Just D.I.N.K.ing Around: Greve Market Day

Farm to Table - In Italy, not a fad but a way of life for centuries

In the United States farm to table and farmers markets have been growing in popularity over the last 5-10 years or so. In Italy, market day has always been important and a way of life. Many towns have at least one market day a week, larger ones may have a small one during the week and the main one on Saturday mornings. Greve follows this plan, with main market day being on Saturday. Of the many times we have been in Greve we have never been able to participate in Market Day as we were either flying in or flying out that day. This year, we actually were able to participate and it quickly became one of the high lights of our trip and added to the next trip's itinerary, When traveling, we always try to become part of the local scene. Nothing does that quicker or easier than participating in Market Day. The main triangle in Greve is over taken with various tents selling everything from fresh fruit, meat, seafood, flowers, and underware! That's right, underware. You really good get everything you need from this market.

We started the day as normal with a croissant and latte at the local cafe on Greve's main triangle. Jamie found it a great place to people watch on any day, but especially on Market Day.

Whether you want fresh fish or fresh pork, they have it at the market! I can confirm that the smell wafting out of roasted pork truck pictured above was as good as you can imagine. The pork sandwich you could get there was amazing! Duane couldn't help himself and had to get one as we wandered the market.

As if there was not enough tents and trucks located on the triangle to tempt your wallet, the Greve Main Triangle is of course lined with shops as well. One of our favorites is Antica Macelleria Falorni. This is THE meat shop of the Chianti region. They have been in the same location since 1806 and have 9th generation butchers who know their way around pork! Walking in you have to be careful not to hit your head on the meat hanging from the ceiling. Along with the best salumi in Tuscany, they also make a little cheese that can be found in their cellar below the main floor of the shop. While in Greve many a lunch is made of salumi from this shop while we relax in or by the pool.

Duane had many different choices to make as he wandered the store.

Lunch!

It is hard to believe that after munching at the market and purchasing salumi at Falorni we would still have room for lunch. Walking around the triangle works up quite the appetite! Just down from the main triangle is Alessandro's. I am sure there restaurant has an actual name, but we have always called it Alessandro's after the main owner who was nice enough to let us purchase some of his coffee grounds during our very first trip back in 2011. Ever since then we always make it a habit to eat here at least once for lunch. He has huge wood fired pizzas, salads, and even his own wine!

This is the "personal" sized pizza. This one actually happens to be Jamie's. It always makes me chuckle that he orders this pizza. Jamie has never been one to deviate from traditional pizza toppings, but for some reason he ordered this one with hot dogs on it the first time we ate here and this has become his go to pizza at Alessandro's.

Of course after lunch we had to get gelato! I must admit, I do have somewhat of an addition to this wonderful treat. I never do not have room for gelato.

Duane is waiting some what patiently for us to finish our gelato so we can move on with our day and wine tasting activities.

Time to Wine Down!

What better way to spend an afternoon then with friends and over 1,000 bottles of wine? The Enoteca Falorni is located a couple of blocks from the triangle, but worth the walk. It is located underground and is made up of several red bricked rooms that used to house grapes, but now house bottles of wine and several enomatic systems that let you purchase pours of wines so you can sample as many as your heart and wallet desire.

They also have a little kitchen area that does antipasta options, salads, and other snack like items. Along with the typical red and white wines, you can also taste bubbles, olive oils, and grappas.

Tari and I had enough of red wine after a while, so on to bubbles it was!

Duane and Jamie checking out the Dievole wine options on the wall. Yep, we ended up having one of the crates Duane is standing next to shipped home. With this being one of Jame's favorite wine there was no way we were not getting some for home.

Calm down ladies, these men are spoken for! Yes, I know their faces are beyond sexy, but try to control yourselves. After a few glasses of wine Jamie and Duane decided they had to try to impress Tari and I with their sexy faces.

We spent several hours on the overstuffed couches trying wine samples and choosing purchases to take with us and ship home. From the wine carriers below, it was a successful mission.