Archive for 'Products & Specialities'

Brigidini are thin, yellow-orange coloured cookies, not unlike waffles, that come from the village of Lamporecchio, near Pistoia. You will find them at almost every fair, events and food festival that takes place in Tuscany, often made fresh, right in front of you. They are one of the oldest sweets still made today in Tuscany and have even come to symbolise the region. Like many well-known products of Italian cuisine, they seem to have been born from a mistake. Local lore tells that they back to 1300, when Sister Brigida, made a pilgrimage, from her country of Sweden, to Tuscany. Here, she founded the Order of the “Brigidine” and, one day, while she was preparing the hosts for the Mass, she made a mistake. The result were some crumbly, thin and tasty anise cookies.

Italy is quite famous for her cheeses and several of them are integral to Italian cuisine. In fact, Parmesan and Mozzarella have both become staples of fridges the world over and can be found in all sorts of dishes.

Another popular Italian cheese is Pecorino, a cheese made from 100% sheep’s milk. There are six varieties have received Protected Designation of Origin status with Pecorino Romano being one of the most ancient types of cheese and one of the most famous outside of Italy.

The cheese can only be produced on the islands of Sardinia, in Lazio and in the Tuscan Province of Grosseto and has a history that dates back to the Roman times – as the name might suggest – when it was a staple of the diet of soldiers at war. The cheese is even mentioned in the writings of the likes of Pliny the Elder, Hippocrates and Columella.

Continuing on from our last post, here are some more of Tuscany's best cakes that are a must-try for foodies visiting the region. While the cakes that we last discussed are all more dessert-like sweet treats, there is also a tradition of cakes in Tuscany that can be served as side-dishes or as main courses and at a variety of times of day and meals.

4. Chard Cake

One of these is the Chard Cake, or "Torta d'Erbe", that comes from the area of Massa Carrara. It is a typical salted cake that can be served either as side dish or as main course and is made of wheat flour, chard leaves, eggs, breadcrumbs, ricotta cheese, Pecorino cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Tasty and attractively amber coloured, it is a welcome addition to any table and is a must for all those foodies that have found a holiday rental in the Massa Carrara and are planning a holiday there.

Foodies flock to Tuscany year in, year out to enjoy her hearty and tasty cuisine. With roots in peasant cooking, it is a cuisine that makes the most of local ingredients to create something filling and comforting. It is mostly pasta, pizza and other savoury delights, however, that people are most familiar with and are most keen to enjoy. Tuscany's desserts are less well-loved and well-known internationally but, despite this, there are plenty of delicious treats that you should try while holidaying in the region. We have rounded up some of the best cakes that can be found in Tuscany so you can track them down after you've finished with the main courses.

1. Schiacciata alla Fiorentina

One particularly tasty example is Schiacciata alla Fiorentina. This is a very traditional Florentine cake which can be found in local pasticceria (pastry shops) all over the city.

One of the things many people have in mind when planning a trip to Tuscany is trying the delicious ice-cream, or gelato (though there is a little bit of a difference between the two), that Italy is so famous for. If you are one of those people, then check out our picks of key places and shops that you need to check out.

If you feel like eating the best ice-cream in the world, you're going to need to find a luxury villa in San Gimignano. Located in the central Piazza della Cisterna, known all over the world and visited by a large number of celebrities is the Gelateria Dondoli or Gelateria di Piazza. The gelateria has won countless awards, invents flavour combinations that attract gourmet-lovers to the town on a regular basis and has made it World Champion on two occasions. Arguably, this is one of the best places in the entire world to try some ice-cream and is consistently mentioned in the most important travel and food guides. Produced daily with very fresh, dutifully selected ingredients, the quality of the product is beyond compare. Additionally, (and surprisingly) this gelateria happens to be one of the cheapest in all of Tuscany.

For those who trust Queen Bey in all things, you stop by Edoardo's once you have found a luxury villa in Florence. Beyoncé and Jay-Z documented visiting the parlour while in Florence in May 2015 and their recommendation is only one of many reasons why to choose it. Edoardo's uses natural ingredients and has a focus on quality, artisanal products. They are also the first certified organic gelateria in all of Tuscany. Designed to give off an old-school 1940s atmosphere from the ice cream in the carapina ice cream boxes, to the walnut furniture, to the counter full of drawers, to the vintage cash register and down to the retro clothing of the staff, it is a cool and photogenic spot that serves up good ice-cream.

Another spot worth visiting in Florence is Perchè no! (meaning “Why not!”) Located between Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica, it is near many of the main museums and attractions in the city, which is handy, but it is the artisanal gelato made using all natural ingredients that really sells it. It even provides vegan and soy options which means everyone can enjoy their tasty ice-creams! With both complex and simple flavours, from matcha green tea to chocolate, there really is something for everyone.

So, next time you visit Tuscany, you know where to go!