food. You pay for drinks, but, generally, the snacks are included. Now we tasted some specialties of the area, so it probably would not have been complimentary with a drink.

Here is Elaine trying the board. See that top right brown gooey stuff? That was some sort of offal (innards) paste. It was warm. Probably the only thing we all passed on.

As we walked, we were introduced to the wine windows or buchette del vino. Let me show you a few we found. During the plague, the people of Florence tried to find a way to survive in business but still eliminating any contact from person to person. This helped the business owners and people's spirits during that challenging time. Well, 2020 hit, and the wine windows were given new life. Many had been covered, but a few remained as actual doors that would open.

And then the only one still in use. It is at Babae. Conveniently, it was on our side of the river!

The next stop of our food tour was at a wine store. And, I can't find my notes for this anywhere. Ugh. We went down into one of the oldest cellars in Italy. And saw some bottles of wine and other liquor that was over a hundred years old.

Chianti was our primary tasting here once we went back upstairs. But on all of the bread, we got to taste the truffle cream. There was black truffle cream and white truffle cream. Have I said I love truffle?

This was a roped off area and the coldest room in the cellar.

From there, we enjoyed Florentine steak at Trattoria Sant'Agostino.

Traditional Florentine steak is always rare.

For lunch, we made a point to get a sandwich from All'Antico Vinaio after our Duomo tour. It was the perfect lunch back on the balcony at the hotel after a busy morning.

That truffle cream is in there. I can't remember which concoction I got. But let me tell you. You did not tarry once you got to the counter. The line was down the street, even with another storefront directly across the street!

Now, for dinner, I made reservations for both of these locations. First was Osteria San Spirito.

Al fresco dining is always my preferred way to dine.

Wrong order of events here but the secondi course was always a pile of meat.

The primi course is why we came back. Look at that truffle gnocchi. The pillows of potato pasta just melted in our mouths.

Our second night in Florence meant Mom and I were reunited with the Parmesan cheese wheel at Osteria Pastella. First, we arrived early. So we had a photo shoot.

Preparing the night's pasta.

Please look through these pictures. They start by setting the cheese wheel on fire. Then they let it rest. Then comes the piping hot pasta tossed in the cheese. And last, but never least, is the shaved truffle.

Perfection.

To end most meals, both lunch and dinner, we ate gelato.

One of our favorite spots was Gelateria la Carraia. Pistachio was one of my favorites. Elaine always got chocolate.

And these are everywhere, but it's good. And it was hot. And that is a chocolate wall. I mean you have to go.

Lastly, aperitif hour was enjoyed by all.

Aperol Spritz.

That lemon drink was the perfect refreshment after a long, hot day.

Unfortunately, that's all about Florence. It's one of my favorite places and I hope to be back soon.