April 30, 2011

The Florentine- a city- a steak

When I tell the story of how I came to Florence and fell in love, first with Florence and then with a Florentine-( my now husband, Andrea), I probably should also mention the other Florentine in my life.

The Bistecca alla Fiorentina- the larger than life T-bone steak Florence is famous for.



cutting custom florentine steaks from the rack at butchers
Did I forget to mention in America I had stopped eating meat for 7 years? Was sort of a vegetarian.
I am so over that now. In Italy, I get such incredible quality of meat it is amazing.

So I am rather a butcher hag-- when I find my butcher, I remain faithful. Although I have several, even in the market, having more butchers is better than less.

We had a HUGE 1,600kg steak at Cipolla Rossa the other day-- foto worthy!






Here is my write-up on cooking a Florentine Steak.
with step-by-step instructions

PLEASE DO NOT OVERCOOK! It is a lean cut of meat with little or no marbling and will get tough.

Don't have a kitchen while you are here?

In Florence:
Trattoria Mario, 
Trattoria Pepo
Trattoria da Sergio
Osteria Da Giovanni
Perseus
Cipolla Rossa

In Chianti
Da Padellina- Strada in Chianti
Officina della Bistecca - Panzano in Chianti- Macelleria Cecchini

from the Officina della Bistecca



They are huge and meant to be shared!!! Order a great bottle of wine and have a relaxing meal!

Everyone should try being Tuscan at least once a year.
Posted by at 4:00 PM

8 comments:

  1. I'm so jealous of your Florentine love, the place not your husband though I'm sure he is a fine man! Those steaks look awesome and I know what you mean about how very important it is to find a good butcher and a good fishmonger also!
    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete

  2. In Florence, I would also highly recommend Buca Lapi for their Florentine Steak. After I had it Buca Lapi on my first visit, I didn't think I could ever have another that would be as good. I've been back two more times and it was equally wonderful each time. After dining at many famous steakhouses in the US, none compare to Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

    ReplyDelete

  3. Love Osteria da Giovanni and Sostanza! Heading there again next week! Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete

  4. I asked you about I Due G the other day, Judy. But I think you have given me a better option! Grazie. Lori

    ReplyDelete

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  6. Oh my goodness this post brought back memories of being so full of florentine steak and wine! I went to Il Latini in Florence and me boyfriend and I split the steak...it was still too big! I ate so much I was dizzy on the way home lol.

    The Wanderfull Traveler

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  7. Okay ... a bit off-topic, but I finally got to Cipolla Rossa today with friends and had the "eggless carbonara/Alfredo's" whatever ... and IT WAS DIVINE, DIVINA! SOOOOOOOOOO good. Very nice (present but not invadente) service and everything else was very good, too, but OH THOSE SPAGHETTINI ALL'UOVO CON PANCETTA. To die for.
    Thank you, my friend. Alla prossima, insieme spero.

    ReplyDelete

  8. Okay ... a bit off-topic, but I finally got to Cipolla Rossa today with friends and had the "eggless carbonara/Alfredo's" whatever ... and IT WAS DIVINE, DIVINA! SOOOOOOOOOO good. Very nice (present but not invadente) service and everything else was very good, too, but OH THOSE SPAGHETTINI ALL'UOVO CON PANCETTA. To die for.
    Thank you, my friend. Alla prossima, insieme spero.

    ReplyDelete

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