ANTICA SOSTA degli Aldobrandini - florence, italy

Rating:  8 / 10

Schiacciata is a must do when in Florence. The regional style of Focaccia that packs an altogether more crispy punch. Thinner than your more notable examples, oily but not greasy, this popular bread is enjoyed daily in cafe's and bakeries all over the city.

After the crushing disappointment of All'Antico Vinaio, who would have thought I would find my favourite right under my nose. Having stayed at Hotel Lorena, I had stopped by this place numerous times during the morning to grab a cup of coffee, the previous visit noticing that every local person was munching on delicious looking sandwiches.

The day finally came to order and what followed was a blissful affair. First up came the turkey, eggplant and tomato sandwich. Rarely have I been so taken with a humble piece of bread. The crust was divinely crispy without being hard, the bread deliciously salty (something most florentine bread lacks), and the filling was all on point. The combination of turkey and eggplant was something I had never had before and it worked amazingly. The only down-side would be the tomatoes. In the land of the most amazing produce, these reminded me of the watery one's we get back in Oslo.

On the morning of my departure for Milan, I couldn't resist eating there again. This time I went for a local ham with lettuce and mozzarella. As usual the service was friendly, and the sandwich came out fast. Again I dove in, and the bread was great, if not slightly less toasted than last time. The ham was divine with a rim heavily seasoned with black pepper. However, the addition of the lettuce and tomato was too much for the bread and it quickly became soggy. 

If I was to eat there again, which I definitely will on future trips, i'd stick to versions of the sandwich that have drier fillings so the bread keeps its integrity.

These recommendations are just personal opinions based on my palate, things change, chefs get fired or replaced, places open-close, relocate, so take it all with a pinch of MSG  and discover your own gems too. But please do try a few of these, they have been researched exhaustively.