Semplice

      Some of the best food in Florence is the simple, every-day café food that we often take for granted in America.  Sandwhiches, coffee, cookies, ice-cream, pastries, the works. In Firenze this is fast food (if you can ignore the McDonalds that is right by my apartment), and panini are to Firenze as hamburgers are to the US. Any café will have them lined up in the window ready to go, tempting passers by to sink their teeth into salami, prosciutto, melanzane, mozzarella, basilico, pepperoni, or anything else you can think of to put between two slaty pieces of focaccia that leave your hands with finger-licking . Hot or cold, it is a crispy, savory meal made with fresh ingredients that you can put in your pocket or enjoy leisurely sitting at a little table outside with friends and a cold bottle of aqua minerale. Of course, i panini are best when they are from a more local café, not a touristy one, where the people speak only Italian, and are happy to treat you like family and serve you their food. My personal favorite is the “café snack bar,” which is right across the street from where most of my classes take place. Despite its seemingly American name, “café snack bar” is a tiny, local café where I get my daily espresso for 1 euro and the occasional panino or cup of gelato for 2.20. I have become good friends with the lady and her husband who own it and she sometimes gives me little pastries for free with my espresso or cappuccino because I’m just that charming.

Last night I cooked with dried porcini mushrooms from the market for the first time. I will post about that soon (it takes me such a long time!). Until then, ciao!

Panino with eggplant, tomato, mozzarella

Edwina's last bite 

Mint gelato