Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Tradition and Christmas go hand-in-hand but sometimes it's nice to break away from something done year in and year out, even if it's just for a moment. Sometimes it's nice to try out the traditions of other cultures. Tuscany, like many other places, has many Christmas traditions as it is an important holiday that brings families together. Of course, if it's an Italian holiday, food is going to be an important part of the celebrations. During Christmas holidays, a special lunch is prepared where everyone comes together and feasts based on a centuries-old menu.

Why not try a Tuscan main course instead of turkey this year? Arista alla Fiorentina is a pork-based dish originating from Florence which is delicious and a sure crowd-pleaser. “Arista” comes from the Greek word “aristos”, meaning "best". Supposedly, its origins lie in 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.

Find a luxury villa in Florence and spend a holiday luxuriating abroad without any stresses or worries or families to host. Or, if you're not quite ready to fully abandon your own traditions, bring a little of Tuscan Christmas tradition into your home with this recipe.

There's nothing more satisfying, during a mid-afternoon slump or when the rain is pouring down outside, than a cup of coffee or tea and a little sweet treat to keep you going and perk you up. There are lots of different types of biscuits perfectly suited to this that come from Italy and any one of them would do the trick but those from Prato, in particular, are especially tasty.

Prato, and the surrounding area, boasts a high concentration of pastry shops and bakeries and is well known for producing seriously delicious biscuits and pastries. These include the very famous and traditional Biscotti di Prato (also known as Cantucci), Brutti Buoni, Zuccherini and Pesche di Prato. However, one of the lesser-known and nicest of Prato's biscuits are a more modern invention called Castagnoli. Made with chestnut flour, they were created by the Ciolini brothers in 2002. Chestnut flour is used in lots of traditional Tuscan recipes but is less popular today. The brothers took it upon themselves to experiment with chestnuts and created the treat by bringing together chestnut flour, Tuscan olive oil, milk, eggs, sugar, almond flour and pine nuts. The dish then became the winner of 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 or attempt a batch at home with this rather simple recipe.

Winter in Tuscany offers a different perspective. The crazy lines and hoards of tourists disappear, the heat abates and everything calms and slows. Seasonal delights re-emerge as people think about comfort, staying warm, taking care of themselves. The colours of the landscape change. In many ways, Winter is one of the best times to visit Tuscany but there's no getting around the fact that the cold can sometimes be unpleasant. However, the foil to this is the joy of sitting inside by a fire with a hot drink or food and watching the howling winds or rain from the safety of indoors. Then, when the weather is milder, you can explore, wander and hike all wrapped up in a coat and see the beautiful landscape and cities of Tuscany without sweating or growing tired quickly.

To keep you going, you'll need some of that afore-mentioned hot food. Tuscany's hearty cuisine is perfect for the Winter. One of the most cherished dishes is Zuppa di Farro, or Farro Soup. Farro is a grain not unlike spelt which is readily available in Italy but less common elsewhere. It can be purchased in speciality stores but, if you're stuck, you can just substitute spelt for it. The recipe comes from Lucca and the Garfagnana area and is both nutritious and delicious. Find a luxury villa in the Lucca-Garfagnana area and try this perfect winter warmer in Tuscany or attempt it at home with this recipe.

Autumn is harvest season which means that there are lots of delicious foods around. A particular harvest which is common across Italy is that of truffles. San Miniato in Tuscany, in fact, is one of the most productive truffle-rich areas of Europe and the white truffle that grows in the San Miniato hills is the most valuable variety. The truffle has greatly impacted local cuisine and is so important to local identity that the town hosts an annual market, the San Miniato National White Truffle Market, which is internationally celebrated and recognised. If you're serious about your food, and your truffles in particular, this is the only place to be this season. Just find luxury villa in San Miniato and head down to the market to let your palate rejoice!

Vignamaggio is an historical wine estate in Tuscany which has been producing and selling wine since 1404. It is located in the hills between Greve in Chianti and Lamole, in the heart of the Chianti Classico. It is also often attributed as the birthplace of the sitter from Leonardo's Mona Lisa. Some even claim that the scenery in the background of the painting is the view from the terrace of the villa on the estate. Whether this is actually the case or not, it is a beautiful estate with fine gardens, a lovely villa and extensive vineyards. You can take tours of the estate and go on tastings to sample the famous wine and other products which are produced there. If you're a wine fan or just interested in immersing yourself in Tuscan culture, you need to find a luxury villa in Chianti and spend a day exploring this prestigious estate.