When people think of Florence, a great majority of them cannot imagine anything beyond its architectural beauties. From the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella to the Ponte Vecchio, and from the Uffizi Gallery to Palazzo Pitti, Florence is famous all over the world for its historical center; accented by the craft shops and the great artistic and cultural heritage that has been handed down to the present day.
Tourists from USA and Asia also love the city for its gastronomic culture. This is the reason why, more and more often, they plan to have a Florence food tour as the focal point of their trip to Italy.
A Florence food tour is surely the best way to discover traditional or unconventional or little known dishes from the Tuscan culinary tradition. Also, wine lovers can find unique aromas and flavors in this city and in the hinterland, too. However, it will be necessary to plan a perfect journey, or to rely on professionals who will organize a perfect Florence food tour on your behalf.
A Florence food tour as an occasion to taste new flavors
The typical dish of Florentine cuisine is the bistecca. Why is a slice of calf meat so special?
Well, the bistecca alla fiorentina (literally, the “Florentine steak” or “beef steak”), is much bigger and much thicker than a normal slice of meat. Its weight can get up to 1.5 kg! The cooking level also makes the flavor unique. It must not be overcooked. Blood and other liquids, in fact, contribute to creating a sauce that gives that typical flavor to the meat.
An important thing to know is that the real Florentine steak must be made from meat that is bred on the territory. Tuscany has a very prosperous countryside that allows the livestock of any kind of animal to roam on.
The local wines are, of course, also known all over the world and they are local products, too. The Chianti region, for example, is very famous for its DOC wines and numerous wineries, as well as for the beautiful landscapes. The green hills of the Chianti area are a destination for food tourists from all over the world.
Not only bistecca alla fiorentina: the lampredotto
Meat and wine are certainly two typical ingredients of Tuscan cuisine even if there are other interesting flavors that you can taste during a Florence food tour. For example the sandwich with the lampredotto. Not everyone likes it but it is a food that is very characteristic of the area.
The Lampredotto is one of the four stomachs of the bovine. It is boiled for a long time in a red vegetable broth and it is served inside typical buns of Florence, called semelle.
If you want to give a more, peculiar flavor to the lampredotto, you can choose the Salsa Verde. It is a typical green sauce made of parsley, boiled egg, capers and anchovies.
Red wine pairs with this dish. It is a typical street food but it is also possible to taste it by sitting in a restaurant and asking for a lampredotto soup.
