CUTE DOG, MARKET AND LADIES -- FLORENCE DELIVERS

(Chiulda, the sweetest dog with the softest ears)


(Chiulda's fabulous mom, a biscotti baker)


(chocolate biscotti await their fate, in our tummies)


(once-a-month artisanal market of local goods)


(glamorous cheese purveyor - I love her cozy style)


(whole wheat bread and local panatone cakes -- very tasty)

Is there another dot on the map where the girl dishing out biscotti at the Farmer's market is wearing $500 Chloe sunglasses and has a perfectly sweet long-haired doxen named Chiulda wandering around her stall without a leash? I dare you! Florence has divine fresh eats. While Portland sadly banned dogs from the market last year, the Florentine lady's are calling and whistling for their furry darlings if they wander too far. I noticed Chiulda had an affinity for the truffle stand, and how can you blame her?

In between stroking the dog's ears and being stupefied by her excessive cuteness, we sampled:

- saffron cake
- moist panatone (dried fruit cake mixed with cloves and nutmeg)
- truffle pesto
- sweet onion relish
- olive oil
- dark vinegars
- chianti wine (it's cheaper than water here! and absolutely tasty)
- apricot, chocolate and almond biscotti
- wheat bread

The small market featured local products, mostly processed in some manner-- pickled, made into a sauce, dried, baked, etc. It was a superb afternoon full of my favorite activities: dog cuddles, tasting delicious morsels and oggling Italian lady fashions.