Never in a million years did I think bittermansguide would be dropping 8's on a Szechuan restaurant in Florence, but this just teaches you again to never judge a book by it's cover. I had made a late dash for a take-away chilli beef the day prior, catching the chefs just before their 3pm relaxation period. I foolishly told the guy to make it spicy, and he didn't ignore me. 

Almost top marks for a sandwich? You bet your bottom dollar bro. Semel isn't just a sandwich, it's an experience. Nestled a few doors down from the magical Cibleo, this tiny hole in the wall owned by a boisterous man the wrong side of retirement, churns out some of the best sandwiches you've ever eaten.

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.

Having friends in a city is a sure-fire way to skip the tourist traps. When those friends are also culinarily inclined it's a match made in heaven. Reservations had been made long in advance for a table at this Osteria, knowing full well how crowded it gets. I had just arrived on the train from Napoli and it would be my first taste of Tuscan cuisine, well, since 2006 anyway.

Here's a little tip I've found useful on many occasions: If you eat at a restaurant that has great food, and the server is knowledgable, ask him/her to recommend other spots in town to try. This is exactly what I did after eating at Cibleo opposite, and the Japanese lady told me to go across the road to Cibreo, and eat the butter and cheese tagliolino. Nuff said.

You can't come to Florence and not eat Ribollita right? Right...

Having said that, there are many examples of "must eat" foods around the world that are more an experience than a culinary revelation, this was one of those.

If a book should be judged by it's cover, you would inherently believe this to be the pinnacle of human achievement. Throngs of tourists line up for hours every day to sample their sandwiches. Literally dozens of better sandwich shops lay barren and longing for a tiny spill-over from their behemoth attraction. 

Moments after crushing our hopes and dreams by announcing they were fully booked until the following week, the reclining chef at Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori pleaded with us to consider heading to Natalino. According to him "Similar to us. Local cooking done right. Authentic". 

To the people who turn their nose up at those who explore "alternative" food whilst in a famous food city, well, sadly you are missing out on a treasure trove.

I'm not known for liking ice cream, or gelato for that matter, but having read rave reviews about this tiny award winning place near the Duomo, I had to give it a go. After my second visit, and having tried 6 different flavours, I can lift my hands and proclaim triumphantly:

​This is the best damn gelato I have ever tasted.