In general, I wouldn’t go out of my way searching for a sandwich filled with the cooked stomach of a cow. Who am I kidding? I totally would. So, hunting for a Panino con Lampredotto was a a top thing to do on my Florence bucket list—no different than any other weird food I had pursued in the past.
A Lampredotto sandwich is a Florentine tradition, Tuscan street food at its finest and a favorite amongst all the Italian comfort foods.
This quick and easy meal is a soft roll stuffed with tender slices of tripe (beef belly), salsa verde, a spicy sauce and dripping with its own juices. Wrapping it in plastic is a must in order to catch the liquid, but you will still need several napkins to wipe off the juices that will surely be dribbling from your chin.
The first opportunity to taste this local delicacy was in front of Mercato Centrale. Even though I was heading inside of this foodie-haven to get a delicious piece of focaccia pizza, I immediately stopped at the sight and smell of the Lampredotto food truck. Focaccia pizza will just have to wait.
The Panino con Lampredotto was listed first on the menu for 3,50 ($4.75 USD). Offal on a piece of bread is quite a deal.
I attempted to place an order in my very weak Italian. After fumbling through the pronunciation for a few minutes, and with the line growing behind me, the cook just came out and asked me in English, “do you want a tripe sandwich?”. Yes, per favore.
The tripe was thinly sliced, flavorful and surprisingly tender. Memories from my childhood always make me believe that tripe is going to be tough and chewy, so I am always delighted when it is not.
The first adventurous experience with Panino con Lampredotto must not have been that bad, because when there was a chance for a second I jumped at it. Usually, when it comes to eating weird foods I am a one hit wonder, but this was different.
Lamperdotto was something I could see myself getting a bit addicted to. It would go nicely with my nightly glass of vino.
While exploring Florence with Play Your Tuscany, they took our group to I Trippaio di San Fernando, another food truck specializing in Lampredotto, for a quick lunch. And even though I had had a tripe sandwich just a couple days prior, I was eager to do some comparison tasting, hoping my first experience wasn’t just a fluke. It wasn’t.
I think I maybe might actually like eating cow stomach.
Would eating a Panino con Lampredotto be on your Bucket List of Things to Do while in Northern Italy’s Tuscany?
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Expedia is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘Watch Prices’ to get an email alert when the prices change.
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with RentalCars.com (it’s part of booking.com) for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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Things to do in Florence in a Day
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Italian Adapters, Converters & Voltage (AKA: The Flat Iron Dilemma)
10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary
We just returned from our first-ever trip to Italy and it was on my bucket list too! In fact I think I got one from the exact same vendor in the same market, and it was still 3.50.
I was surprised I like it so much too! It was salty, spicy, tender and delicious.
So funny that it was still the same price!! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it as much as me :)