Florence

Jun 26, 2012 3:43:59 AM

Delicacies of Tuscany & Umbria

These recommendations are taken from our Tuscany & Umbria guidebook, which is full of inspirational ideas & detailed coverage for foodies, walkers & culture lovers.

“To cook like your mother is good; to cook like your grandmother is better,” says the Tuscan proverb. Indeed it’s the age-old recipes passed between generations  that form the backbone of contemporary Tuscan and Umbrian cuisine. Their peasant fare, based on beans, bread and other cheap, abundant essentials has led to Tuscans being dubbed mangiafagioli (bean eaters).

1. Truffles — white or black, freshly sourced and shaved over pasta. For white truffles, head to San Miniato; for black, go to Norcia.

Image by jennconspiracy

2. Porcini mushrooms — especially in autumn with taglierini pasta.

Image by tanjatiziana

3. Bistecca alla Fiorentina — as the name suggests, this dish is from Florence. It is a char-grilled t-bone steak rubbed with olive oil, seared on the char grill, garnished with salt and pepper and served al sangue (bloody).

Image by masolino

4. Beans, etc. — any of the local varieties, preferably drizzled with new-season olive oil. Look out for fagiolo di Sorana, delicate white beans from the hills around Pescia. Common dishes include minestra di fagioli (bean soup) and pasta e ceci (chickpea pasta).

Image by creampuffsinvenice.

5. Castagnaccio — chestnut cake.

Image by Ana Pais

6. Cantucci — hard, sweet biscuits traditionally studded with almonds, but these days come spiked with anything from apricots to chocolate. Best served with Vin Santo, a Tuscan dessert wine.

Image by AudreyH

More cultural highlights can be found in the Lonely Planet guide to Tuscany & Umbria

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