Week #3: And does anyone have room for dessert?

This week served up delicious food with a side of unbuckling my pants on numerous occasions. Starting last Wednesday, Amanda and I returned to All’antico Vinaio for the third time for Nutella Day. We’d been looking forward to Nutella Day for more than a week, so when the day finally came, we were eager to wait on the line for a Nutella sandwich no matter the wait. The line was its typical length, and it only took about 20 minutes for us to reach the counter and be blessed with a five-euro Nutella sandwich we’d been craving for days. I got mine with mascarpone and Amanda with pistachio mascarpone. As we waddled down the streets to make it back for our afternoon class, we each got slower and slower as we devoured our sandwiches. Going to class that afternoon consisted of both of us secretly unbuckling our pants and a lengthy food coma.

The food coma didn’t end there, though. Later on, that night, Amanda and I went on a free food tour hosted by SmartTrip. Now that really put me over the edge. We got to eat at six different restaurants, all with no charge, and it was great. We first hit up Grom, my favorite gelato place in Florence, and then walked to Rubaconte Pizzeria, where we sampled two types of pizza. The next stop was Red Garter, where we ate chicken wings and beer. The following two stops were Pino’s Panini’s with sandwiches and wine, then Il Teatro Ristorante, where we enjoyed two types of pasta. Then we ended at the glorious Lion’s Fountain, where we were served shots. Let’s say I never wanted to eat food again at the end of this day.

This weekend was also filled with food adventures, but again, this is Italy when is it not? On Friday, I took a school field trip to Bologna, which I think is my new favorite city. Upon arriving, the town was way more modern than I expected. Bologna is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It is also one of the wealthiest cities in Italy and is an integral agricultural, industrial, financial, and transport hub. Since we were in Bologna, it was only fitting to have a traditional Bolognese dish. We ate two pasta dishes, tagliatelle alla Bolognese and ricotta, and fig tortellini. Both of them were absolutely delicious. After touring Bologna, we then visited the Lamborghini Museum where we got to see multiple vintage cars that belonged to Ferruccio Lamborghini. All the cars were well-presevered and impressive. My favorite was the teal one.

The following day, I took another school field trip this time to the city of Verona, famous for Romeo and Juliet, which was ever clear the second we arrived. Verona is a historically German city in Veneto, Italy. It is the second-largest city in the region and the third-largest in northeast Italy. After a two-hour guided tour, Amanda and I had three hours to ourselves to roam the city and explore. We decided to have a meal at a restaurant called Hostaria La Vecchia Fontanina, where I was tempted to try the horse bolognese. Still, after much deliberation and reading of reviews online, I decided against it. Instead, I choose the gnocchi that was equally as delicious as the tortellini I had the day prior. At the restaurant, Amanda and I also wrote a letter to Juliet and dropped them off at the mailbox at Juliet’s house before doing some light shopping. After some more walking around, we stopped for some gelato, because honestly, when do we not, at Vittoria 1938 Gelato Caffè. For a moderate price, we each got a small cone, mine chocolate hazelnut, and hers pistachio (typical Sam and Amanda move). It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Yesterday was a lazy Sunday and filled with work I’d been putting off during the weekend. At around 12 pm, I got myself out of bed and trekked to Shake Café for a light morning breakfast. Amanda and I each got acai bowls and they were delightful. Almost as good as the acai bowls I’d get from SoBol back on Long Island except I don’t think the granola here could ever compare to the one from home. This granola had raisins, cranberries, almonds, and hazelnuts and paired perfectly with my acai puree. I also got some fresh fruit to go along with it. Although I adore Italian food, this was a much-needed mix up from the traditional croissant and biscotti I typically have for breakfast at the apartment. We set-up camp for studying, and after one hour, we gave in to the temptation of pancakes after overhearing a group of friends order them. Nothing was as awkward as paying for one meal at the front, and then walking straight to the back again to eat another meal. However, it was so worth it. We each ordered a plate of pancakes. Mine were traditional, and Amanda got the vegan chocolate and banana ones because it made her feel ~healthier~. Each of ours came with a side of fruit, and Amanda’s had this delicious homemade peanut butter with it. This meal definitely sent our stomach capacity over the edge, but it was so delicious that it was worth it.

If I could use one word to describe this week, it would be relaxing. This weekend was very lowkey. Since our three other friends took a trip to Brussels, Amanda and I had three days to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Food definitely played a significant role in my daily activities, and hey, I don’t mind that. For this upcoming week, I’m most looking forward to seeing my parents and sister Jaclyn when they visit on Friday. Although my stay here in Florence is just coming up on its one-month anniversary, it feels like I haven’t seen my family in ages. I’m most excited to spend time with Jaclyn and show her some of my favorite places to eat and hang out. I can’t wait.

Love, Sam ❤