Day 24
Our final days in Florence. Class today featured a lecture on chocolate making and chemicals, followed by a chocolate tasting! I purchased 6 different chocolates for the class – 100% cocoa butter (white chocolate), milk chocolate (32% cacao), 56%, 75%, 85%, and 100% cacao. In between tastes, we ate apple slices and drank water. Still, the 85 and 100% were very difficult to get through – so bitter. We then held a 2-hour study session in preparation for the final exam tomorrow. We had a large charcuterie board at our favorite wine shop – Enoteca Alessi yet again – because everything is SO good there. Home for a quick siesta for the guys, while Anne and I went shopping. We ended at Leonardo leather where USD affiliates get a 20% discount. I bought a gorgeous leather jacket and Anne a pair of handmade boots. Dinner tonight was back at Francesco Vini where Anne/Cam feasted on bistecca alla Fiorentina. Our server, Stefano, was who we also had when Rae, Trevin, Megan, Brian and I ate here previously. His wine recommendation (La Rasina Brunello) was roundly praised. Brian had the peposo, Greg had the paparadelli with cinguale ragu, and I had the lasagna (molto buono!) The treat of all treats was when Stefano invited us downstairs into the wine cellar – and explained the Roman history of the building which was part of the original amphitheatre walls in Florence. The arches far underground were from the 14th century! What a night!