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If being in Italy has taught me anything, it has taught me that food is the most important way to connect with others. From restaurants, to cooking, to market exploring, food is an essential part to daily lives – and that is not just to survive!

Restaurants

I could write a whole separate blog dedicated to the different restaurants in Florence. From pizza, to pasta, and even wild boar, they have it all. The first few weeks of living in Florence, I was trying many different restaurants. While it isn’t sustainable to eat out constantly, I am giving myself grace as I haven’t gotten my bearings yet and wanted to try it all out. From the different restaurants and experiences I have had, I have some advice for people in Florence looking for a bite to eat: don’t go to restaurants with employees standing outside trying to lure you into their restaurant – especially if they are speaking English. Although they seem very welcoming, which can be comforting in a foreign country, it is most always a trap. Another tip I have is to try to avoid restaurants that are in very populated areas. This can mean that they are located on a busy street, or near popular squares. More often than not, you are paying for the view rather than the food. My personal favorite pizza place, Fuoco Matto, was about a 15 minute walk from the Duomo. Lastly, try to avoid restaurants with pictures on their menus. This is to target tourists that don’t speak the language. The food and atmosphere may look appealing, but for a more authentic experience, go outside of your comfort zone.

Grocery Stores

Shopping in Florence has been my number one obstacle. I know it might sound crazy, but this was not something I had prepared for ahead of time. Before I talk about grocery stores, I need to touch on the fact that my kitchen in the apartment I’m staying in doesn’t have a lot of space. There are 8 girls that have to share 1 fridge, 1 mini fridge, and no cupboard space to store food. So that being said, I’ve had to be strategic with what I buy and whether or not I can store it. I have a basket in my room that I store non-perishables such as granola, bars, pasta, etc. I also have a shelf in the mini fridge I use to keep my yogurt, cheese, and eggs cold. I also put my bread in the mini fridge to help it last longer. My groceries typically consist of dried pasta, pasta sauce, yogurt, eggs, bread, peanut butter, jelly, and more low-budget but filling foods. For simple groceries I go to Conad City – a lot of varieties and options to choose from. For produce, I try to go to fruit stands or the central market. This will be a little more expensive, but as long as I am being mindful with the amount I purchase, I can justify it.

Adjusting

Back at home, I worked at Trader Joe’s during high school. I was able to know what I did and didn’t like from their single-serving options, and it was helpful at DU when I need a quick and easy meal. Not shocking, there is no Trader Joe’s in Florence. This has been very difficult as all of the comfortable food I am used to is out of reach. I have been learning to adjust and cook food I need, not just cooking for fun. This has also helped me stay conscious of the types of food I put into my body. There are hardly any fast food places in Florence, which has helped me to not spend my money on cheap food, but rather to cook myself. Food is a very important part of my life back home, I love the local diner that I go to with my mom. I can learn to appreciate food differently while also missing the comfort meals simultaneously.

a dopo,

Hadley