Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Ribollita Toscana is a very popular soup dish which can be found all over Tuscany. Like most of Tuscan cuisine, it comes from peasant origins and combines the region's saltless bread, beans, and cavolo nero (Lacinato kale). Ribollita is a practical dish by its very nature, intended for reheating and use on more than one occasion. In fact, the name means “boiled twice.” There are many, many different recipes with different regions (and even homes) having their own versions but all will include onions, carrots, celery, beans, cavolo nero, bread and olive oil. Humble though it may be, it is a wholesome, tasty, comforting dish and one that's perfect throughout the year. Find a luxury villa in Tuscany, try ribollita out locally and you'll be hooked for life!

Italy is known for her wines and is particularly well-regarded for great dessert wines made all over Italy. One of the most famous of these wines is Vin Santo. Vin Santo is made in many parts of Italy, but the best comes from Tuscany. There are three recognized DOC’s in Tuscany for Vin Santo. They are Vin Santo del Chianti (created in 1997), Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (1995) and Vin Santo di Montepulciano (1996). Many sub-par versions are made elsewhere but these are the ones that you should try and taste if visiting Tuscany. Why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and try all three on your trip?

Savoury dishes and gelato are what come to mind when people think of Italian food. They are less likely to imagine desserts other than panna cotta and tiramisù but certain regions in Italy are famous for their desserts and pastries. One such area is the beautiful and historic Siena, which is particularly well-known for her pastries. Traditional and made using recipes passed down for generations upon generations, they are a source of pride for the Sienese. A visit to Siena wouldn't be complete without tasting the specialities on offer so read on and take note! In fact, why not find a luxury villa in Siena, sit back, relax and truly enjoy the experience of being in the area?

You can, of course, get ice-cream – or should we say “gelato” - all over Florence and Italy rather easily. However, now that you're visiting Florence, you don't want just any old ice-cream, you want to be surprised, delighted, you want to have your socks knocked right off! Basically, you want gelato so good that you're ruined for the ice-cream back home.

Or is that just us? If you're on the same page when it comes to gelato, though, read on and take note.

Why not find a luxury villa in Florence and visit all of our suggestions? Your taste-buds will thank you later.

We have already discussed just some of the popular, typical and delicious desserts that you might expect to try on a visit to Siena but why not try and make one of the dishes for yourself in preparation for your next trip? Step by step, we'll show you how to make the perfect Panforte. Once you're hooked on the taste, find a luxury villa in Siena and you can compare your attempts to the real thing.