Kaetrena's Food Review
Venice is for tourists, but if you can get away from the Rialto Bridge and the popular gondola rides, hopefully you'll run right into an open air market or two. I found a lot of open air stalls on the Rio Terà San Leonardo. In addition to the strawberries and dates I purchased, vendors also were selling other fruits, vegetables, meats, and bottles of wine.
TIP: If you want to buy small fruit, ask for a sample first.
In Florence right behind the Duomo is the L'Opera Cafe. Dana and I decided to stop in to satisfy our sweet tooth (and the "Free Wi-fi" sign lured us in, too). We'd also decided that we would attend evening Mass at the Duomo, so for all purposes, this clean, airy, and somewhat posh cafe fit the bill.
We ordered a stunning array of absolutely delicious treats, including strudel, fruit and chocolate filled cookies, and cafe Americano. Then, we ate it all (yes, all of it) while listening to American soul and rock music.
TIP: Table service is extra.