Eurotrip| 5.29.14| Florence Day 2

5.29.14 - Last full day in Florence and we made sure to eat at some of the places on my list before leaving to Rome tomorrow. Our first meal was from Gusta pizza, apparently a must for their pizza and also happened to be the American hot spot. That last fact alone turned me off from the place as it was filled with American students going there for the cheap pizza. The margarita pizza was a disappointment and I found the pizza at Eataly in NY better since it's not as soggy. It was the typical thin crust with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella, but I wasn't sold especially having to wait a good 45 mins. The least they could do was cook my pizza so it wasn't soggy in the center. That night we went to a restaurant that was also owned by the same family, Gusta Octavia which proved to be so much better than the crap they were selling the American students. You know that when a restaurant has a limited menu their food tends to be good and this place blew all the other pastas I've had out of the pasta water. I had the farfalle with zucchini flower and shrimp and it was the most amazing thing I've ever had...ever. I couldn't figure out what the amazing sauce was, but it tasted like butter sauce mixed with uni? Either way, I ate every bite as if I was in heaven and probably sold the dish to other tables as they watched me practically licked my plate. Also make sure to visit the leather market. The vendors can be pushy there so don't let them talk you into buying anything right away. Most of the bags are knock off designer bags but they have a few original designed bags with very nice leather. Florence has their own stamp that looks like a spade but I didn't like how it also said "Florence" under it. I'm sad to be leaving Florence, well sad to be leaving the food and gelato. The city instead is pretty small and there wasn't much else for us to do. Did I mention it's a couples spot? People asked if Aaron and I were there for our honeymoon but I just pointed to my finger and said "Sorry, he didn't put a ring on it". We decided to call this our prehoneymoon honeymoon instead. 

Vegemite!

Vegemite

Famous in Australia as their kangaroos and The Great Barrier Reef. While I was growing up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, my Australian friends were eating Vegemite ones. I can't describe the taste exactly but if I had to compare it to anything, it tasted like a very strong soy sauce that has been left out to dry to the point that it turned into a paste and someone decided to spread it on toast. Enticing isn’t it? Even thinking about it right now causes my jaw to tense up and mouth to water because of how salty it tasted. I must admit the first time I tried it, instead of spreading a thin layer of Vegemite on buttered toast as recommended, Mar and I decided to lick it straight from the package. WORST mistake ever!! I swear everyone in that hostel was looking at us like we were some stupid Americans. 

I tried it again the right way and it was just as hard to get down as the first time. Vegemite is definitely an acquired taste but a must try if you’re going to be in Australia. Just be warned, when they tell you to lightly spread the Vegemite that means dipping the knife in just a bit (the size of an itty bitty pea) for the whole slice of bread. It makes a great gift to bring home to your food loving people, just make sure to stick around and watch their reaction as they try to make sense of the taste. 

For anyone interested in the history of Vegemite.