You call it rain.
We call it street glitter*.
(*Please note, as of today’s date “Street Glitter” has been officially registered and trademarked for our future (though as of yet, nonexistent) band name. Don’t get any ideas).
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Battle No.2
The Challenger: The Oil Shoppe
For rules, regulations and a fascinating review of sandwich history, see here.
Welcome back to Sandwich Wars!
Last month we started off the series with a battle royal between two classic hole-in-the-walls: Fratellini and Da’ Vinattieri. The winner (by a hair!) was the mouth-watering #16 porchetta sandwich from Da’ Vinattieri. Our third contestant will have quite a fight ahead of them to beat out a sandwich so close to perfection.
Starting this month, we will have a running tally of the best sandwiches in the Sandwich Wars’ side bar (< --------) so that at any time you may need it, you can find the current rankings. If you want to learn more about one sandwich in particular, click the link!
Ok, to the battlefield.
First, I want to apologize for the delay in posting this, but to tell the truth, I was torn on whether or not to actually report on this particular sandwich experience at all. It was well…not that great. But the man who made said bad sandwich was so nice that (as the sucker American I am) I wanted to go and give them a second chance. This question of whether or not they deserved a second chance (when that was not given, nor even considered with previous contestants) led to an almost debilitating existential battle. In the end, I had to stand by my conviction that this is about the sandwich, not the sandwich maker. So should said sandwich man ever read this, I am sorry. You were super nice. But well…read on. Continue Reading…
It’s officially 2013!
We here at Select Study Abroad could not be happier. It means we are even closer to this year’s students arriving. We have been hard at work honing our itineraries and planning some new fun adventures. Shhh! Top secret. It’s always more fun if it’s a surprise!
Here’s to a new year of more fun, more food, more fabulous site seeing and more Florence!
Look out for more blogs coming your way too! If you have any requests for information or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Yours,
The Select Team
Happy everything & everything happy for 2013!
From your team at Select Study Abroad!
If you plan on spending Christmas in Italy, there are two words you need you know: Panettone and Pandoro. These are two somewhat similar looking (but very different tasting) traditional sweet breads that are enjoyed during the holiday season. They are sold in large cardboard containers or exciting packaging (as pictured above) and come out in the hundreds, piled high in grocery stores, and lining the walls of bars and bakeries all over Italy.
Panettone is a sweet bread from Milan and is shaped like the cupola of a dome. The process to make this seemingly simple desert is actually rather lengthy and difficult, requiring many days and at least three separate dough risings. The final product, a fluffy, light dough, is filled with candied fruits and/or raisons. It is usually served with a sweet drink, often hot, and with mascarpone on top.
Pandoro, or Pan d’oro (bread of gold or golden bread), is a yeast bread baked in the shape of an 8-pointed star. Equally flaky and light, but without the candied fruit, many brands come with powdered sugar that is sprinkled all over to create a “snow-covered” effect. Like the panettone, it can also be served with mascarpone, a chantilly cream, or even gelato.
I personally enjoy my Pandoro dipped in coffee the morning after. Next time you’re here, make sure you try it. It only comes out once a year!
