A Taste of Florence: Opening an Italian Market and Café

Daily writing prompt

If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

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If I were to open a shop, there’s no question what it would be.  It’s a small, charming café and Italian market that brings the taste of Florence right into the heart of the city. 

Food has always been one of my greatest passions.  It’s more than just feeding your belly.  It’s an experience and a way to bring people together.  I think that a great meal can turn a sour mood sweet.  It could transform a simple afternoon meal into a memory and create the kind of moments that remain after the last bite. My heart has always been drawn toward Italian food, and Florence, in particular, holds a special place.  

Why Florence?

Florence, in my opinion, is pure magic.  I remember waking up there to the sunlight spilling over the river, strolling down cobblestone streets still glistening from the morning dew, and stopping by a little café for a cappuccino and a flaky pastry.  The architecture and history feel like I’m stepping back into history, and the rolling hills of Tuscany stretch out like a dream. 

It was a time in my life where I felt the most relaxed and like myself.  Every meal, from the simplest loaf of bread to the most decadent Bistecca Fiorentina, was savored.  And I often think about how much I’d love to bring that feeling, those moments, home. 

The Concept

My café would be more than just a place to eat.  It would be an escape.  A Florence getaway.  Inside, sunflowers would brighten each table.  A mural of the Duomo would greet guests at the door, while another wall would occupy a painted panorama of the Tuscan countryside.  The walls would be painted a deep, warm blue, with gold accents.  Fleur-de-lis would also be adorned throughout the café. 

The space itself would be small but full of charm.  I’d have marble or dark wooden counters along one side, perfect for quick espressos or long conversations over Tuscan wine tasting.  Behind the counter, tall shelves would be stacked with bottles of Chianti, jars of biscotti, and packages of artisanal pasta. 

The Menu

The menu would be a love letter to Florence.

• Gourmet panini with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and basil.
• Tuscan ribollita soup — hearty, warm, and comforting.
• Bistecca Fiorentina cooked to perfection.
• Cantucci almond biscuits for dipping into a glass of Vin Santo.
• And of course, fresh bread — simple, rustic, and perfect with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

It would also double as a small Italian market offering authentic meats, cheeses, olive oils, and wines.  All imported directly from Italy so guests could bring home the taste of Florence. 

The Big Picture 

This is a dream of mine.  Either to open a café here or perhaps venture to Italy and open up my own spot.  I imagine the café as the kind of place you’d pop into on a rainy afternoon for a cappuccino and a slice of almond cake, or staying until closing having endless conversations over a glass of wine.  

And maybe, just maybe, someone walking in would feel the same magic I felt on those cobblestone streets years ago.  Because to me, that’s what food, and Florence, is all about: creating moments you never forget.

Here is a recipe of a classic Florentine cake that I’d serve up in my café. 

Schiacciata alla Fiorentina (Florentine Carnival Cake)

a soft, fragrant cake traditionally made during Carnival season. It’s light, subtly sweet, and flavored with orange zest, often dusted with powdered sugar and marked with the Florentine lily in cocoa powder.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup warm milk
• 1 large orange zested; and ¼ cup juice
• 2¼ cups flour
• 1-½ tsp baking powder`
• powdered sugar for coating top of cake
• baking cocoa for sprinkling on top of cake design

Equipment

• 1 9×7 inch pan

Method

 

1. Download a free image of a fleur de lis and cut out a stencil design from it. Set aside.
2. Butter a 9 x 7 inch or other similar pan and line it with parchment paper. Butter the paper and set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 350F
4. Beat eggs with sugar until fluffy. Add milk and olive oil and beat a couple of minutes. Add juice and zest and beat in. 
5. Sift flour with baking powder and add in increments to the egg mixture until well blended. Pour into prepared and bake for about 12 minutes or until a cake skewer comes out clean and the cake is firm to the touch.
6. Cool cake completely on a wire rack. Turn cake pan upside down and remove parchment paper. Turn cake right side up and place it on a serving dish. Dust the cake completely with Confectioners sugar. Place the stencil design in the middle of the cake. Use a small sieve to fill in the stencil with baking cocoa powder. Carefully lift the stencil design to reveal the fleur di lis. Cut into squares.

Notes

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Recipe Courtesy of: Ciao Italia: https://www.ciaoitalia.com/recipes/tuscan-carnival-cake-schiacciata-alla-fiorentina