Tuscany

Known as the holiest of holies of Italian cuisine, the Florentine-style beef steak is prepared exclusively with dry-aged beef from the Chianina cattle, which is particularly prized for its tenderness. Even though bistecca alla Fiorentina is often described as a T-bone steak, it is much c... Read more

Panzanella is an Italian salad made from pieces of stale, moistened bread, with the addition of tomatoes, onions, or basil, and a dressing of vinegar and olive oil. The salad is a specialty of Tuscany, where it is usually served in the summer, making use of the fresh summer vegetables that are in... Read more

Pappardelle is a famous Tuscan pasta variety. When paired with ragù di cinghiale (made with wild boar), they become one of the region's best gastronomic experiences. Unlike classic ragù, the one prepared with wild boar has an intense, much stronger flavor achieved by long, ... Read more

These hard almond biscuits visually resemble tiny slices of bread, or cantellus in Latin, which is how they gained the name cantuccini, though they are also known as biscotti, meaning twice-baked. Cantuccini supposedly originated in the Tuscan city of Prato in ... Read more

A typical dessert of Sienese cuisine, ricciarelli di Siena are soft almond biscuits whose origins date back to the 14th century. According to a popular legend, they were named after a Sienese nobleman Ricciardetto Della Gherardesca, who brought similar lozenge-shaped Arab sweets to Siena upon his... Read more

Often said to be as old as the Palazzo Vecchio and as loved as Dante's poetry, lampredotto is Florence's favorite street food and a delicacy not found anywhere else in the world. Prepared for centuries as a quick, cheap and easy meal, lampredotto is basically the fourth stomach of a cow (the abom... Read more

Every Tuscan family has a recipe for this soup that has been refined and passed down through generations. The name means reboiled, referring to the fact that it is commonly consumed on the day after its preparation, when it is reheated with a dash of olive oil. The key ingredients in rib... Read more

Spezzatino is an Italian stew consisting of small pieces of meat that are cooked in a small amount of liquid. It's usually made from the less tender cuts of beef, lamb, mutton, or pork, which all have a nice amount of connective tissue and cartilage that breaks down into a hearty gravy. The meat ... Read more

Grandma's cake—as translated in English—is actually a soft pastry pie filled with a rich, delicate custard cream, topped with toasted pine nuts, and lastly dusted with powdered sugar. This delicious cream pie is considered to be a traditional Tuscan dessert, although it is eq... Read more

Italian deep-fried doughnuts known as bomboloni are one of the traditional sweets of the Carnival season, but nowadays they can be prepared throughout the year. Even though bomboloni are said to be of Tuscan origin, they are commonly sold as a snack in numerous pasticcerias, bakeries, an... Read more

Pappa al pomodoro is a thick Tuscan soup consisting of fresh tomatoes, bread, olive oil, basil, and garlic. The soup can be served warm or chilled. For the authentic version, only costoluto fiorentino tomatoes and pane toscano bread should be used in the dish. Although it has an... Read more

Schiacciata is a traditional variety of bread made in Tuscany and Umbria, consisting of flour, olive oil, yeast, water, and sugar. It is quite similar to focaccia, although it takes much less effort to prepare schiacciata than focaccia. The name schiacciata means pressed... Read more

Pappardelle is a type of Italian pasta characterized by the large size of its broad, flat noodles. Traditionally, pappardelle are made with an egg-based dough, making the pasta richer and more flavorful. Their origin is attributed to Italy's Central and Southern regions, such as Tuscany,... Read more

Back in the 15th century, when Pecorino production used to begin in spring, this Tuscan delicacy was called Cacio Marzolino, meaning March cheese. Nowadays, Pecorino Toscano is also produced in Lazio and Umbria, Tuscany's neighboring regions, and available year-round as... Read more

Italy's most renowned raw, organic lard is first generously salted, then seasoned with pepper, rosemary, garlic and coriander, and finally aged for about six months in specially crafted canaloni - marble tubs. Lardo di Colonnata is made using only fatback, and produced in the Tu... Read more

The origins of finocchiona can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages, when fennel seeds, which were easily found in the fields all across Tuscany, were used as a substitute for the rare and expensive pepper. In fact, the name of this typical Tuscan salami comes from ... Read more

Frantoio olives are a renowned variety primarily grown in Italy, particularly in the Tuscany region. They are highly valued for their use in olive oil production due to their distinctive flavor and high oil content. Frantoio olives are medium-sized with an oval shape, maturing from green to a dar... Read more

