2022 Florence Restaurants E-Book

Andrew Delaplaine

• Herausgeber: Gramercy Park Press
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 41

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Andrew Delaplaine is the ultimate Restaurant Enthusiast.

With decades in the food writing business, he has been everywhere and eaten (almost) everything.

“Unlike the ‘honest’ reviews on sites like Yelp, this writer knows what he’s talking about. He’s a professional,  with decades in the business, not a well-intentioned but clueless amateur.”

= Holly Titler, Los Angeles

“This concise guidebook was exactly what I needed to make the most of my limited time in town.”

= Tanner Davis, Milwaukee

This is another of his books with spot-on reviews of the most exciting restaurants in town. Some will merit only a line or two, just to bring them to your attention. Others deserve a half page or more. 

“The fact that he doesn’t accept free meals in exchange for a good review makes all the difference in his sometimes brutally accurate reviews.”

= Jerry Adams, El Paso

“Exciting” does not necessarily mean expensive. The area’s top spots get the recognition they so richly deserve (and that they so loudly demand), but there are plenty of “sensible alternatives” for those looking for good food handsomely prepared by cooks and chefs who really care what they “plate up” in the kitchen.

For those with a touch of Guy Fieri, Delaplaine ferrets out the best food for those on a budget. That dingy looking dive bar around the corner may serve up one of the juiciest burgers in town, perfect to wash down with a locally brewed craft beer.

Whatever your predilection or taste, cuisine of choice or your budget, you may rely on Andrew Delaplaine not to disappoint.

Delaplaine dines anonymously at the Publisher’s expense. No restaurant listed in this series has paid a penny or given so much as a free meal to be included.

Bon Appétit!

Leseprobe

2022

FLORENCE 

Restaurants

The Food Enthusiast’s

Long Weekend Guide

Andrew Delaplaine

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Andrew Delaplaine is the Food Enthusiast.

When he’s not playing tennis,

he dines anonymously

at the Publisher’s (sometimes considerable) expense.

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Senior Editor – James Cubby

Copyright © by Gramercy Park Press - All rights reserved.

The Food Enthusiast’s

Complete Restaurant Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction

The A to Z Listings

Ridiculously Extravagant

Sensible Alternatives

Quality Bargain Spots

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MARKETS

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COOKING SCHOOLS

INTRODUCTION

FLORENCE

Florence (Firenze), a must-visit destination, is one of the most important historical cities in the world, certainly in the Western world. It is indisputably the cradle of the Renaissance. This is the city where Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Galileo and Giotti walked. Besides being the city that was founded by Julius Caesar, Florence is a beautiful city of churches, museums, palaces, and some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. Travelers from around the globe visit Florence for the beauty of the city and the surrounding hills and towns. One cannot walk the streets of Florence without visiting the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. The majesty of the churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce must be seen and the Library of San Lorenzo is an incredible display of Michelangelo’s architectural genius. Florence boasts incredible art collections and monuments for those into history and art, but it’s also a city for shoppers and foodies, which is my focus in this book.

I will not soon forget when as a teenager I first visited this town. It was winter and the streets were relatively empty. I knew just enough about art history to know where to go and what to see. I was so captivated by that original visit that I have returned countless times, discovering something each and every time.

So will you. 

David by Donatello in the Bargello

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CUISINE

Italians are passionate about many things especially food. Fiorentini or Tuscan food is simple comfort food and they have adapted a “waste not, want not” philosophy. Basic cuisine consists of bread, olive oil, beef or game, fresh vegetables and wine. Tuscans are also known for their love of beans – a staple of the Tuscan table. Italians love to eat and there are many great places to enjoy the many varieties of Italian cuisine from pizza to fine dining. When searching for restaurants, do your research. Many places are closed on Mondays. Remember, traditional Tuscan cuisine incorporates fresh, local ingredients that are simply cooked. Pastas, steaks, seafood, all topped with velvety Tuscan wines. From holes in the walls and cafes to fine dining in posh hotels, Florence is a buffet of dining opportunities. Because of Florence’s popularity with tourists, there’s a larger group of mediocre restaurants than you find in most Italian towns. Lunch begins around 1 p.m. and dinner begins around 8 p.m. Since most of Florence’s restaurants are small, reservations are recommended. The streets are filled with stands serving a variety of culinary adventures like the tripe sandwich. Wine bars flourish in Florence and offer excellent opportunities to take a break from wandering the streets. Enjoy some excellent Chiantis and Tucans from local labels. There’s also a sampling of ethnic eateries – usually hit-or-miss. Pizza in Florence is not as good as in Rome or Naples. Small cafes are abundant offering simple menus of coffee drinks, pastries, and panini.

Central Market / Mercado Centrale

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While you’re wandering the streets, sample the sandwiches at NERBONE, at FLORENCE’S CENTRAL MARKET, where the locals line up daily. And the locals do line up for good meals, so if you see a line – it’s probably a gem. TRATTORIA SOSTANZA, a favorite eatery open since 1869, offers a great selection of Italian treats from bistecca alla fiorentina to the artichoke tart. If you’re on the go, stop by ’INO for a grab-and-go panini. TRATTORIA MARIO, another local’s favorite that’s always packed, is known for serving the best bistecca alla fiorentina’s in town. Italians love gelato and it’s a perfect snack after any meal or in-between museum visits. Visit GELATERIA GARABE for their creamy gelato concoctions and Neopolitan ricotta cake. If you’re craving a burger, stop by POLPA BURGER TRATTORI where they serve American-style gourmet burgers and pizza. Florence is a giant-mashup of old and new like LA BOTTEGA DEL BUON CAFÉ, a modern restaurant housed in a 16th-century medieval building.

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Pitti Palace

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CULTURE & ART

Florence is a city of old world charm, seemingly unchanged and filled with artistic masterpieces, colored marbles, and architectural works that reflect the glory of the art and culture of the Renaissance. Called the capital of arts, approximately 60% of the world’s most important works of art are located in Italy and about half of these are in Florence. The Italian Renaissance began in Florence when the artist Brunelleschi completed the Duomo, with the huge dome. Today Florence is a living museum with its many Renaissance palaces and squares like the Piazza della Signoria