I have spent almost 3 months in Florence now and after scoping out all the different places to eat and get groceries, I am proud to say that I’ve finally got a steady routine in my study-abroad Firenze style diet.
The first thing I noticed when I started grocery shopping here was how conveniently cheap everything was. Normally on Mondays after First-Year Seminar, I go to the International market, AKA VV Market, to get certain foods that I can’t find anywhere else. POCKY sticks, Li hing mui seed, lemongrass, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, rice noodles, and RICE. Switching rice out of this Hawaii girl’s diet is not that easy, so I make sure to have at least 2 cups of rice just in case I’m in need of some comfort food. Measuring my own rice was something different for me and I was always ashamed to ask for help, but now I find it fun. FUN FACT: The garlic at VV Market is the largest and cheapest in all of Florence. 1 euro for 3 palm-size garlic.
Then I go to the nearby Conad, where I get most of my groceries. The workers have begun to recognize me and give me discounts. They’re really nice and challenge me to speak more Italian. I normally make a setlist of what to get, but I always return home realizing I forgot something. A typical list consists of pasta, cheese, bread, sauce, eggs, granola, yogurt, orange juice, potatoes, and all types of veggies. I would like to make my way out to the markets but I get lazy and settle with Conad veggies. They’re not so bad. I’ll typically buy something different every time just to give it a try.
My grocery routine has me set for breakfasts, weekends, and dinners. Since I have a meal plan for the dining services of LDM, and I need to use it all before next semester because they won’t take my card next semester, I have lunch every day at LDM. There are a total of 3 servers Giulia , Amalia, and, Adel. They are not always in the best mood, but when I asked them ‘Come Stai’ their entire aurora changes. They are lovely people who like to challenge students to speak Italian. They all know what my typical mixed plate is; mixed pasta with chicken, veggies, and potatoes. Whenever there’s something new they make me try it which I appreciate. They always have free pastries, fruits, juice and bruschetta for everyone. Also, their chocolate ice cream is my absolute favorite. There’s a slight family feeling I feel dining there every day.
Unfortunately, I won’t have the meal plan next semester so ill be missing the convenience of the mixed plates, but it’ll give me the chance to fulfill my dream of meal prepping. I’ll still probably go to LDM dining services to say Ciao once in a while, do work, and partake in their free offerings. Living on my own for the past few months, I have never cooked so much in my life. I’ve learned what satisfies me, what I don’t necessarily NEED to buy (like entire jars of Nutella every week), and that I truly enjoy cooking. 🙂
kaiusrootz 