Faithful readers of Beautiful Florence probably notice that many of the posts are about food and art.
Together with fashion, that's what Italian culture is about.
Those familiar with Florence are probably also familiar with the city's food markets,
Sant'Ambrogio and San Lorenzo, each specializing in 0 km farm produce.
But for a taste sensation a little more exotic to the palate,
those in the know as well as passing tourists, flock to the
International Market, held every two years in Piazza Santa Croce (above).
The International Market opened today, and will run through Sunday, October 7
(hours 10 am - 10 pm).
Beautiful Florence blog photographer Avigaykil Kelman and I headed over today at high noon.
Temperatures are still summer-like in Florence, but not hot enough to melt the chocolate
displayed by this proud chocolate artisan.
His speciality is cremino, he explained, white chocolate and milk chocolate
layered with chocolate hazelnut cream.
He gave us a sample. Wow!
The only puzzling thing was the chocolate master's name is Fabrizio, and he comes from a town near the northern Italy city of Verona. Perhaps Florence already considers Verona as "international."
Fabrizio was actually the only Italian we found, except for David, who is noticeable thanks to his
"I love Finland" tee shirt. He is in charge of a booth with Finnish crafts,
including woolen hand-knit woolen sweaters, scarves and hats.
David also showed us pukki, steel blade knives with raindeer bone or moose antler handles, as well as
kuksi, handmade carved cups of silver birch that Lapps traditionally use.
"The winters are cold and dark, but the summers with their 'white nights' are one big festival," said David, who admitted living near Helsinki but wouldn't tell us how he ended up there from Italy.
Next, we came across Robert from Amsterdam, with his handcrafted briefcases and wallets.
"I didn't know that the Dutch created leather goods," I commented.
"Ah, yes, many," said Robert, "especially in South Holland."
"It is a strong industry since we have so many cows."
Ah yes, Dutch cheese, I thought.
"Florence is a city of leather," he said, "but our specialty and trademark is natural cowhide."
Next, Avigaykil and I came across a Frenchman who could not speak a word of Italian or English.
From the reaches of my memory, I accessed my high school French. He understood enough to tell us he was from Gascony, in southwest France,
a culinary haven.
"My onions are the violet variety, easier for
digestion, the red peppers are biting hot, and
French garlic is marvelous," he told me.
Viva la cuisine francaise!
I wonder if any of the Frenchman's garlic and onions ended up in this authentic Spanish paella.
Looking closely, I saw mussels, shrimp, pieces of squid and peas in this version from
Barcelona.
Besides the option of take out, nearby tables and benches offer a place to sit down and savor
the national dish of Spain.
From pungent southern Europe to cool northern Europe, I thought,
when catching a glimpse of this fairytale stand.
Italian, English and French left this attractive couple mute.
Finally, the artisan handed a ceramic token engraved with his name--Romas McKisa--and
country of origin, Lithuania.
All of their crafts are made of the lightest and most delicate ceramic
that I have had the pleasure to come across.
My high school French came in handy once again with Thierry from Savoy.
Ever the careful journalist, I asked Thierry if the cheese for sale at his stand came from his dairy farm.
Mai non, this honest vendor answered, communicating that he was the proud maker of various French salamis and sausages displayed alongside the cheese.
Salami made from asino, donkey meat?! A delicacy, Thierry assured me.
I began to wonder what attraction, beyond ceramics, that the self-proclaimed International Market--
which did not wander beyond the borders of Europe--could offer the vegetarian and the vegan.
The answer came from an explosion of color....
Dutch flowers and bulbs in bloom.
Sorry I missed this. I'll try again in two years!!
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