semel street food - florence, italy

Rating:  9 / 10

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.

I ate there twice in a week, trying three different sandwiches, each one packed to the brim with flavour and crunch. 

First up was the pear, sheep cheese and truffel sandwich, a muted but deliriously good way to start your journey. It might not look like a flavour bomb, but this is a sneaky customer.

Next the pork belly with a monstrously delicious tangy chili tomato relish. This was a revelation.

Lastly the pork with sundried tomatos and cheese was a gorgeous fatty snack. Hands down a hundred times better than All'Antico Vinaio, even tho they are a different beast, but this satisfies deeply. 

​Make it a point to stop here on your visit to Florence, before or after you check out the market. The owner is a legend and will put a smile on your face. If you drink alcohol, then you can get a glass of wine for 1 Eur. Hard to beat.

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.