Continuing on from our last post, we are outlining some of the dishes from Tuscany that you need to try if you are spending the Christmas period in the region this year!
These include delicious desserts and wonderful main courses and, among them, you are sure to find something to please everyone in your party.
Savoury dishes and gelato are what come to mind when people think of Italian food but the beautiful and historic Siena, is actually particularly well-known for her pastries and, while they are not something you only find at Christmas, they are very much connected to the time of year. In fact, you will probably find many are readily available in nicely packaged sets in gourmet and specialist food shops in your own city over the festive period.
These include delicious desserts and wonderful main courses and, among them, you are sure to find something to please everyone in your party.
Savoury dishes and gelato are what come to mind when people think of Italian food but the beautiful and historic Siena, is actually particularly well-known for her pastries and, while they are not something you only find at Christmas, they are very much connected to the time of year. In fact, you will probably find many are readily available in nicely packaged sets in gourmet and specialist food shops in your own city over the festive period.
Traditional and made using recipes passed down for generations upon generations, these pastries are a source of pride for the Sienese. Once you have found a luxury villa in Siena, make sure to find a nice cafe or bakery and sit down to enjoy a pastry with some coffee or have a bunch wrapped up to bring home for your friends and family to enjoy.
The origin of these pastries dates back to ancient times, when monasteries and ancient spices stores were where culinary experiments took place and recipes were devised using the ingredients they had at their disposal.
One such experiment resulted in cavallucci, meaning “little horses”. These biscuits are made from flour, honey and sugar, in the shape of half an apricot. Their name is said to have variously been rooted in origins as snacks eaten at stagecoach inns by people travelling long distances, by postmen travelling at length on horseback and by servants working in the stables of the aristocracy.
The origin of these pastries dates back to ancient times, when monasteries and ancient spices stores were where culinary experiments took place and recipes were devised using the ingredients they had at their disposal.
One such experiment resulted in cavallucci, meaning “little horses”. These biscuits are made from flour, honey and sugar, in the shape of half an apricot. Their name is said to have variously been rooted in origins as snacks eaten at stagecoach inns by people travelling long distances, by postmen travelling at length on horseback and by servants working in the stables of the aristocracy.
Panforte is another, probably more well-known example. The name comes from medieval origins - “Sa di forte”, or “Full-flavored”, a Tuscan way of saying a sour dish or drink. There are several legends surrounding the dessert and it is rather deeply entwined with the history of the area. Many panforte recipes exist from traditional recipes to chocolate versions but the base of the dish is similar to a fruitcake and is made of nuts, honey, sugar and spices. Siena is considered the panforte capital of Italy and some state that you must have 17 ingredients in the dish, reflecting the number of contrade, or districts, inside the city walls.
There are even more delicious sweets and savory dishes that are intimately connected to Christmas in Tuscany so be sure to check out our other posts to learn about them all!
There are even more delicious sweets and savory dishes that are intimately connected to Christmas in Tuscany so be sure to check out our other posts to learn about them all!
Photo credits
picture 1: Shaw / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3:Jules / CC BY 2.0
picture 1: Shaw / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3:Jules / CC BY 2.0