■ ITALY, FLORENCE: The most challenging meal I've indulged in thus far in Florence, wasn't the 1.6 kg T-bone steak but Lisa's Lampredotto. It's not that the sandwich wasn't good. It really was quite tasty!

It was more about having the knowledge of what I was eating and somehow muster the willpower to keep munching down on it despite my better judgement.

Having seen my Lampredotto video, Martina, Florence's greatest tour guide, challenged me to sample some even more exotic ancient meals of Florence. So down to the 130 year old street food market known locally as Mercato di San Lorenzo I went.

Objective: devour the most daring meals the city has got to offer. But first I was lured into taking the job as an Italian street food master chef! My first order, Panino con l'arrosto (whatever that is).

■ MARTINA'S CONTACT DETAILS: If you wish to join Martina on a food or history excursion you can write her at http://www.sunflorencetours.it/ her e-mail address is in the top left corner