Not to be confused with the wine varietal, Chianti Classico is an olive oil produced in Colline del Chianti, a range of hills situated in the heart of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. This central Tuscan extra virgin olive oil has a maximum acidity of 0,5% and it is bright yellow wit... Read more

Produced under the same strict laws and traditions since the 15th century, Prosciutto Toscano is made exclusively with pigs born, bred, fattened and slaughtered in Tuscany. All pig legs must be provided with the breeder’s certificate to prove their provenance. The Tuscan hams are t... Read more

Cavolo nero is a version of kale originating from Tuscany. Also known as black cabbage or Tuscan kale, this leafy vegetable has long and sturdy leaves that are similar to savoy cabbage regarding its texture. Once cooked, the leaves retain their firm texture, which is why cavolo ... Read more

Leccino olives are a prominent variety of olives primarily grown in Italy, particularly in the Tuscany region, though they are also cultivated in other parts of the Mediterranean and in regions with similar climates around the world. They are highly esteemed for their versatility and the quality ... Read more

Accasciato is a semi-hard Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk or a combination of sheep’s and cow’s milk. It has a firm texture and a fresh aroma, while its flavor is best described as sweet. Although it can be consumed fresh, the cheese is typically matured anywhere ... Read more

Pici is a type of hand-made pasta popular in South Tuscany, similar to spaghetti, but thicker, and usually made without eggs. The pasta is rolled by hand and looks robust, like thick spaghetti. Pici can be served with hearty meat or mushroom-based sauces, but the most typical way to enjo... Read more

Pecorino di Pienza is a traditional variety of Pecorino produced in Pienza in the province of Siena. The cheese is made from sheep's milk and comes in a few versions – some are young, some covered in straw, some rubbed with ash, and some are pressed with tomatoes. The young version... Read more

Negroni is a cocktail made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Although its origin is unclear, it is believed that this cocktail was invented in Florence in 1919 by Count Camillo Negroni, who wanted to improve his favorite drink - the Americano - by replacing sod... Read more

Chianti wine is a red blend from Chianti, a small region in Tuscany, Italy. Made with a minimum of 70% Sangiovese grapes, a wine calling itself Chianti is allowed to be made almost anywhere in Tuscany, and the entire region is divided into seven sub-zones, with the renowned Chianti C... Read more

Bolgheri is an Italian appellation located in Tuscany that is best known for its tannic red wines made from classic Bordeaux grapes. These red wines can be made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Merlot, or with a blend of these wines and up to 50 percent of Syrah or Sa... Read more

Brunello di Montalcino is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino in the Tuscany wine region. Though it was initially considered to be made from a separate grape variety named Brunello, it was later discovered that the grape used in the production ... Read more

This red Italian wine is made with 100% Sangiovese grapes, and it is produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino. The wine was created as a fresher and younger expression of Brunello di Montalcino wines, which are produced in the same area. Rosso di Montalcino wines need... Read more

Chianti Classico is a historical heartland of the Chianti wine region. The wines produced in the area must be made with a minimum of 80% Sangiovese grapes and have to age in oak for at least 12 months. They typically display aromas of red fruit, but the scent of violets is always present... Read more

This prized Italian wine is produced in the hilly vineyards surrounding the city of Montepulciano. The principal grape variety in its production is Sangiovese—locally known as Prugnolo Gentile—with a minimum of 70% percent. Though the character of the wines may vary depending on the f... Read more

Alchermes is an ancient Italian liqueur based on a combination of rosewater and orange blossom water, sugar, herbs, and spices, while the typical red hue was traditionally imparted with the addition of crushed cochineal insects. It is believed that the liqueur was invented by the Sisters... Read more

Vin Santo is a type of Italian wine made with dry grapes (passito method) that is produced in various styles. Vin Santo del Chianti is a regional variety from Tuscany—the birthplace of the style—and it can only be produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pisa, Pistoia, ... Read more

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is an Italian appellation named after the key grape used in its production (Vernaccia) and its place of origin—a small Tuscan town of San Gimignano. The wines produced in the region are usually straw yellow, but as they age, they tend to develop golden hu... Read more

Vernaccia is a white wine grape variety most famously associated with the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany, Italy. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of Italy's oldest and most esteemed wines, known for its distinctive character and high quality. The wine produced from this grape is typically stra... Read more

This Italian liqueur is praised for its combination of fine Italian brandy, vanilla, and Mediterranean citrus essence. It is believed that the first version appeared during Renaissance, but the ancient recipe was brought to life by Gaetano Tuoni and Giorgio Canepa who marketed it under its curren... Read more