Tuscany, like any other country where Christmas is widely celebrated, has many different traditions to do with the holiday and is an important event that brings families together. Of course, if it's an Italian celebration of a holiday, food is going to be an important part of said celebrations.
For example, Arista alla Fiorentina is a pork-based dish originating from Florence that is a delicious alternative to turkey and a sure crowd-pleaser. “Arista” comes from the Greek word “aristos”, meaning "best" and, according to legend, it can be traced back to the 15th century, when Greek clergymen visiting Florence in 1430 for an Ecumenical Council were served the Tuscan-style roast pork and found it to be "aristos". It has been called this ever since then. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and try this delicious dish for yourself.
For example, Arista alla Fiorentina is a pork-based dish originating from Florence that is a delicious alternative to turkey and a sure crowd-pleaser. “Arista” comes from the Greek word “aristos”, meaning "best" and, according to legend, it can be traced back to the 15th century, when Greek clergymen visiting Florence in 1430 for an Ecumenical Council were served the Tuscan-style roast pork and found it to be "aristos". It has been called this ever since then. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and try this delicious dish for yourself.
Meanwhile, Prato, and the surrounding area boasts a high concentration of pastry shops and bakeries. These produce a wide range of pastries and biscuits, including the very famous and traditional Biscotti di Prato (also known as Cantucci), Brutti Buoni, Zuccherini and Pesche di Prato. As we have mentioned with previous pastries and biscuits, these are not only served at Christmas but are somewhat connected to the holiday. You can buy them throughout the year but around Christmas, they become packaged in pretty boxes and can be enjoyed with a coffee as you watch busy shoppers darting around outside.
One of the lesser-known and nicest of Prato's biscuits are a more modern invention called Castagnoli. They were created by the Ciolini brothers in 2002 and are made of chestnut flour, Tuscan olive oil, milk, eggs, sugar, almond flour and pine nuts.
One of the lesser-known and nicest of Prato's biscuits are a more modern invention called Castagnoli. They were created by the Ciolini brothers in 2002 and are made of chestnut flour, Tuscan olive oil, milk, eggs, sugar, almond flour and pine nuts.
The biscuits even won the national prize for “better biscuits with chestnut flour” in 2007. Find a holiday rental in Prato and track some down in one of those local pastry shops.
Read on for our final post on Christmas dishes in Tuscany that you need to try if you are going to be in the region over the festive season.
Read on for our final post on Christmas dishes in Tuscany that you need to try if you are going to be in the region over the festive season.
Photo credits
picture 3: raul2010 / CC BY-SA 2.0
picture 3: raul2010 / CC BY-SA 2.0
