MaKayla Painter, Pitt in Florence Summer 2023
I think it comes as no shock that Italian cuisine is incredibly delicious. While being in Florence and traveling around Italy, I have had the opportunity to try the signature dishes from many places. I genuinely do believe that food is the window to the soul of Italians. Trying traditional foods from the places I have visited has heavily enriched my experience abroad.
I try to balance cooking and eating out in order to not break my budget. Grocery stores in Italy are very similar to American ones but you’ll notice they are not as big, have fresher ingredients, and the prices are cheaper. I have maintained many of my eating habits while abroad but I have also been able to incorporate more fresh vegetables and fruits because they are so much cheaper and better here. I really love this aspect of grocery shopping abroad. Italians typically shop for dinner every day, just picking up the few ingredients they need on their way home from work. This came as quite a shock for me, as I am used to doing one big grocery trip for the week. Although I heavily encourage you to adapt to local culture whenever possible, I struggle to budget properly using the Italian way and so I still do one bigger trip when I am running low.
There is no shortage of restaurants to eat at in Florence. While most are traditional Italian food, it is possible to find other cultures’ cuisines in case you get tired of pasta. My biggest tip for finding quality Italian food is to get out of the city center. Try not to go to restaurants surrounding big monuments or directly in the center because these are tourist traps. You will find much better and often cheaper food by walking 15 minutes out of the center or exploring the Altro Arno.
My favorite part of Italian culture is their coffee culture. As a big coffee drinker before studying abroad, I was so excited to try all the different options. A big tip I have for making your transition to Italy easier is that, before coming abroad, learn some basic Italian phrases. I’d recommend being able to order a cappuccino and say thank you in Italian. Italians love when you try to speak their language and are not judgmental. Such a small act really goes a long way here. I am going to miss the cheap price and delicious taste of Italian coffee the most after leaving, so please enjoy it!
One big worry I had about coming to Italy was if I would run into trouble because of my food allergies. I’m sure many people have this same worry so I wanted to mention that you should not worry. Many Italians speak English and will work with you to make sure you do not ingest any of your allergens. Often our waitress will ask if anyone at the table has an allergy before I can even mention mine. I have friends here who were able to print out cards that say their allergy in Italian. They are able to give the card to the staff and make sure a language barrier is not an issue when it comes to eating safely. Another important thing to note is that there are tons of gluten free restaurants and options around Florence, so do not stress about being able to enjoy and eat Italian cuisine.
When in Florence try bistecca alla Fiorentina or lampredotto, when in Rome try calcio e pepe, when in Venice eat fresh seafood pasta, and when in Sicily eat arancini. You will not regret trying all of the wonderful and specialized dishes of each region.
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