| When one comes to visit Florence, Italy the | | | | America will you find a side of green beans |
| museums, architecture, and countryside are | | | | served with the spaghetti or ravioli. |
| some of the most memorable attractions, but | | | | Italians consider the salad to be their green |
| no one comes to Italy for the sights alone. | | | | vegetable serving. You may find some roasted |
| Florence, Italy recipes are what awake the | | | | peppers with or without sausage slices on the |
| senses and keep the memories of a visit to | | | | side. |
| Italy alive. The food is good, not overly | | | | |
| fancy, and easily created at home. In fact, | | | | Desserts served with coffee are the final |
| the best restaurants in Italy have taken what | | | | course in Italian cuisine. Many, such as the |
| Italians have created in their own kitchens | | | | cannoli are served with a sweetened ricotta |
| and made it available to the public just as | | | | cheese filling. Pastries and cookies with a |
| if they were close friends or family who have | | | | jelly filling are another common dessert. |
| come for warm family dinner. | | | | Tiramisu made with coffee and mascarone cream |
| | | | are an Italian favorite. |
| The Typical Italian Meal Anything but | | | | |
| Typical | | | | Wines for Dinner and Dessert |
| | | | |
| In Florence and around Italy the typical | | | | There are several Tuscan wines that each have |
| Italian meal consists of 4 courses: the | | | | their own flavor and go well with different |
| anti-pasta, pasta, meat, and dessert. The | | | | foods. For example, the Galestro is light and |
| anti-pasta is a platter of cold cuts, olives, | | | | fruity and goes well with snacks and light |
| and other non-pasta foods. It is served with | | | | meals. For seafood, the Vernaccia de San |
| a plain salad of just lettuce and tomato with | | | | Gimignano is good with its dry and full |
| plenty of olive oil and a splash of vinegar. | | | | bodied flavor. |
| | | | |
| Next in line is the pasta course. American | | | | Wines that are especially good with desserts |
| cuisine has turned pasta into a main course. | | | | are the Vin Santo and Aleatico dellElba. Of |
| In Italy, it is served as a side dish or | | | | course, there is the famous Chianti with its |
| course before the entre. Pasta is served al | | | | bright red color and smooth dry flavor that |
| dente or to the tooth meaning it is not | | | | is perfect with most foods and all meats. |
| overcooked or mushy, but just softened to the | | | | |
| point it is chewable. It can be served with | | | | There are not many places around the world |
| butter and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, a | | | | where the food and wine can be the main |
| red, marinara sauce, or white Alfredo sauce. | | | | attractions for tourists, but Florence, Italy |
| Pesto, made of basil, pine nuts, and olive | | | | is one such place with the unique recipes, |
| oil, is also another common pasta sauce used | | | | wines and traditions that go along with the |
| in Florence Italy recipes. | | | | Italian dining experience. Whether you stay |
| | | | at a posh hotel in the city, a private villa, |
| Meat also accompanies the main course in | | | | or countryside farm house, the food is sure |
| Italian cooking. A pork roast, lamb, or veal | | | | to become one of your greatest vacation |
| is usually sliced thinly and served with a | | | | memories. |
| side dish of pasta or by itself. Only in | | | | |