Florence - The Art of Eating in Firenze (Italy)

I bumped into one of Jeffrey Lee's good friends, Angeline, at the end-0f-year Makan (means "eating") session this week.

Angeline, who's someone to watch, as her career in banking, and maybe tv, takes off.....was planning a trip to one of my favorite places, Italy.

Since I had been recently to Florence - or, as the natives call it for my Discovery Travel & Living assignment to meet up with the Ferragamo and Pucci family groups, I decided to go through my notes and blog this for Angeline and my 15,000 readers.

My longest stay ever in Firenze was for 30 days....and, not once, did I need any Asian comfort food which is a real statement from me!

In the last few years, I've been to Italy at least 8 times.....been everywhere from Rome to Milano to Pisa to Venice. But, Firenze remains my favorite city if you can't make it to Sorrento.....

Everything about Firenze is wonderful....

Italian Renaissance art for the cultured......Brunellesshi's Duomo for the architects and the designers.....Michelangelo's David for the admirers and the curious (ladies keep your eyes up!)

Home to many of Italy's top brands including Ferragamo and Pucci and Cavelli...shopping goes on forever....

Florentine meals are resplendent with tasty choices ranging from crostini (a grilled bread covered with wonderful toppings) to prosciutto crudo to the working man's tripe sandwich to bistecca alla fiorentina.....and, of course, pasta, pasta, pasta...

Here are some places to eat which one shouldn't miss....

- by accident, near the Duomo, I had a delicious snack of chestnut pancakes with ricotta and radicchio at Coquinarius...
- I had a great time drinking expresso and local daytime people watching at the Cavelli cafe....
- call in advance and book the wine cellar at Taverna del Bronzino just for the fun of it....
- go local at Mario, a trattoria, if you don't mind eating with strangers.....I had a ball!
- try the wine bar at Fuori Porta....
- try tripe salad at Cibreo or around the corner at Cibreino

Besides pasta, the local pizza never once disappointed me....so, give it a try between meals!

Have fun to all of you who can get there in December/January and deal with the Euro exchange!