Florence’s Foody Farm: A Tasty Blend of Trendy and Traditional

With the memorable name of Foody Farm, this very popular restaurant about 10-15 minutes southeast of the Duomo is a great addition to the Florence food scene. The simple but effective guiding concept of Foody Farm is “The right food from the right places.”

The staff is constantly researching for the best local suppliers for the freshest and best ingredients for all the dishes thoughtfully prepared in the kitchen. Only the best meats, cheeses, pasta, produce, desserts, beers and wines make the cut. Diners are rewarded with flavorful, tasty dishes in this trendy but traditional restaurant.

Location: Corso dei Tintori 10/R, 50122, [amazon_textlink asin=’1631216651′ text=’Florence, Italy’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3adefbc0-e281-11e7-8eb9-9b5ef7f17d04′]

The plain, unassuming storefront of Foody Farm belies the wonderful food, service, and ambiance you will find inside. This large, popular restaurant is about a 15-minute walk southeast from the Duomo, just south of Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, near the Arno River.

Menu: At Foody Farm, the dishes are conveniently divided into macro- categories:

• From the Pasture
• Barn and Barnyard
• From the Farmyard
• From the Garden
• From the Granary

These categories are further broken down into sections dedicated to Fast Food and Street Food. There is also a vegetarian menu and a selection of gluten-free dishes. Truly something for everyone.

In addition to these main categories of entrees, Foody Farm has a great Cheese List that includes three pecorinos at different stages of aging, a soft goat cheese, and a marbled cow’s milk cheese with raisins. Diners also do not want to miss the [amazon_textlink asin=’B005SU6VSC’ text=’burrata’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’bcc00a0f-e281-11e7-82c7-d750f4e54ead’], the highest quality cheese produced in Tuscany.

Sweety on the Foody Farm menu claims to have The Best Desserts in Town. After trying the delicious Cheesecake al Frutti Rossi and the Zucotto, I would tend to agree. My first ever Zuccotto, I thoroughly enjoyed this classic Florentine pastry made with brandy, cake and ice cream and frosted with dark chocolate just before being served. The dessert selection is represented by the most famous pastry shops in the area, ensuring the highest quality made by the experts in the area.

Winy on the menu holds some of the best local craft beers and renowned wines. The beers and wines have been carefully selected to pair with the food offerings for the ultimate dining experience.

Thoughts:  After a week of eating pasta, pizza and other Italian cuisine, the Cacio Burger on the menu got my attention. A Mugello beef hamburger sandwich with arugula, mushrooms, sweet mustard, and Senese pecorino cheese, served with fries, made for a tasty burger with a Tuscan flair. My sons ordered the Strozzapreti Pasta with Sausage. The menu described this delicious dish as “made from ancient grains together with “Bardiccio,” typical Tuscan sausage of Casentino Maiale Grigio pork, broccoli cream and Gran de’Magi cheese crumble.” The blend of pasta, cheeses, sausage, vegetables, and spices was perfect.

Other noteworthy items on the menu include a sushi version of Chianina lampredotto (made from the fourth and final stomach of a cow) and the hearty Maremmano beef sirloin with roasted potatoes. The salt-crusted pork fillet, pork ribs in BBQ sauce, and the porchetta, a savory, fatty, and moist boneless pork roast are also good choices.

Some diners prefer to order the boxed platter of seven different cold cuts, available with a variety of cheeses. One unusual but flavorful dish from the farmyard is the sweet and savory pancake with pulled chicken. Another is the chicken tagliata, where the meat is cooked at a low temperature, resulting in an especially tender chicken.

Even though Foody Farm has a great selection of beef, pork and chicken dishes, the salads and other dishes from the garden also shine. In addition to standard ingredients like carrots, onions, and tomatoes, diners can also choose from more uncommon ones such as pumpkin seeds or sheep’s cheese. Also on the vegetarian menu are fried ravioli, a vegetable-and-burrata sandwich, or chickpea falafel with black cabbage accompanied by fries.

I loved looking through the varied menu, with each enticing description calling out to me. The menu is put together so it is easy to follow. I especially liked the fact that for most dishes, you could order a full or half portion. People with a smaller appetite would be satisfied with the half portion, and those with a larger appetite might want to order several half portions so they can sample more items on the menu.

When I travel, I always try to find places that are popular with the locals. You know if large numbers of locals frequent a restaurant, then the place is doing something right. This was certainly true at Foody Farm. The food is fresh, tasty, and innovative. The décor is trendy, modern and contemporary, but with bits and pieces of traditional décor blended in.

An example of the creative décor are walls covered with old wine bottles transformed into planters, creating a unique visual effect. Other innovative ideas include serving some dishes on an actual head of a shovel, and the combination of bleached wood with modern fixtures creating a wonderful eclectic effect.

Even with all the creative dishes, beautiful décor, and impeccable service, Foody Farm’s prices are remarkably reasonable. I have to say that in our two weeks in Italy, Foody Farm was one of our favorite dining experiences. So when you are in Florence, skip the touristy, over-priced restaurants, and head to Foody Farm. You’ll be glad you did.

Prices: 5 – 15 Euro

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Disclosure: The author was hosted for lunch by Foody Farm. This post contains affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission being paid, at no additional expense to you. By doing so, you help support this site and its authors, and we thank you.