If you love good food, Tuscany, with its tradition and truly exceptional typical dishes, is the perfect destination for your vacation.
The traditional Tuscan cuisine is rich and tasty, but above all varied: you have meat, fish and vegetables. There are also lots of typical Tuscan products. Here you will find some Tuscan dishes that i recommended to try during your stay in Tuscany:
LA BISTECCA FIORENTINA “The Florentine Steak”
The most famous dish of the Tuscan cuisine is the the Florentine steak. Pellegrino Artusi (1820-1911), the author of the most popular Italian recipe book of all time, wrote about it. The meat used comes from the Chianina breed of cattle and is obtained by cutting the loin: it has a T-shaped bone in the middle, on one side the fillet and on the other the sirloin. Only after cooking you can add some salt and pepper.
RIBOLLITA
One of the most popular specialties of the region is Ribollita, the well-known “stew” of Tuscany. It is as famous as the Florentine steak and is made with stale Tuscan bread, beans, black cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots and extra virgin olive oil. It is a winter dish not only because it is served warm, but also because its main ingredient is black cabbage. Why is it called that? The word says it all, because it is cooked several times (and the more it is “re-cooked”, the better and tastier it becomes). Its origins date back to the Middle Ages.
PAPPA AL POMODORO
Another great classic of the Tuscan gastronomy is Pappa al Pomodoro, a “poor” dish of peasant origins: it is very intense, with strong flavors and the bread (Tuscan, that is, tasteless with a crispy crust ) is the main ingredient. It is loved by adults and children and is made with simple and healthy ingredients: stale bread, tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of chilli and lots of basil. It can be enjoyed hot or cold.
CROSTINI AL FEGATINO “Liver Crostini”
These crostini are the typical Tuscan appetizer and are a must on festive days or special occasions. Its taste is strong: you either love it or you avoid it. It is toasted Tuscan bread on which a pâté made from chicken liver, onion, celery, carrots, capers and a little butter is spread on it .
PANZANELLA
Panzanella is a tasty summer dish of ancient tradition, born from the need not to throw anything away. It is prepared with fresh vegetables (ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and basil) and stale Tuscan bread, which is soaked in water and then squeezed before being mixed with the other ingredients cut into small pieces and seasoned with olive oil, vinegar and salt. But you can also add other ingredients such as anchovies, capers, olives, garlic and chilli. This dish is mentioned in a 14th century writing by Boccaccio.
PAPPARDELLE AL RAGU DI CINGHIALE “Pappardelle with wild boar ragout”
One of the first courses is the pappardelle with wild boar ragout. Pappardelle is a type of egg pasta (very similar to tagliatelle, but much wider), typically Tuscan. The name comes from the Latin verb “pappare”, which means “to eat with appetite”. This type of pasta goes ideally with intense, strong meat sauces, especially game sauces such as wild boar ragù, which is also typical of Tuscany.
LAMPREDOTTO
Lampredotto is a typical Tuscan dish that comes from Florentine cuisine. It corresponds to one of the four sections of the beef stomach, cooked for a long time with herbs to make it tender and tasty. It can be eaten “alone” or sliced and served as a filling for the classic Tuscan sandwich with various sauces: from simple salt and pepper to the classic green sauce and spicy oil. In addition to the kiosks of the so-called “lampredottai”, it can also be found on the menus of many restaurants.
You can trust Caroline’s Toscana in providing you not only the right accommodation meeting your specific requests, but also with a detailed pre arrival information-folder designed to help you plan and enhance your stay in Tuscany!
Moreover, we offer a personal and customized concierge service before and during your stay (such as restaurant reservations, first night food supplies, transfers etc.) and we are confident that these services are one of the reasons why so much of our business comes from returning guests and their friends.
The fact that we live close nearby guarantees that, on the one hand, we are in close contact with the owners of the accomodations, and on the other hand, to meet your individual wishes – if possible – from the time of your arrival until your departure.
So let us assist you in choosing the right accomodation!
