Category: Claudia in Florence

My standards for food are dangerously high now.

Published on by Claudia CutlerLeave a comment

I’m sure you’ve already heard, but the food in Florence is really good. I will try my best to explain but I hope you read this on a full stomach, for your sake! I start most days at the cafe across my street and cough up a couple euros for a fresh-baked cornetto paired with a delectable latte. People-watching outside with my quintessential Italian breakfast is always the perfect way to kickstart my day. But lunch is where the magic really begins. Even if I stumble into a spot I’ve never been before, I can always count on a 5-star focaccia sandwich or pasta dish. My favorite pasta right now is probably pappardelle al cinghiale, wide ribbons with wild boar ragu. Recently I discovered a classic Tuscan bread soup called ribollita, which I think I’m going to email the DU dining hall about soon. I have yet to brave the lampredotto that locals swear by, a street food specialty made from cow’s stomach. I’m going to try it before I leave, it just hasn’t been screaming my name. On the contrary, I have officially consumed the bistecca alla Fiorentina! Their T-bone steak here is famous for a reason. I’m not sure how to explain it other than a meat lover’s dream come true, seared to perfection. Although it is on the more expensive side, it is WORTH it and an experience to remember. 

Of course, dining in Florence’s tourist hubs can be a tad pricey. But I’ve found when I venture a bit off the beaten path, there are local trattorias and osterias that offer authentic, inexpensive, all the while mind-blowing food! It’s actually ridiculous compared to cheap food in America. It’s funny how a McDonald’s trip used to brighten my entire day, but now I just laugh when I pass it. Even at nicer sit-down restaurants, you can find pasta for 12 euros which would probably double in price in America considering the quality. And quantity! I was pleasantly surprised to find portions to be just as big, if not bigger. Eating out all the time is a luxury that no one in any country can afford though, so I’m grateful for Conad just a minute’s walk from my apartment. Conad is a fairly large grocery store chain with reasonable prices for all kinds of food. I’ve made such cute little discoveries like stracciatella yogurt, cheeses paired with specific jams, and multiple aisles dedicated to wine. While there are organic street markets I could stop and shop at, I appreciate Conad for its extensive produce section. The one thing about Italian restaurants is that vegetables are a rare sight to see. However, I’m not ashamed to admit that I take advantage of several Americanized restaurants like Shake Cafe, which I can rely on for a cheap and healthy meal. It was tough to weed out the overpriced tourist trap spots, but after some exploration and time, I can safely say my meals have never been more satisfying.

Something truly special about eating out is the authenticity of the service. Even though there’s no tipping system, all of the waiters I’ve had have been kind while remaining straight to the point. There are no fake laughs, unnecessary apologies, or check-ins. The ones with big personalities have no problem concealing it, joking that they won’t hand over the check; “what do you mean you’re full? No such thing!”. When we do bond every once in a while, I feel like they actually want to get to know me and my friends. Once we asked for the check at dinner, I noticed the waiter would wait for a long period of silence to arrive with it. The first time I noticed it had been 20 minutes since I asked for the check, I was confused and a little annoyed. But it’s happened almost every time now, and I realized that however long I have a dinner with someone is a direct reflection of how much fun we’re having. It’s a simple concept that dinner is a social experience, but eating in Florentine restaurants has trained me to slow down and truly enjoy myself, my company, and my food. It’s also an unspoken rule that ordering takeout, while an option, is actually not an option. The rudest glares I’ve received were for this reason, from cashiers to locals on the street. It makes sense though; why would you diminish dining or the people who put effort into your food? Food and wine are meant to be appreciated as a holistic experience, not just consumed. I think I’m beginning to understand la dolce vita – the sweet life.

I want to end with a quick love letter for my favorite gelato place, My Sugar. My Sugar won the best gelato in Florence competition in 2016, which is an insane accomplishment considering there is gelato on almost every other block. I’m surprised they haven’t won all of the years. I’ve probably been to 20 different gelato places since I arrived, and My Sugar is the only one I actively crave. It tastes like heaven fluff cream, and each flavor is designed to its fullest potential. I didn’t believe in perfection until I met My Sugar. If I could have one dessert for the rest of my life it would be My Sugar. Okay, I think I’ve gotten my point across. All in all, Florence is delicious.

The Classroom Experience at Lorenzo De Medici

Published on by Claudia CutlerLeave a comment

I have officially reached my fourth week of classes, and – no offense to my previous education – I have never felt so excited to learn! This is mostly because I’m strictly taking classes that I am passionate about, but there are also other elements to it. Before I get into them, I want to mention I am taking four classes: Yoga, Meditation & Spirituality, Advanced Filmmaking, Digital Sketchbook, and World Religions. I am a film major, and the rest are personal interests. Also, if you didn’t know, I am studying at Lorenzo De Medici in Florence, Italy.

All of my professors are born and raised Italians, and they speak English well as most in Florence do. I’ve found that having Italian professors has been helpful in understanding the culture because they will more often than not connect the subject matter to Italian influence. In my digital sketchbook class, we learn how to create art using Adobe Photoshop, but in every other class we spend half of our time exploring the city to sketch statues or architecture (we incorporate our work later at the computer lab). Before my professor lets us spread out and find a spot to sketch, he’ll explain romantic lore about the widow of war waiting in a specific window above the Piazza of the Annunziata. He’ll finish his stories with an emphasis that the truth is up to interpretation – as it is just Italian folklore – and we don’t have to draw that if we don’t want to. He then proceeds to light up a cigarette and disappear to a cafe. The next day I have my film class inside of the Franco Zeffirelli museum, which is a grand display of a renounced Italian filmmaker’s work. To find the bathroom, first I have to get lost in the exhibits of Zeffirelli’s set design masterpieces and life-size mannequins wearing his character’s larger-than-life gowns. I’ll even sit down in the mini theater for a moment and catch a glimpse of whichever one of his films is playing at the moment! Lastly, my yoga professor happens to also be my religion professor, and she is always giving the best museum suggestions to seek out manifestations of what we’re learning in class. I’ve quickly come to the realization that it makes a huge difference to take classes in a location that is full of rich history!

One of the best parts of going to class is how compassionate yet casual my professors are. My digital sketchbook professor has no problem giving me the same advice in different words (I really don’t know how to draw), and it won’t be until I succeed that he admits, “Ah! I was really getting worried but now I am not!”. My film professor is hilarious and not afraid to roast his students’ work, but I prefer it to other teaching approaches because I learn faster. To give an accurate description of his style, in one class he goes, “Okay we’re going to watch a movie now. It is pretty lighthearted, but I want you to pay attention to the cinematography”. He proceeds to put on the Korean film “Old Boy”, leaving everyone in the class appalled and speechless. If you don’t know the movie, just understand there was a unanimous agreement that it is the most disturbing movie we’ve ever watched in our lifetime. However, the screenwriting and cinematography were out of this world, and now I’m inspired to push my filmmaking limits more than ever.

The last point I’ll make about studying in this program is how interesting it is to hear perspectives from international students. Especially in my World Religions class. Half of the class is from outside of America, so their perceptions of popular religions and stigmas are fascinating to compare my own experiences with. All in all, I feel like I’m learning a lot more than I would if I took the same classes in America. It’s pretty amazing!