This post contains a >gifted stay courtesy of Bookings For You* and gifted experience courtesy of LivItaly

Villa le Tornie, nestled in the rolling green landscapes between Arezzo and Sienna was not just our idyllic Italian home from home, it was also a carefully chosen base for exploration of the region due to its central location.  Just 20 minutes away by car is the town of Siena and an hour and a half away is Florence.  A city I have always longed to visit and the capital of the Tuscan region, Florence is home to many Renaissance masterpieces and architecture including the Duomo cathedral and its bell tower (which I walked 463 steps to the top of).  BUT do you know what else Florence is famous for (& Tuscany is general)?   Food.  Which just so happens to be one of my favourite things to indulge in when in Italy.

Along with a glass of something grape based whilst basking a piazza whilst looking longingly at a dark haired gentleman called Marco, or Mario, or Francesco… you get my drift.

When it comes to Italian food, the idea of a unified Italian cuisine is something that would make the Italians pretty damn angry.  Assuming that Italian food is all spaghetti bolognese and lasagne is the biggest faux pax you can make when picking up a fork in Italy.  In the same way that dishes vary between countries, in Italy, each of the 20 regions have their own dish.  Northern Italian cuisine for example is less dependent on olive oil, pasta and tomato sauce relies heavier on on butter, rice, polenta and creamy cheese sauces.  You may be able to buy the best bolognese in Bologna, or the perfect piece of pizza in Naples but elsewhere, you may want to do a little research into the local cuisine to ensure you’re eating the best you can be.

Following the stomach pleasing success of a food tour in Venice, when it was announced that a guided food tour of Florence was added to the itinerary of our trip, I could almost taste the rich Tuscan dishes and hear the full bodied Chianti being poured into a glass.  Walk around a beautiful city with a knowledgeable tour guide?  Yes please.  Be introduced to classic dishes and learn the history behind them?  You betcha.  End the perfect day in a stunning piazza with a delicious gelato?  Oh my god, I am in.

On the Wednesday, we arrived in Florence at lunchtime with big appetites for food (and culture) and met the lovely Rafaella from LivItaly Tours.  With it being most of the groups first time in Florence and being there for a little under 6 hours, having a local give us the low down meant we maximised our time there.  Rafaella lived locally, literally around the corner, from where we met in Piazza della Signoria and on our tour of her neighbourhood, we were introduced to her local green grocers and fishmongers.

 

First up we headed to Enoteca Alessi, just a short walk from the Duomo and a family business that has been open since 1952.  Enoteca meaning “wine collection” made Enoteca Alessi the perfect first stop for a group of girls sniffing out a nice glass of Chianti.  With a vast wine cellar and spirit collection, this was the boozy version of Belle’s library in Beauty and the Beast.  At our first stop we enjoyed Tagliere dell’Alessi, a platter of carefully selected meats, cheeses and sandwiches including the most amazing truffle!  The wine bar is the perfect place to enjoy a glass (or 3) and to sample some of the delicious bites  on offer.  As a long time fan of a topped crostini, I was pulled back into the shop as everyone was leaving after a ricotta, plum, nuts and balsamic topped looking morsel caught my eye.. and I had to run to catch up with the rest of the group.  TOTALLY worth hanging back for.

If you thought you were going to be sitting down to eat for the whole of a walking tour, you’d be wrong.  Most definitely a dish for meat eaters, Lampredotto is a Florentine street food specialty and L’Antico Trippaio is a must vist when you’re in the city.  L’Antico Trippaio specialise in Trippa/Tripe (the edible lining of a cow’s stomach) and Lampredotto (a cow’s fourth stomach) hot sandwiches and is one of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever eaten.  Melt in the mouth, full of flavour, moreish… it took everything in me not to order up another one until I remembered we were only 2 stops into our tour.

Tuscan dishes are based on “cucina povera,” peasant traditions that came about from hard times which brings together two principles – simplicity and quality and Acqua Al 2 is one of the best places to visit in Florence for those classic dishes with local hospitality.  A restaurant established for over 3 decades and famous with locals and celebrities (due to its proximity to the theatre) it was here that we were introduced to some traditional Tuscan dishes including Pappa al Pomodoro, a hearty tomato and bread based dish which consists of soaking the stale bread in a tomato sauce to make a thick soup consistency and is an ideal hearty all round dish that can be found on most menus.  The food at Acqua Al 2 was delicious, filling, hearty, everything I expected from Tuscan food and more (and the owners made us feel so welcome!)

Lastly, what do you give to 8 girls in Italy who are full of pasta, bread, meat and wine?  Gelato.  Coming full circle back to Piazza della Signoria, it was time to stop off at Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato for a scoop or two before we said CIAO to Rafaella and took a couple of hours to ourselves to explore Florence.  I don’t know what it is but gelato just tastes so much better in Italy (all the more reason for trips to Italy, I say!).  I went for a scoop of chocolate and blackberry sorbet which was SO GOOD but not the perfect combination when wearing a white sundress.

 

Our food tour combined street food with fine dining perfectly and it was such a great way to not only get an insight into the city, the history of Florentine food and wine but also to be shown around by such a fascinating and opinionated woman!  I could have sat all day drinking wine with Rafaella and it truly felt like she was a part of the group, so much so that we were all sad to say our goodbyes!

A Few Food Tour Tips:

Wear Comfortable Shoes – it goes without saying that a walking food tour means quite a bit of walking and as much as you’re not going to be hiking up hills, you’re never too sure how far each stop may be from each other!

Be Ready To Eat – even though our tour started at midday and at most I’d eaten a bowl of yoghurt and fruit, by our third stop I was fit to burst.  Therefore, be sure to arrive hungry!

Check the Weather – come rain or shine, your food tour will probably go ahead and as your stops could be street food stalls or sit down, you want to be ready for every eventuality!  You want to be equally as equipped with an umbrella as you do some Factor 30!

Communicate – if your chosen tour company doesn’t know that your group has specific dietary requirements, they can’t cater to them and you don’t want to be left unable to eat what the chosen stops have prepared for you.  Make sure you communicate any specific requests before your tour so that your guide can arrange alternatives.