i tried something new in firenze this time: renting an apartment with a kitchen. the main reason was that my parents, who were joining me, don't like to eat out very much. restaurant food is too salty, too oily, too much everything, they say. and while i enjoy eating out, and love some firenze restaurants like il santo bevitore (above is their zucchini souffle), i agree. it's a bit much to be eating out for every single meal during a 10-day vacation. and what's funner than shopping like the locals do?
so i chose le tre stanze, an old florentine palace that's been turned into apartments. our room came with a basic kitchen and cute little garden. we shopped at the san lorenzo market for fresh vegetables, fruit, gorgeous cheese and prosciutto, and some ready-made condiments. we picked up zucchini blossom focaccia at the cantinetta verazzano, and discovered some excellent, 7 and 8 euro bottles of vernaccia di san gimignano in the enoteca across the street...
my parents couldn't be happier. not only could they eat well, and in moderation, they could also indulge in some embarrassing family habits like arguing loudly over who should get the biggest piece of buffalo mozzarella, and, 5 seconds after finishing a meal, rolling out of our chairs and onto our beds for "digestion" naps!
