Eating My Way Around Florence This Summer

As one can imagine, Tuscany has some of the best food in the world. Florence specifically has some treasures I have found, and continue to go back to. From paninos to gelato, there is something for everyone, and I am going to tell you about some of my favorites.

First an Italian staple, and my first "meal" here: gelato. When I arrived in Florence and dropped my belongings off after many hours of travel, I needed something refreshing and light before dinner. What better to have than gelato? Around the corner from my Airbnb for the night was Vivoli, one of the oldest gelaterias in Italy. I got a small cup for just a couple of euros, with pistachio and coffee flavors. I may just have an affinity for Vivoli since it was the first gelateria I visited, but it remains my favorite. CEA CAPA provided us with a great gelato walking tour where the staff took us to some of their favorite places such as Rivareno. One thing to look for when finding great quality gelato is to stay away from the places that have their gelato displayed in huge mounds in the display case.

The first gelato I had in Florence.

Another food that I get more often than I'd like to admit are paninos or schiacciata. These are sandwiches that are usually huge made with a thin Italian bread and a variety of fillings. A local favorite, especially among CEA CAPA students, is Pino's. Pino is there every day cutting the meat for the sandwiches, and it is right around the corner from CEA CAPA, which makes it a good place to grab lunch in between classes. My favorite from there is the Kacie Rose Special. This one has ham, burrata, sun-dried tomatoes, lettuce, and truffle sauce. The sun-dried tomatoes I have had so far in Florence have been the best I have ever had. Another one of my favorite places is La Nicchietta. One of the CEA CAPA staff members was leading my group on a tour of Florence and allowed us to stop here for lunch. She then showed us her favorite choice from La Nicchietta which we all got. Now it is mine and my roommates' favorite go-to schiacciata. The one we get is the number 5: soft goat cheese and tuscan salami with fennel. Sometimes we add fresh tomato but the sandwich is also incredible as is.

Tuscan salami and goat cheese schiacciata from La Nicchietta.

Would it be an Italian food post if I did not talk about Pasta? The pasta here has been miles above anything I have had in the States. Specifically my favorites are tortellini, gnocchi, and then any kind of seafood pasta. The seafood in the pasta here is always so fresh it is just incredible. I had a pistachio shrimp gnocchi dish early in my program here that was one of the best meals of the entire trip.

Pistachio and shrimp gnocchi.

My first truffle pasta experience.

Lastly, some quick mentions for two of my other favorites: risotto and pizza. Risotto has always been a favorite food of mine but it has been an entirely different experience in Italy. Seafood risotto, vegetable risotto, really any kind of risotto has been delicious here. The pizza has been amazing as well. All of the pizza I have had here has been thinner with a crispier crust. I tend to stick with a margherita because it is just so simple and always amazing.

This seafood risotto is one of the best meals I have had here.

The first pizza I had on the day I arrived in Florence.