Where to Eat and Drink in Florence

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As the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence tends to draw travelers for its architectural marvels and artistic treasures, but we think it’s also one of the best cities in Italy for food. To eat well, though, you have to know where (and what) to eat in Florence. Traditional Florentine cuisine has its roots in cucina povera, the humble recipes of the peasants and farmers who tended the land. This is not the place to eat pizza; you’re better off going to Naples or Rome for that.

In Florence, you can expect to find lots of beans and legumes, which have always been cheap and easy sources of protein, off-cuts like tripe and lampredotto, and dishes that make the most of leftovers, such as panzanella and ribollita, two recipes that revive stale bread. And since wild boar roam the countryside, it’s common to find pasta with wild boar ragu on menus in Florence. The most prized specialty here is bistecca alla fiorentina, the massive t-bone steak made with premium Chianina beef. Don’t be surprised if the waiter doesn’t ask you how you’d like it done; it’s served rare and Florentines wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aside from traditional Tuscan trattorie, Florence has some fantastic hole-in-the-wall sandwich shops, great little wine bars, fine dining restaurants, and elegant cafés. Collectively, we have decades of experience visiting Florence and eating our way through the city. And while we love to scout out new restaurants, these are some of the places we frequent on our week-long tours of Florence and return to again and again.

Autentico Florence with Elizabeth Minchilli & Rolando Beramendi

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Rolando Beramendi has built a career around introducing people to the food of Italy. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the most beloved Italian food importers in the USA. If you’ve ever purchased high-end olive oil, pasta, or other specialty pantry items, there’s a good chance many of them were lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past three decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and now he’s opening his doors—and those of his friends—to a select group of lucky guests, offering an opportunity to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

Elizabeth Minchilli, food writer and co-founder of Via Rosa, is fortunate to count Rolando as one of her closest friends. Together, they are hosting a week-long event in Florence. Elizabeth, who lived in Florence during the 1980s while working on her Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, returns as often as possible, documenting one of her favorite cities in her books, on her website, and through social media.

Rolando and Elizabeth invite you to join them for a completely unique, food-focused, exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Florence they love most.


Autentico Florence with Elizabeth Minchilli & Rolando Beramendi

by

Rolando Beramendi has built a career around introducing people to the food of Italy. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the most beloved Italian food importers in the USA. If you’ve ever purchased high-end olive oil, pasta, or other specialty pantry items, there’s a good chance many of them were lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past three decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and now he’s opening his doors—and those of his friends—to a select group of lucky guests, offering an opportunity to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

Elizabeth Minchilli, food writer and co-founder of Via Rosa, is fortunate to count Rolando as one of her closest friends. Together, they are hosting a week-long event in Florence. Elizabeth, who lived in Florence during the 1980s while working on her Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, returns as often as possible, documenting one of her favorite cities in her books, on her website, and through social media.

Rolando and Elizabeth invite you to join them for a completely unique, food-focused, exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Florence they love most.


Autentico Florence with Elizabeth Minchilli & Rolando Beramendi

by

Rolando Beramendi has built a career around introducing people to the food of Italy. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the most beloved Italian food importers in the USA. If you’ve ever purchased high-end olive oil, pasta, or other specialty pantry items, there’s a good chance many of them were lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past three decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and now he’s opening his doors—and those of his friends—to a select group of lucky guests, offering an opportunity to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

Elizabeth Minchilli, food writer and co-founder of Via Rosa, is fortunate to count Rolando as one of her closest friends. Together, they are hosting a week-long event in Florence. Elizabeth, who lived in Florence during the 1980s while working on her Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, returns as often as possible, documenting one of her favorite cities in her books, on her website, and through social media.

Rolando and Elizabeth invite you to join them for a completely unique, food-focused, exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Florence they love most.


Autentico Florence

by

Rolando Beramendi has built a career around introducing people to the food of Italy. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the most beloved Italian food importers in the USA. If you’ve ever purchased high-end olive oil, pasta, or other specialty pantry items, there’s a good chance many of them were lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past three decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and now he’s opening his doors—and those of his friends—to a select group of lucky guests, offering an opportunity to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

Elizabeth Minchilli, food writer and co-founder of Via Rosa, is fortunate to count Rolando as one of her closest friends. Together, they are hosting a week-long event in Florence. Elizabeth, who lived in Florence during the 1980s while working on her Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, returns as often as possible, documenting one of her favorite cities in her books, on her website, and through social media.

Rolando and Elizabeth invite you to join them for a completely unique, food-focused, exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Florence they love most.


Where to Eat Panini in Florence

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If you’re traveling to Florence and find yourself without restaurant reservations, don’t despair. Florence is one of the best places to grab a panino – no reservations necessary and usually no lines. Please don’t fall for the viral spot I won’t even mention here. Florence has a long tradition of sandwiches served from street carts, in markets, in coffee bars, and just about everywhere in between. Here is a list of our favorites.

Autentico Florence

by

Rolando Beramendi has built a career around introducing people to the food of Italy. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the most beloved Italian food importers in the USA. If you’ve ever purchased high-end olive oil, pasta, or other specialty pantry items, there’s a good chance many of them were lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past three decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and now he’s opening his doors—and those of his friends—to a select group of lucky guests, offering an opportunity to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

Elizabeth Minchilli, food writer and owner of Via Rosa, is fortunate to count Rolando as one of her closest friends. Together, they are hosting a week-long event in Florence. Elizabeth, who lived in Florence during the 1980s while working on her Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, returns as often as possible, documenting one of her favorite cities in her books, on her website, and through social media.

Rolando and Elizabeth invite you to join them for a completely unique, food-focused, exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Florence they love most.


Autentico Florence

by

Rolando Beramendi has made introducing people to the food of Italy a career. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the best-loved Italian food importers in the USA. If you have been buying things like high-end olive oil, pasta, and other pantry items, chances are that many of them have been lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past 3 decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and he has agreed to open his doors – and those of his friends – to a few lucky guests to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

I am lucky enough to call Rolando one of my best friends, and I am joining him to host a week in Florence. After living in Florence during the 1980s while working on my Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, I return as often as possible reporting on one of my favorite places in the world in my books and on my blog.

Together, we would like to share a completely unique, food focused, exclusive, behind the scenes view of what we love most about Florence.


Autentico Florence

by

Rolando Beramendi has made introducing people to the food of Italy a career. Since he was 22, he has been foraging for one of the best-loved Italian food importers in the USA. If you have been buying things like high-end olive oil, pasta, and other pantry items, chances are that many of them have been lovingly imported by Rolando’s company, Manicaretti. For much of the past 3 decades, Rolando has called Florence home, and he has agreed to open his doors – and those of his friends – to a few lucky guests to discover the culture of food in this delicious corner of the world.

I am lucky enough to call Rolando one of my best friends, and I am joining him to host a week in Florence. After living in Florence during the 1980s while working on my Ph.D. on 16th-century gardens, I return as often as possible reporting on one of my favorite places in the world in my books and on my blog.

Together, we would like to share a completely unique, food focused, exclusive, behind the scenes view of what we love most about Florence.