Preparing Fresh Spring Strawberries the Florentine Way

Thinking globally, but acting locally in an environmentally friendly way has become extended to the way we food shop and eat. More people are buying their fruit and veggies from local farmer's markets. Florence is no different than the rest of the world. The two most important things to remember are to buy items in season and to make friends with your local produce vendor.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables will be the items you see most in abundance at the market. They will also be the items most reasonably priced and at their ripest, tastiest best! Your local produce vendor can guide you in your selections and he or she may also have great new ways to cook or prepare the produce.

Right now in Florence, strawberries are everywhere. They come mostly from the warmer southern part of Italy. Since these strawberries are ripe and ready to eat, keep the preparation to a minimum. Here is a suggestion:

Rinse the strawberries well and cut the green stems off. Then cut the strawberries into quarters. For a cup of strawberries you can add a 1/4 cup of sweet dessert wine, white wine, sweet spumante, or fruit juice of your choice and 1 heaping tablespoon of honey. Mix well and let rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature. The strawberries will give off their juice into the mixture and become slightly darker. Once they are ready to serve, pair them with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. They are also great by themselves!