Archive for 'Food and Wine'

We owe a lot of things to the Medici family – artistic masterpieces they commissioned, collections they established that became the basis of museums, architectural gems in which they lived and which they sponsored, practices key to modern banking, and much more besides – but did you know that one of Florence's most beloved desserts, a precursor to the ice-cream cake, can also be attributed to that most illustrious of Florentine families? Zuccotto is still a beloved classic and was one of the first Italian “semifreddi,” or semi-frozen, cakes. Made in Florence during the Renaissance for the party-loving hosts that were the Medici, it was one of many foodie innovations that they had made to impress their guests. Made using ricotta cheese, cocoa grains, citrus peel, and Alchermes liqueur, it manages to be both refreshing and moreish, a delightful combination!

While zuccotto is a little tricky to make, it is well worth the effort and many of us happen to have more time on our hands right now anyway so why not give it a go and bring the flavours of Florence home to you in your kitchen until visiting Tuscany is possible once more...

If you like spaghetti then you'll probably like pici, which are basically super-spaghetti: a thicker, flatter, hand-rolled, handmade spaghetti that comes from an enduring Tuscan country tradition of making your own pasta from scratch at home. As we all have a bit more time on our hands at the moment during this time of social-distancing and may be craving culinary outings and travelling, why not combine it all and travel and experience something new with your tastebuds from the safety of your very own kitchen?

Pici, sometimes referred to as, “pinci”, are a kind of pasta that originated in the Montalcino area of the province of Siena in Tuscany. Made from a simple dough, typically made from only flour and water, though egg is sometimes added, it is one of those Tuscan dishes that is made in an endless variety of methods and has endless variations as each family usually has their own secret and specific recipes that are passed down through the generations. From the ingredients, to the proportions of ingredients used, to the way that the dough is rolled out, there can be all sorts of variations in how Pici are made. For example, to make the distinct thick, tubular shape, the dough must be rolled out in a thick flat sheet and then cut into strips but while some people roll the dough between a palm and the table while the other hand is wrapped with the rest of the strip, others simply roll the strip between the two palms.

When one thinks of Italian cuisine, it is likely pizza and pasta that first come to mind but one of the main things to consider about authentic Italian dining is that it is generally done in courses and, while pizza is a snack usually eaten alone, pasta is traditionally consumed after a salad course and before a meat or fish course that is accompanied by vegetables and side-dishes. On an international scale, these other elements are often forgotten and forgone for a more pasta-heavy meal but if you're trying to recreate a Tuscan dining experience at home then they cannot be skipped!

One side-dish that is highly traditional and very Tuscan is Fagioli al Fiasco, or “Beans in a Flask”. Nicknamed "bean eaters" by other Italians, Tuscans are particularly fond of beans and bean-based dishes and this, like so many delicious Tuscan favourites, is a culinary delight that comes from peasant and farming traditions. First used by Tuscan farmers to cook their beans, this unique method saw them place a glass bottle with beans in it in a corner of the fireplace on hot ashy embers before going to bed so that they would have freshly cooked beans to wake up to in the morning.

If you are a wine-lover and you have ever considered Tuscany as a holiday destination then you are seriously in luck; the two couldn't possibly be more compatible. Over the years, we have written about the various incredible vineyards, wineries, shops, bars, experiences, and varieties of wines that you can look forward to upon visiting Tuscany but we thought it about time to compile a list of some of the most unique, interesting, and memorable wine experiences of all that can be had in this beautiful region of Italy...

Wine-lovers who are looking for a perfect holiday destination will find few locations as perfect as Tuscany. There is absolutely no shortage of incredible wineries to choose from and endless places to sample, taste, learn about, and buy wine in Tuscany. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Montalcino, in particular, you will find that there is an especially intriguing and unique winery in the area: Podere Le Ripi.

With a distinct and very unique layout employing innovative planting methods, beautiful architectural elements, and attractive landscaping, it is visually striking and a particularly picturesque winery, which is no small claim amongst the abundant stunning wineries of Tuscany. It is also an incredible experiment in biodynamic viticulture that has yielded some absolutely delicious results.

Established in 1998 by Francesco Illy, of the famous Illy coffee empire family, this winery is made up of 75 acres of biodynamic vineyards that are set across two opposite mountainsides and nestled between a forest, olive groves, a vegetable garden, and fruit trees. Located in the stunning Tuscan landscape of Montalcino, the views from the winery are breath-taking, taking in great swathes of the surrounding landscape. Beginning back in 1998 with the site in Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the eastern side of Montalcino, the winery was since expanded in 2017 to an additional site at Il Galamppio for vineyards on the western side. Both sides boast uncontaminated oceanic soil, but with each belonging to different geological areas, as well as pure air, all of which gives the vineyards optimal conditions to grow the ideal raw ingredients necessary to produce delicious wines.