I am not particularly squemish about food, but I will admit to not being a huge fan of organ meats.....I don't know why, perhaps it is just a texture issue?

Thank you so much for the tips on how to say well done! I will definately need to learn that saying!

I guess the only thing I wanted to avoid was perhaps a type of organ meat or mussels or something---I know, I know...how can one NOT like mussels? Let's just say, I am not a fan of clams, mussels, oysters, etc.

I am soo interested in trying some of that gelato!!

Just so you are informed: There is a reason that this steak is served rare. It is grass-fed and will dry out if overcooked. Rest easy on the shellfish issue; they are not too prevalent in Florence as the city is not on the sea and so they did not become one of the basics in their cuisine.

You might find an Italian phrase book helpful, one with a good restaurant words listing, so you can figure out what is what before ordering your meal.

We had Steak Florentine one evening in Tuscany, and it wasn't rare -- <b>it was RAW, cold in the center.</b> We insulted the owner by asking it to be cooked just a wee bit more. :-) ((b))

never eat blue-coloured food - except blue cheeses of course

If you're on a budget, don't buy your gelato in the Main Square by Palazzo Vecchio. The wife and I were starving and walked into a little shop on the square. When the scooper girl asked us what size we wanted, we chose a medium size because this would be our lunch. When we walked over to the cash register I was shocked when the clerk rang up 12 Euro. Then he looked at my wife and rang up another 12 Euro! It was the most expensive ice cream I ever had.



......Oh yeah, and it was the best ice cream I ever had too. Too bad half of it melted and ran down my arm as soon as we walked out into the July sun.

Even after you explained your question, I find it unanswerable by strangers who don't know you and your needs. What you should avoid depends entirely on your personal dislikes or physical sensitivities. Personally, I try to avoid cream sauces (beyond just a little sample of something), which seem to take days for me to digest, and there are a few pasta dishes with cream sauces (cream=&quot;panna&quot;). While I generally cheerfully try all sorts of unfamiliar foods, including organ meats, I know from having sampled it as a child and as an adult that I hate tripe. If you're squeamish about odd textured organs, I guess you'll want to avoid the sandwich shops that serve spleen sandwiches. I never had that in Italy. I think I may have had it in Brooklyn once--didn't care for it, but not nearly as bad as tripe.

&lt;is there any certain dish or type of food that one should avoid eating while in Florence&gt;

just the ones you don't like!!!

seriously, i can't think of anything that EVERYone should AVOID anywhere. if SOMEone didn't like it, they wouldn't be serving it.

This information might be helpful to you, if you cannot translate the Italian menu: It's a very hand, small, well-respected booklet named &quot;The Marling Menu Master for Italy.&quot;

You can purchase it on Amazon.com for about $9-$10. It's small, fits into a pocket or a small handbag,is compehensive and translates the Italian foods which are arranged in categories. The same booklet can be purchased for France and Germany.

Budman, that is so weird. Every Bud man I knew, growing up, ate raw meat. Are you sure you're not a Millerman? \:D/

VS

CMT - I can't handle the cream sauce either. I am going to avoid it the whole time and enjoy some other creations.

VS

ttt 4 the fun of it

I like steak tartar. Does that mean anything? :-) ((b))

Sorry, that sounds like something Scottish men in kilts fling at each other in sport. :-D

VS

Okay, had to google steak tartar to see what it was. It is probably good in the right circumstances.

I like liver pate' but I don't think I would have tried it that first time when I was a kid, if I hadn't thought it was chocolate ice cream.

VS :-&quot;

I say when in Florence, do as the Florentines do. There's nothing to avoid in Florence. Even panettone is not to be avoided (it is a great doorstop and weapon).

I agree with cmt and have difficulty telling you what to avoid. For instance, I love mussels, I can eat them by the bucket full, as such, I would never tell you to avoid mussels unless I'm about to be in town (all the more for me). I love liver, when cooked right. I adore bistecca all fiorentina even though I'm not a fan of rare meats. Hell, I've even eaten wild boar even though I dislike gamey meats.

I say go with the flow. If you eat something you don't like, consider it a part of your traveling experience. Rest assured, you won't be eating something no one else wouldn't eat.

However, if you're deathly afraid of eating strange unidentifiable mystery meats, pasta is always a safe bet. How can you go wrong with pasta?

There's a lesson to be learned about different cultures from the food of the area. Relax yourself and enjoy.

mcnyc - thanks.

VS

I should never have posted about the bistecca alla fiorentina and the wild boar. That's twice this week so far, and I'm having horrible cravings for them! ACK! b(

mmm, coniglio-my post-Toscana addiction!