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Breakfast in Tuscany - any options other than pastry & coffee?

Breakfast in Tuscany - any options other than pastry & coffee?

Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:01 AM
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Breakfast in Tuscany - any options other than pastry & coffee?

This is kind of a silly question, but I am traveling to Tuscany this summer and have moderate hypoglycemia. I know that the common Italian breakfast is just a pastry and coffee. I need more than that to avoid a big blood sugar drop. Not all of my hotels serve breakfast. Am I likely to find any more substantial options with some protein, or do I need to plan on bringing things like protein bars?
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:20 AM
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Many bars (cafes) also have tramezzini that are savory or savory filled cornetti - but these may not be ready early in the morning. Or your hotel might not be close to any. I would bring protein bars or whatever you need medically, just in case. You could also buy ham, cheese, bread etc in stores for breakfast next day. Forget scrambled eggs and ham type of things though, these can only be found at hotels or in big cities at brunch offering places on sundays.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:23 AM
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I suffer from a coeliac disorder which was diagnosed late in life as many years ago I was blamed for my fussy eating.

Recently I travelled to Florence and stayed at Fattoria Pagnana and they provided a breakfast free of gluten without any problem. They said that they were very sensitive to alimentary disorders as they are a working farm doing their utmost to respect nature.

Based on my experience I am sure they will do their best to help you.

http://www.fattoriapagnana.it/en/home/
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:49 AM
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In connection with this question, what do you think demand would be like for a restaurant that serves American breakfasts--something like Flying Biscuit here in Atlanta, or Waffle House, Crackerbarrel, etc.?

Would there be enough business in Roma, Florence, etc., to keep it going?
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:50 AM
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You should ask to your accomodation what they do plan to give you. You would get a more useful reply than from the newsgroup.

To supplement your breakfast, do not underestimate bakeries. They will open quite early, and will sell every kind of salty or sweet pastry. The traditional Florentine snack is schiacciata - made from bread dough with salt and oil, a sort of pizza without topping. You can have it alone or filled with ham or mortadella.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 05:55 AM
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Most places I have stayed in my 17 trips to Italy have much more than merely pastry. It is common to see cereal, fruit, yogurt, and even hard boiled eggs and cold meats.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 06:35 AM
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>>>Not all of my hotels serve breakfast.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 07:20 AM
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I agree with bobthenavigator. We have always found a spread of breads, meats, cheeses, fruits and cereals in our hotel breakfasts in Italy. Perhaps a sweet cake.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 07:36 AM
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I've seen restaurants and bars that advertise American or English breakfasts in both Rome and Florence. I've never eaten at one, so I can't offer an opinion on the quality.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 08:55 AM
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Why not take control of your issues and visit a market or grocery store and have supplies available which will satisfy your particular needs. My wife also needs protein in the morning and we stay in apartments which necessitate our supplying ourselves with food as appropriate. This in addition to whatever is being provided by your hotel should do the trick. We find shopping in the grocery stores interesting.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 09:43 AM
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Where in Tuscany will you be visiting? Hotels in larger cities (bigger than Sienna as an example) will have more options than, say, a agritourismo outside a small village. If you are really concerned, pack a box of protein bars in your luggage. Taken out of the box, they can easily be slipped into shoes, along the sides, etc. Also, visit a market when there to replenish if needed. I work within some dietary restrictions when travelling with no big issues. Your question is certainly a valid one for many of us
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 09:54 AM
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I have the same condition and when I go to Europe, I bring a jar of peanut butter in my checked bag. Then I buy a loaf of bread and have toast with peanut butter for breakfast in the morning in my hotel room.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 11:26 AM
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Please don't be too shy to ask your host for assistance. All Italians know what low blood sugar is, and most truly want to be gracious hosts and have a happy, well customer. Sent an e-mail to find out what will be on the breakfast table and If it doesn't sound adequate, my approach would be to ask if it is possible for you to purchase your protien of choice and keep it in their refrigerator while you are there in there is not a minibar in the room. Ask where you can buy it. I would be very surprised if they did not offer to buy it for you and have it on hand, without charge.

If for any reason you feel they are not willing to help you out, then book elsewhere.

I've stayed in plenty of places in Italy that did not have greek yogurt or eggs or meat or cheese, and I don't drink ultra-pasteurized milk -- so my choices were i fact limited to pre-packeged pastries and other carbs. However, If you are going to touristic Tuscany and staying in the tourist hotels that rank high on Tripadvisor or Fodor's, you will probably get some cheese and meat. But ask!
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 11:30 AM
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(Regarding selling non-Italian style breakfasts, about the only city where I've seen that become a fad is Milan. Please don't forget how hot it is most of the time in Italy, and in the winter time, how filling Italian soup or pasta is. It's not like most people feel, when they get up in the morning, that what they want to do is eat. The pastries and bread are really just to buffer the acid of the coffee. For those heading out for heavy labor, pastries have cheese or egg-custard fillings.)
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 12:36 PM
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The places I've seen advertising American or English breakfasts were definitely proposing them to tourists, not Italians: the signs were all in English. However, you'd have had to go out on the street to get those breakfasts.

I find that more and more hotels are offering a variety of things for breakfast. Northern Europeans like cheese and cold cuts for breakfast, and I definitely see a lot of those on hotel breakfast buffets. Scrambled eggs and bacon are rarer, but I do often see hardboiled eggs. Yogurt is very common, but maybe not Greek yogurt. I rarely see plain unflavored yogurt, which is the only kind I like.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 12:51 PM
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Thank you to everyone who has offered advice! This will help a lot.
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