It’s no secret that little sweet treats are having a moment, but for me they’re more than a moment: they’re a lifestyle. A sweet treat can be a coffee out, a pastry from a local bakery, a Krispy Kreme donut, a milkshake, or anything my sweet tooth desires. Oftentimes I get to the end of a day and wonder at how I made it through without a little treat.
Last week I randomly found myself on a flight to Florence, Italy, with no other goal than to eat some local tiramisu. I also hoped for some gelato—if I was lucky. Thankfully, my time in Florence was blessed with an abundance of delightful, daily little treats, exactly what one needs on trips like these.
1. Gelato from Sbrino
This gelateria was right around the corner from my brother’s apartment and was his favorite in the city. I got tiramisu- and Spekulaas-flavored gelato. My brother got fruitti de bosco, or “red fruits”–flavored gelato—his favorite.
2. Gelato from Vivolo
Vivoli is the oldest gelato place in Florence, which makes it the oldest gelato place in the world, since gelato was invented in Florence (according to my brother). I got their famous affogato—creamy espresso over vanilla gelato.
3. Almond cookies from Signorvino
These were small, hard shortbread-like cookies covered in powdered sugar, served with a side of slightly almond-flavored filling and mini chocolate chips. Paired pretty perfectly with my first ever Hugo spritz.
4. Gelato from Sbrino again
We simply couldn’t resist going back to Sbrino. This time I tried their bergamot-flavored gelato, hoping for a sort of Earl Grey tea flavor. Instead it was light and fresh and the texture resembled an airy sorbet more than ice cream—definitely my favorite of the trip.
5. Chocolate croissant from Gino’s Bakery
I’m on a journey much larger than this Italian one to document all the croissants I eat this year, so I knew I needed to sample one internationally. This croissant was very soft, warm, with more chocolate than a regular American croissant.
6. Gelato from La Carraia
This gelateria was recommended from a friend back in the states, but my brother told us that any place with piles of brightly colored and decorated gelato was fake, as that is not how gelato is actually made. I got a cone with chocolate mousse and dark chocolate on my walk back to the Airbnb.
7. Apple crisp pie from La Cité Cafe
I went to this cafe purely for a cappuccino but their spread of bakery items could not be ignored. I was stuck between their raspberry white chocolate cheesecake or their apple crisp. I went with the latter mostly because it seemed to be a more acceptable breakfast option, as it was 10 a.m.
8. Gelato from I’m not sure where
I know I had gelato one more time. I know it was near Duomo Square and it was once again the “fake” gelato my brother warned me about. I got tiramisu gelato and started planning how I could get some actual tiramisu before I left Italy.
9. Cinnamon roll and vegan brownie from Prae
On the second-to-last morning I realized there was a bakery not half a mile from our Airbnb. Plus it served iced lattes! I got myself a cinnamon roll to go with my latte and a brownie to share with my brother.
10. Tiramisu from Tamaro
I finally got my tiramisu on the last night of my trip. After a big dinner of chicken caesar salad and carbonara (my first one ever), I received my bowl of tiramisu, covered in a haphazard dusting of cocoa powder. But it’s not about the presentation. The texture was amazing, light and airy mascarpone with soft layers of lady fingers and espresso. Definitely worth the wait.
11. Tiramisu from Air France / KLM
Imagine my delight when I receive my dinner on my return flight to America, only to discover that the dessert is a small pudding cup of tiramisu. While not as airy or evenly layered as the local version, the taste was altogether comforting and delicious.
While I don’t know if I will ever return to Florence, I now feel prepared to give a few recommendations to anyone I know visiting there, especially anyone with a sweet tooth.
Carlisle Patete (‘22) came to Calvin University from the mountains of North Carolina and graduated with a double major in film & media and creative writing. After brief stints in Los Angeles and Chicago, she now resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she enjoys sweet tea on her front porch and identifying every tree and bird she runs into on any hiking trail.
