One of the great pleasures of owning a caravan in Tuscany is the opportunity to enjoy some of Italy’s best food. These unmissable dishes are top of any foodie’s must eat wishlist. And while some of them might make you squirm – cow’s stomach sandwich, anyone? – most of them will leave you coming back for more.
Go on a truffle hunt
Every visitor to Tuscany has the enchanting village of San Miniato on their To Do List. But the advantage of visiting a region out of season is getting to do the things the locals do – and in October, that means truffle hunting. Shave nuggets of this culinary marvel over pasta or an omelette – and don’t miss the annual truffle hunting festival.
Enjoy an aperitivi in Florence
The Italians love the ritual of pre-dinner drinks, so don’t miss the evening passeggeri at 7pm in the heart of Florence’s old city. Enjoy an appetiser buffet of Tuscan classics like Crostini Toscani with chicken liver pate and panzanella, a bread, tomato and onion salad dressed with good olive oil.
Then for dinner, try the iconic bistecca alla fiorentina – a chargrilled T-bone steak from the local Chianina cattle. Each thick steak weighs in at around 2 kgs and comes cooked black and blue – don’t ask for it well done or you’ll be turned out of the restaurant!
Feast on local pasta
The Tuscans have a way of conjuring flavour from just about anything. Soups like pomodoro (tomatoes, bread and basil) and vegetable-packed ribollita with its beans and cabbage are classics, while the region has a wide range of different and unique pasta dishes.
Owning a caravan in Tuscany means dining out on specialities like pappardelle al cinghiale, thick cut noodles with a luscious wild boar sauce, or pici from Siena, a hand-rolled pasta made simply from flour and water. This ancient form of pasta dates back to the Etruscans and is most often served with cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) or all’aglione, with tomatoes, olive oil and garlic.
The sweet stuff
Tuscany has its fair share of sweet stuff and you shouldn’t leave Siena without sampling a slice of panforte, a rich and delicious confection of honey, candied peel, dried fruit and nuts spiced with black pepper. Tuscany is also known for its cantucci, hard almond biscuits served with a glass of the luscious Tuscan dessert wine known as Vin Santo.
Also unmissable is a slice of castagnaccio, a naturally gluten-free cake made from chestnut flour, olive oil, pine nuts and rosemary. Delicious warm or cold, it’s also beautifully partnered by a glass of golden Vin Santo.
A rich glass of red
Owning a caravan in Tuscany means you can explore the local specialities without having to venture too far from home – which makes a nice glass of Chianti all the more welcoming. This rich ruby red wine is like the lifeblood of Tuscany. Look out for Brunello, one of Italy’s truly great wines, as well as the celebrated Montepulciano.
The food and wine of Tuscany have shaped its landscape and heritage in a way that can only be truly appreciated by spending quality time there. Owning a caravan in Tuscany lets you appreciate everything this rich and delicious cuisine has to offer.
