Florence or Firenze is quite touristy, because when you are sitting on the train you notice every tourist from America or Japan will inevitably get off here, rather than hopping off at the next stations such as at Bologna or Modena, etc. Tuscany does have it’s appeal, but I don’t think Florence is really that representative of the whole region either.
Florence is steeped in History and well represented by their Architectural buildings -
With the likes of Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and many other monuments which dates back nearly 1,000 years.
Local Lobsters, Fishes and Octopus -
Liking the shine and freshness of the seafood
It is not easy to find authentic regional Tuscan food within Florence’s CBD -
Looking at 9.9 out of 10 shops here, almost all just serve touristy Italian food and which totally lack the real Tuscan regional dishes. I even saw Spag-Bol on different menus a few times. I actually worry about Florence as a whole – in nearby Modena, Bologna, also in Rome, Naples, etc, there are also touristy spots yes but many also provide the local regional food. Not so in Florence on average.. I honestly think Florence has lost it’s plot long ago, and luckily I managed to find a restaurant which served some authentic Tuscan food after combing through their menus with a magnifying glass.
Crispy Grissini and Cold Bread -
As is expected in most of Italy, they’re decent but won’t be as pleasing as the bread you eat in France or the UK on average!
Lardo di Colonnata -
A visit to Tuscany literally begs for a plate of this cured fat, which is from local. Here it was served with diced hazelnuts and rosemary herbs and bread, with a drizzle of olive oil. This was one of the best versions I have had, and you can see the small strips of meat attached. It’s aromatic, melts in the mouth and not too salty, also soft. Pretty different to the ones I ate even in Rome, or elsewhere in Hong Kong, Australia, etc. ~ 10/10
Some Casadei IGT Super Tuscany wine -
Blended from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Really enjoyable actually, it has the boldness of Italian wine but also the finesse of a French Bordeaux blending technique and new French oak presence.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale – Wild Boar on Pappardelle Pasta 12 Euro
A local Tuscan pasta dish. This didn’t look so presentable, but the flavour was definitely decent. It’s a simple dish but you can detect the small attention to details here. The wild boar can be found as both bigger ragu like pieces and also as a minced meat, giving it texture but also a nice sauce coating. Also note the singular olive on the side. ~ 7.5/10
Wild Boar Ragu pieces on the left, Minced Wild Boar meat on the right -
Best of both worlds!
Espresso to Finish off the meal -
The coffee was not too bad & definitely more approachable than the smoky and woody versions down further south of Italy. The food in Trattoria La Madia here was definitely decent - the Lardo was sensation stuff. The Wild Boar pasta on the other hand doesn’t look like much but thoughts have been put into the 2 tiered ragu sauce, though it could still do with more depth in meatiness or herbs. The pasta was cooked spot on. What’s more important is that… Florence really is in need of more of these authentic restaurants which aren’t universally touristy and tries to milk the ill-informed customers’ money, a problem I have been noticing for a while but that’s reality!
Price: Euro 30,00
Ease of Access: 3/5
Food: ♕♕♕♕ to ♕♕♕♕ 1/2
Address: Via del Giglio 14, Florence, Italy
Ph: 055 218563
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