While Naples is known for its pizza and Sicily for its seafood, Florence is known for its meat. Beef dishes like Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) is one of the local’s favorite dishes. Eating at a restaurant in Italy is slightly different than it is in the United States. In the United States, when we order a steak, it usually comes with a side dish or two. In Italy, the dishes are served in four separate courses. The first course is usually a pasta dish, the second course is a meat dish, followed by the contorno (vegetable side dish), and the final course is dessert. There are more courses, but that is the basic setup.
My American friend, Hanbit, came for a visit and we decided to try the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak). I asked my Italian professor to recommend a good restaurant and she said we should go to a restaurant called Il Latini (The Latins). We showed up to the restaurant early because it is a popular restaurant and fills up quickly. We did not have a reservation but were lucky enough get a table. When the cameriere (waiter) came to our table, we ordered pasta with rabbit sauce, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and a side of grilled onions.
