If you don’t know it by now, I’m a HUGE fan and supporter of Locals and I LOVE “Learning with Locals”! ♥
I love meeting and featuring experienced, dedicated, knowledgeable Locals who are, for me, absolutely essential to a truly authentic travel experience. Oh, I know that “authentic” has become a slightly overused buzzword in travel and is a bit overused but it’s true:
local => authentic => tradition => passionate => artisan => personal = the best experience and unforgettable memories!
I love being with and learning from passionate experts – experts who share their talents and offer experiences gleaned from dedicated research and learning as well as developing and nurturing genuine relationships. And, of course, before I recommend them to you, I love meeting and spending time learning more about them…
♦And today I’m so excited to introduce you to Toni and Taste Florence!♦
♦ Mangiamo! Let’s Eat!
So many choices! You’re walking around and feeling a bit hungry…but where to stop? Where to go? Where to eat? What’s really “local” and “authentic”? Eat standing up? Eat sitting down? What places cater to tourists and are just “mediocre”? And where do the locals eat? And, then, how to decipher the menu? What to choose? If the menu is only in Italian, what do you do??
⇓ Well, I have the PERFECT solution! ⇓
Take a curated Food & Wine walk with Toni and Taste Florence!
• When it comes to finding an food and wine expert, seek out those who have lived here, researched, studied, learned, immersed and tasted it all! Seek out someone who is knowledgeable and passionate not only about the food but about the artisans – the bakers, the winemakers, the farmers, the shop owners, the producers –and seek out someone who is convivial, enthusiastic, and has great relationships with them! I’m here to save you all that time looking! I’m here to tell you about Toni!
• Toni’s story isn’t unusual – young woman comes to Italy, falls in love (with an Italian and Italy)…the love affair with Italy never ends! And it was when Toni came to Florence 19 years ago and settled in the San Lorenzo rione (neighborhood) that she became passionate about local food and wine, and a new love affair began! Now, 14 years later, that love affair is her passion and her livelihood.
• I “met” Toni virtually via Instagram shortly after I settled in Florence months ago when we were pretty much in varying stages of “lockdown”. I’m sure it was her mouthwatering photos that caught my eye but I also enjoyed her wonderful descriptions. Her enthusiastic personality came through and although I’m no foodie, I love to eat and I love learning about local – really local – specialties and where to enjoy them.
• Also, not only am I always seeking out experiences to share and recommend to you as part of my “Learning with Locals” features but I love markets and wanted to enrich my own knowledge. And I wanted to do a hands-on, personal foodie/market walk.
So many tempting choices!
• I reached out, we communicated and while we were still in “lockdown”, I participated in and thoroughly enjoyed her Virtual Food Tour very much. I immediately knew I had made the right choice. Without a doubt, I definitely wanted to Taste Florence with Toni.
• Finally, in early spring, we were able to meet and my initial impressions were on target. I felt an instant rapport and we agreed that, once it would be possible, we would do a food/wine walk together.
• Then, at last, when shops and bars could once again open and serve for outside dining and it looked like the weather was going to cooperate, we made a plan. So, come rain or whatever the tour was on and we had a date in June!
♦ Buon Appetito!
• Toni promises that you will “discover local specialties while visiting hidden gems” and “visit local markets, shops and culinary artisans all in places chosen for their historic and culinary importance”. And she delivers! Fabulous!
First stop, the local bakery, of course…full of local specialties, I could spend the morning here! (Be sure to wait for the slideshow…)
• I loved accompanying Toni as she guided, shared and introduced me to the locals she’s come to know so well and with whom she has a wonderful rapport and relationship. Always warmly welcomed, we were treated to the genuine hospitality and generosity that I find so wonderfully gratifying here.
Remo delivers…daily!
Let’s visit a 100 year old wine shop and do some tasting!
• Our walk included a wonderful lineup of visits and, as promised, we sampled a delicious selection of local specialties.
• Learning about the special ingredients and preparation, pairing with a local wine…each stop a historic and special gem and always including a rich legacy of stories representing generations of tradition, quality, and pride… Perfect!
“Coccoli” with prosciutto and stracchino cheese…
• Learning, tasting, savoring, pairing, appreciating, and enjoying…whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, you’ll be in gastronomic heaven!
Waiting for our ravioli and definitely worth the wait! We sampled: ricotta with lemon zest, spinach & ricotta with walnut sauce, and truffle!
• Not only will you walk away satiated, but with a rich appreciation not only for Florentine (Tuscan) cuisine but for those wonderful people dedicated and proud to serve you only their finest and tastiest.
Always with a congenial smile, vendors are ready to sell you their finest products and the prices are so reasonable! (Wait for the slideshow!)
• And it’s impossible to taste everything but just looking is such a delight and there are lots of reasons to return!
Pizza, tapas, more tapas and cantucci! (Are you hungry yet?)
But there’s one more stop! Well, actually two…a celebratory glass of vino to toast a fabulous time…and, of course, a gelato!
• Oh, by the way, it’s not an oversight on my part that there are no photos or mention of the names of where we visited. It’s intentional and totally out of respect for a request from Toni.
After all, she has spent years developing these relationships and her itineraries – and it’s her business, a business she has nurtured over many years so…
If you want to enjoy tasting Florence with Toni as much as I did, you’ll just have to take her tour! And you should!!
♦ You’ll find Toni to be personable, good-natured and extremely knowledgeable. Sensitive to the likes/dislikes of her clients, the pace is comfortable and while the tour is casual and informal, it is extremely informative and delicious fun! ♦
More About Toni and Her Taste Florence Experiences:
https://www.tasteflorence.com/
Contact Toni & Book Your Tour:
Contact Toni & Book Your Tour
tasteflorence@gmail.com
…and please tell her you read about her here!
As a matter of fact, Toni is my newest Friend of Victoria and I’m just thrilled!
♦ ♦ ♦
Brush up on Italy’s Food Rules with my book:
Victoria’s Travel TipZ Italian Style
♥ Read About Other Locals I Have Loved Learning With and You Will, Too!
♦ ♦ ♦
Planning YOUR trip to Italy? With expert planning advice from my Friends of Victoria, we can help you a little or a lot!
2 thoughts on “♥Learning with Locals: Tasting Florence with Toni!”
All I can say, my dear Victoria, is that you look so, so happy! Almost glowing! Florence suits you right down to the ground!
Grazie tanti Phyllis! Well, I am happy and meeting wonderful, passionate locals like Toni and the others I’ve had the privilege of writing about is such a rewarding pleasure. I always appreciate that you read my scribbles and your kind comments! It contributes to making it all so worthwhile!
Cari saluti da Firenze!
V.
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