Good restaurants in Italy book up for dinner during the busier times of year, generally from mid-March well into November. Don’t hesitate to make reservations so you don’t find yourself stumbling into a restaurant that has a waiter out front waving in tourists. It might be a good restaurant, but usually the best ones don’t need that effort.
Truffles are one of those foods that tends to get a strong reaction. Like cilantro, Brussels sprouts and blue cheese, you either love ’em or hate ’em!
Truffles are intensely fragrant and hard to find in most places except Italy. They are the underground fruit of ascomycetous fungi. The fruit spores are dispersed though being consumed by fungivores. They are so rare they may be the most expensive ingredient you can indulge in at $1000-$3000/pound. Continue reading Italian Truffles: Pricey, Earthy Gourmet Indulgence
If you are staying in an Italy Perfect city apartment there is usually a fresh food, open market nearby. No prepackaged foods and antiseptic counters, but friendly vendors and colorful, delicious vegetables, fruit, cheeses and meats of every kind. We think of them as museums for food! See our previous blog all about the fun and traditions of shopping in Italian farmer markets. Continue reading The Joys of Food Shopping in Italy
When it comes to cheese, Italy has perfected the art of making hundreds of different varieties of formaggio. With such a varied landscape, it is no surprise to find wonderfully different cheeses produced in the hills of Tuscany from that made in the fertile Po Valley or the mountains along the Sorrento Peninsula. Each region of Italy specializes in different varieties of cheese made with cow, sheep and even water buffalo milk. We’ve handpicked 5 of our favorites to highlight the areas where our Italy vacation rentals are located, including fvorites you might not have heard of and that you will love. Continue reading 5 Great Italian Cheeses You Will Love
Did you know that tasty Tuscan bread has no salt? It’s one of the details that makes bread in Tuscany so unique. However, without salt it goes stale quickly. Clever Italian cooks handled this problem by inventing delicious traditional dishes that make the best use of old bread. Nothing goes to waste! Continue reading Four Ways Florentine Cuisine Highlights Tuscan Bread
