This past Christmas, my husband and I spent four days in Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany Region, which has some of the best cuisine in this fantastically food-driven country. (They like talking about it almost as much as they like eating it!)

I did a lot of research before we left, hoping to surprise him with a wine or food tour, but being winter, wine tours were harder to come by, and much more expensive when I did. After a week of searching, review reading and emailing, I started to lose hope for my Christmas surprise—until I happened upon TASTE FLORENCE, which had great reviews on travel websites and quick, easy, informative email responses from the tour guide.

Run by a young expatriate (and faithful foodie), TASTE FLORENCE provides daily, 3-4 hour walking tours through Florence’s San Lorenzo neighborhood. The price is very reasonable (around 60 euros per person) when you consider what’s included, and compare it against other tours (from 100 euros/person, up to as much as 250/person. Yikes!).

As you go, Antoinette talks the history of food, Italy, and Florence, and will also point out and write up directions to local chocolate specialists and other landmarks or shops of interest. She includes a sheet of restaurant recommendations, many of which use products from the market and wine shop you visit on the tour, and gives each person time to explore a little on their own before shuffling everyone off to the next destination.

For serious “foodies,” or anyone else who loves to eat and/or cook, a food tour is a great way to indulge yourself while learning about local specialties and hidden gems. And TASTE FLORENCE is sure to provide a personal experience, with lots of fun and lots of food!

Visit the TASTE FLORENCE website.

Stops include:
1) A run wine shop (where you get to taste the wine), which has been there since the 1800s and owned by the same family for the last sixty years.

2) The San Lorenzo market, “Mercato Centrale.” Not the outdoor clothing, leather, souvenier market, but the indoor food market with stalls that have been there since 1865. See fresh pasta being made, taste cheeses, glazes, oils, breads, meats and other Florentine specialities.

3) A gelato shop, voted #2 on a list of the “Best Ice Cream Shops in the World,” where flavors are made fresh daily. And you get to taste them. (With more wine, of course!)