I was excited to try these new dishes because I love trying new food, and the dishes we ordered are foods that Florence is famous for. I was also a little nervous that I would not like the food, but everything was really yummy. There was so much food it was difficult to finish it! Just when we thought we were going to pop, the waiter came over with a complimentary (free) dessert, biscotti (cookies) and budino, a vanilla custard topped with a caramel sauce. It reminded me of flan.
The pasta came out first and was cooked perfectly al dente (meaning firm, not gummy). The pasta was topped with a delicious creamy tomato sauce with bits of meat. The steak was next. And it was huge! It took up the entire plate! The meat was grilled perfectly, being crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The steak was not served with steak sauce but with a little pile of salt. The meat was so flavorful it did not need anything but the salt. We ate the steak with the side of onions. The onions were cooked in a pan until they were golden brown, slightly sweet, and soft enough to stick a fork into them.
I do not know if the meal we had was connected to the local environment, but the city of Florence has a healthy connection to local farms. Most days, there are outdoor markets where locals can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses which are all produced locally. On the way home from school, I would often stop at Sant Ambrogio Market to pick up fresh produce, pasta and meats to prepare for dinner.
