A food story - florentine steak

I knew I would love Florence. Not just because I had heard good things either. Before setting foot on the ground, I had this vision in my mind of what I would love about Italy. Florence definitely has "it". The maze of cobble stoned streets, the endless piazzas, the merging of old with new.. Before I went on this piccolo (small) adventure I thought long and hard about what I hoped to find on this trip. I decided that my one guiding principle would be to be simply open to the experience. Embrace the culture, seize te day and experience life differently. A big part of life for me is, well, food.

You may or may not know that i've abstained from meat for the last ten years. But I decided to try the regional dishes wherever I go. In Florence that means a few things: chianti, fagioli bianchi and of course, Floretine steak.

Seaching for a nice spot for dinner last night we stumbled across a piazza called Piazaa del Signoria. Once in this piazza, a friendly waiter ushered us into an outdoor eating area of a ristorante called Il David. Very typical italia restaurant: those tablecloths, a square floor framed with flower boxes and street sellers peddling roses to the patrons. This ristorante also happens to have a perfect view of the famous Neputune sculpture and a replica of Michaelangelo's David. Just breathtaking..

Being in Florence, we do as the Florentines do and order antipasto platter followed by a Florentine steak with a side of fagioli bianchi (white beans). At first im not sure exactly what a florentine steak involves. As my plate is set down before me it becomes clear that what it invlves is a heafty half kilo of medium rare, thick cut beef. Intimidating to conquer but I am determined to give it a go. Seb finds it hilarious watching the former vego thank the cow for its life but joins in with the thanks anyway. He tells me that I have helped him develop his awareness about animals and eating meat. It feels pretty special to have influenced another persons life like that.

Anyway back to the steak. My first mouthful tastes.. so good. Too good. y eyes go wide with wonder. How did i ever live without steak?! Now that I reflect on it, im not sure I ever really had a steak like that before. Juicy, tender, perfect. Seb concurs. Being a chick, there is no way I can finish the meal but I do save some room for a hot chocolate before we go for a stroll through Florence at night.. I am definitely trying another Florentie steak before we leave..

---

---