Fri. 24 – Sun. 26: FLORENCE & CHOCOLATE. Piazza Santa Croce. Open 10 am – 8 pm. Free admission. After a three-year pause, the festival will once again play host to distinguished and highly skilled chocolatiers from throughout the Tuscan region and across Italy to entice locals and tourists alike with their delicious chocolate concoctions. Piazza Santa Croce’s beautiful space will play host to various artisans and manufacturers of chocolate. There, the public [...]
The Salumeria Verdi deli (via Giuseppe Verdi 36), or Pino’s Sandwiches as it is known by its many loyal customers, will celebrate Halloween this year with a few festive menu items and a giveaway! The deli is getting into the spirit of Halloween with the addition of two specially-created sandwiches to its menu for the day on Monday, October 31. The limited-time “Sand-witch” will include spicy pumpkin sauce, roast pork, smoked cheese, [...]
Every year, Salumeria Verdi (also known as Pino’s Sandwiches) launches their Valentine’s special: the “Cupino,” a panino is only available on February 14. Schiacciata bread (a type of focaccia) is filled with thinly sliced finocchiona salame, brie cheese, bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and either truffle or hot sauce, then lightly toasted. The sandwich costs €6 and is available to eat in or pick up to take out from 9 am to 9 [...]
Neapolitan pizza made UNESCO’s Intangible Culture Heritage list on December 6, 2007, and the anniversary was commemorated with a Google Doodle on the same day in 2021. Although it takes some searching, good Neapolitan pizza can also be found in the quintessential city of the Renaissance. The legendary Italian actress, Sophia Loren, has collaborated in a new restaurant and pizzeria in the heart of Florence. The restaurant, Sophia Loren Original Italian Food, [...]
For 27 years, Ristorante Accademia has been an anchor on Piazza San Marco, providing warm hospitality and delicious food to Florentines and visitors. With the onset of the Covid pandemic which led to restaurant closures, the owner, Gianni Icovetti, had to adapt so his restaurant would remain successful. During these difficult times, the staff at Ristorante Accademia has consistently provided delicious food and exceptional service with the options of patio dining, take-out and [...]
SWEETS FOR YOUR SWEETIE Vanilla Cake Piazza Niccolò Acciaiuoli, 7r The Vanilla Cake bakery creates the cutest pastries and delicious treats that are always on theme with holidays. With heart shaped cakes and cookies, macarons, and cupcakes, the love will be felt all around. For a rich and delectable dessert, relish in their cream tart hearts with layers of red velvet or chocolate cake and whipped cream, topped with raspberries, pieces of candy [...]
Even better than the gifts we receive ourselves are the treats we can share with others. From Christmas cookie exchanges, to yule logs, gingerbread houses, and the traditional Italian panettone and pandoro, the winter holiday season brings an abundance of sugary delights to make everyone happy. JACKIE POLLIS Known for her DIY cookie kits in fun themed shapes, Florence resident Jackie Pollis is offering Christmas and Hanukkah-themed sugar cookie decorating kits complete with [...]
Florence’s wildly popular Wild Buns Pop-Up Bakery is taking a winter break, from November 19, 2020 to early February 2021. The Estonian-born owner Robert Marrandi is going home for the holidays and will be back next year. After the mandatory two weeks of self-quarantine, Robert (or Roberto as he is known in Italy) will be back preparing and baking every single one of his Scandinavian buns, served straight out of the oven at [...]
Sixteen Tuscan chefs – eight men and eight women – will each prepare a signature dish for a charity buffet open to the public at Forte Belvedere on September 6 (8 pm – midnight) to help raise funds for Florence’s Artemisia Anti-Violence Center. A minimum donation of €25 per person is requested at the door, and the total amount collected will be given to Artemisia. This is the third edition of the Italian [...]
The courtyard next to Santa Maria Maggiore will bustle with music and a smorgasbord of gluten-free food-stands on Thursday, July 19 for Quinoa Restaurant’s annual Sagra Senza Glutine. Florentine classics like mouthwatering porchetta and lampredotto panini are now guilt-free, baked with buckwheat and corn flour bread. Pasta, fried seafood, french fries, and hamburgers will tempt even the staunchest health foodies and satisfy many with dietary limitations. Quinoa was the first 100% gluten-free restaurant [...]
