Arriving hungry at night in Florence, my hostess points me to a diner of reasonably priced and good pizza. She says shes eats there (at least that's what I think she said). The place was everything you would not want a italian restaurant to look like. Designed by a famous chemical plant arquetect, even the walls where screaming “we will feed you then mechanically remove you”. 

 

Furnished entirely by a second hand office depot that went bust. Yes, though I do know a certain unnamed person that would relish in the low-brow-ness of it all, it is hard to imagine a tourist coming to beautiful Florence, to then eat in a place like this. But I was hungry, and a lot of local bus drives where eating here (a good sign?). Past the client feeding area, I encountered the food disposal area. Various plates of food enclosed in glass cages that would not open (trust me I tried). I then surveyed the surroundings for assistance and met the gaze of the cashier. We then commenced a staring competition. After what she deemed was a satisfactory performance on my part in the stare-off, she called out for the serving lady. 

Out came a substantial Italian women with a heavy brow, and she was using it to frown at me. This would have made a less hungry man crumble. I gave her my rehearsed line

--“How does the system work”

She then said a lot of things, including

--”If you like what you see, you eat”

and simultaneously shoved a pizza my way. I understood the gesture; she wanted me to take the pizza. But my inquisitive mind was relentless, and I thought, why this one? what over flavors are there? can I have just a slice to try? maybe half a pizza? We engaged in a futile attempt of communication. I tried to slur the words “mezzo”(half), “options” and “system” in to a sentence. She would then answer using more then three words. The frustration took it's toll on the Italian kitchen warlord; she was not used to dealing with foreigners. She then said something on the lines of

--”Take the whole pizza and I'll charge you for half”

I realized that resistance was futile, and I took the pizza. Thin slices of courgettes, Gorgonzola and with little nibbles of spicy sausage. One of the best pizzas I've had in a long time. It cost 3 euros.