And you are here why?

Pizza di patate is a classic Pugliese dish (ok, technically from Bari. Whatever) and goes by other names in other places - potato gateau, potato crumble, etc. Basically, think of it as "baked mashed potatoes", which is exactly like calling wine "fermented grape juice". True, but entirely missing the point. The recipe below comes from a friend of mine from  Puglia . OK, technically, it's her mom's, which only makes it even better, right? (Incidentally, if you want to learn - or improve - your Italian, you can do far, far worse than working with her. The site is called  LearnAmo , she's incredibly good at it, and the  videos are endlessly entertaining .) Anyhow, enough of the plug - recipe below. Ingredients 4 medium potatoes (russet, but pretty much anything will do) 2 eggs 8 oz mozzarella di bufala, diced. Not too small though. Perhaps 1/4" - 1/2" chunks 8 oz shredded cheese (use whatever you like. Mozzarella, cheddar, "fiesta cheese"...

TL;DR - Pretty much anywhere... On a slightly more serious note, there is a lot  of good eating in Firenze, and while everybody has a completely different list of "must go" places, it is rare that you'll find any of these lists to be categorically wrong.  That said, what you do  want to do is find out which of these lists most closely matches your tastes :-) Also, be sure to read my "Travel Tips For Italy" - things I've learned, usually the hard way... Lunch / Dinner All'Antico Ristoro di Cambi (Via San'Onofrio 1/R, +39.055.217.134)  An old school restaurant, slightly  off the beaten path, which has spectacular steak and "pomodoro al pappa" (think "fresh tomato soup w/ bread").  Also, if they have lardo, get it! Al Tranvai (Piazza Torquato Tasso 14r, +39.055.225.197)  In a restaurant that looks (vaguely) like a tram ( tranvai! ), this Slow Food place has incredibly good pasta, and even gooder  baccalao.  And, of ...

Reason #17 - Nutella in Vending Machines

Things I’ve learned — sometimes the hard way — in my sojourns in Italy: Dining Most menus are in Italian and in English. But, but, if there is anything that looks like a “tourist menu”, or if the host is standing outside trying to get you in the restaurant, then run (don’t walk) in the opposite direction Restaurants are closed on all sorts of random days. Always, always call ahead to make sure they’re open. Even if the web-site says they’re open, don’t trust it! Reservations are always useful. If in doubt, make one (if they take ‘em). Depending on the time of the day, you will almost certainly not get a table if you just show up. When talking to the waiter, ask about the food (if you can speak Italian. And even if you can’t!). They’ll happily describe it for hours. You’ll eventually learn to actually order the daily special. Its typically based on what the chef (who is probably also the owner, and/or the mom or grandma) picked up at the market that morning. Either wa...

I could go through a remarkably long post, but I'll let this do the speaking for me Mind you, my favorite item is no. 11 "and everything else!", which, to me, include Mortadella Culatello Pretty much all other sliced meats Farinata Focaccia di Recco Pesto Ok, Italian Food, all of it, including trippa The pace of life and last, but not least, at least one Italian woman (hello Nikki!) via https://twitter.com/jjcomellas @dieswaytoofast To help you cope with the cold: http://t.co/KbHNiWu0ad — Juan Jose Comellas (@jjcomellas) January 4, 2014

RESTAURANTS BY CITY Bologna Trattoria Bertozzi (via Andrea Costa 84/2) +39.051.6141425 [Closed Sunday] All'Osteria Bottega (via Santa Caterina 51) +39.051.585111 Ristorante Ciacco (via San Simone 1/c) +39.051.265441 [closed Friday & Lunch on Saturday] Its in the basement of an old Jewish house (the area used to be the Jewish Ghetto back when). The place is somewhat upscale (not terribly so, but this isn't really your "local trattoria"), but the food is excellen t. A review here , and pictures from one of our visits here Enoteca Italiana (via Marsala 2) It's a wine shop, and a wine bar, all rolled in one. You can go in and buy your wines, or, just have a glass (or heck, a bottle!). Exceptional selection, friendly staff, and a wonderful place... Liccu Golosità Siciliana  (Via Camillo Ranzani 13b. Check the hours!)  +39.051.498.3707 The 10 minute walk from the centro is worth it - amazing Sicilian/catanese food, granita in the summer, aranci...

In case you haven't been paying attention to the news from Italy, Mario Monti said that he intended to resign , and shortly thereafter, Berlusconi threw his hat into the ring . As the Guardian put it If anyone doubted   Silvio Berlusconi   would launch an inflammatory, divisive election campaign, the three-time Italian prime minister did not disappoint on Tuesday, slamming Germany and the financial markets. In a live phone-in on one of his TV stations, the 76-year-old media mogul said the austerity measures introduced by the technocrat prime minister,   Mario Monti , had dragged   Italy   into recession rather than reinvigorating it and were "German-centric". The spread – which uses the risk premium of Italian bonds over German bonds to measure confidence in Italy's economy – was a mere "trick" that had been used to "bring down" the government he led until November 2011. Mind you, it is Christmas, and Berlusconi is clearly the gift ...