One of the many joys of a trip to Tuscany is its food. The sheer variety and quality of the dishes is enough to melt the heart of every foodie.
From famed classics like the Fiorentina steak and the delicious pecorino cheese, to soups made with Tuscan bread, a range of sauces and traditional sweet treats. Not to mention Tuscany’s justly famous wines, that make the perfect accompaniment to every meal.
As with everywhere in Italy, flavours and recipes change round every corner. So let us take you on a whistle-stop tour of some eating experiences in Tuscany that are absolutely not to be missed!
10 Unmissable Experiences for Foodies in Tuscany
1. Explore Tuscany’s Food Markets
Food markets are one of the highlights of any trip to Tuscany for anyone who love food. The colours and scents of freshly picked vegetables, beautifully arranged fruit, artisanal cheese and bread – these are just a small example of the culinary cosmos that you can discover while browsing in a local market. Many also offer quick bites to eat, and local specialties made by small producers.
Tuscany has food markets of all descriptions, first on the list being Florence’s Mercato Centrale and the lively Mercato delle Vettovaglie in Livorno.
2. Feast on a Tagliere
One of Italy’s most famous appetite-satisfiers is served on a wooden board, or tagliere. This is the ultimate feast for the senses, to savour alone or to be shared, with a glass of wine in hand of course.
So what can you expect? A tagliere is made up of a combination of different affettati or cold cuts. This can include generous slices of savoury Tuscan ham, fennel-cured finocchiona, the sinful salame toscano and soprassata. The local sheep’s-milk pecorino cheese usually makes an appearance. Another addition you’ll often find is crostini, small slices of toasted bread served with various toppings, sauces and the quintessentially Tuscan chicken liver patè.
3. Savour the local Schiacciata
The average Italian Bakery is a treasure trove of earthly delights. Whether you’re after a savoury bite or a sweet treat, you’ll always find something to tempt you. In Tuscany go in search of the renowned schiacciata all’olio (flat bread with abundant salt and olive oil sprinkled on top) and a vast variety of artisanal bread (unsalted Tuscan bread, but also baked with nuts or seeds). If you happen to be in Pisa or Lucca ask for the ‘cecina‘ – called torta in Livorno – a thin flatbread made with chickpea flour, an absolute delight.
On a sweeter note, look out for buttery crostate (tart) with jam, freshly baked pastries, and all sorts of biscuits, from the almond-rich ricciarelli made in Siena to the crunchy cantuccini usually served at the end of a meal with Vinsanto.
Travelling to Tuscany in February? => See Carnival sweets you cannot miss!
4. Fish dishes from Fritto Misto to Cacciucco
Head to one of Tuscany’s coastal towns for a culinary experience of a different kind. No matter where, the perfect companion for a day at the sea is a dish of fresh mussels, spaghetti con vongole (clams) , baccalà alla livornese, seared tuna, mixed fried fish or the king of fish dishes in Tuscany – cacciucco seafood stew.
From the upscale restaurants along the passeggiata in Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi to informal places right on the sea at Castiglioncello, or an historic trattoria like Da Galileo in Livorno for the ultimate (and massive!) cacciucco , you cannot go wrong. => See some Tuscan fish dishes of the tradition.
5. Florentine Street Food
You could literally spend a whole week in Florence exploring its food scene. But it’s not all trattorias and pizzerias. Florence also has a wonderful tradition of street food which you can find everywhere from the humble food truck to the San Lorenzo Food Market.
And when it comes to street food, lampredotto is the crowned king. It’s a piece of Florence’s history in a bun. And though at first it may not sound inviting – it’s basically boiled cow’s stomach served in a bun, usually with salsa verde – those who dare are in for a uniquely delicious treat. Lampredotto, and its offal cousin the Trippa alla fiorentina are served at the food trucks that you find in Florence’s historic centre (try the one near the Porcellino, San Lorenzo Market or Piazza dei Cimatori).
Look out for coccoli (little round fried dough balls), and try the millions of different stuffed sandwiches from the famed Antico Vinaio, La Prosciutteria in via de’ Neri and other similar establishments that are now a must in Florence. If you like pork, the spiced panino con la porchetta might just be your find.
6. Try a Food Tour
I love the idea of food tours when I travel. They are a great way to experience the culinary richness of a place. And because food is such an important part of life in Florence and Tuscany, having an expert guide to help you navigate menus, ingredients and local habits can truly enhance your experience. You can try something that might otherwise skip your attention, learn everything you ever wanted to about the region’s dishes. And discover how to pair those dishes with just the right local wine. Buon appetito!
7. Visit a ‘Sagra’, or Food Festival
Food Festivals are a constant feature of Tuscan life. Ubiquitous, bustling and very well loved, sagre celebrate traditional local food, offering seasonal dishes in an informal and lively environment. Virtually each town and small village organise a series of food festival throughout the year, Summer and Autumn being the busiest times.
This is when the streets fill up with inviting aromas and everyone is called to join i piaceri della tavola (an apparently untranslatable phrase that literally means ‘pleasures of the table’), and celebrate a traditional dish – from bistecca to fritters, truffles, wild-boar or chestnuts, there’re literally hundreds. Sagre are cheap and cheerful, and usually very busy. So get there early to grab a table!
8. Dine at one of Florence’s Trattorie
Florence has a range of historic trattorie. These are living pieces of Florentine history, places where a love for wine and food unite the past and the present. The menu in these restaurants is strictly traditional, the food quality outstanding, and the locations unique. Not surprisingly the clientele often boasts vips and celebrities.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, you might want to keep these names in mind: Buca Lapi, Buca Mario, Buca dell’Orafo, Buca San Giovanni, Buca Niccolini. Trattoria Coco Lezzone, Da Marione, Sergio Gozzi, Antica Mescita di San Niccolò.
Did you know? Some of Florentine trattorie traditionally started their life as ‘mescite’, informal places where you could get a glass of wine with some small morsels to eat. When you see Buca in the name, it means that they’re located in the basement of palaces, formally the place for the cellar.
=> Top 14 Traditional Dishes to Try in Tuscany
9. The one and only Bistecca alla Fiorentina
The justly famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a carnivore’s delight. Traditionally the Bistecca is a T-bone cut from the sirloin of the local Chianina cattle. It’s usually aged for at least 2 weeks before cooking, with a very specific method of preparation: 5 minutes per side on the grill, then stood upright on the bone at the end for a further 5-7 minutes. A true Bistecca is always well seared on the outside but rare inside.
A few of our favourite places to eat bistecca? Officina della Bistecca in Panzano, Il Focolare in Montagnana Val di Pesa. In Florence Trattoria Mario, Da Burde, I’ Brindellone, Perseus, Trattoria dell’Oca.
10. Join a Cooking Class
Cooking classes in Tuscany are getting more and more varied and inventive. Some combine the lesson with a visit to a market, teaching people how to choose ingredients. There are classes organised in villas and elegant palaces, with a combination of impressive settings and culinary expertise. From 2-hour lessons to all-inclusive courses, from pasta to gelato making, there are countless ways to delve into the secrets of Tuscan culinary heritage.
=> Best Towns in Tuscany for Foodies
=> Top 20 Experiences in Tuscany
=> Best Places to Visit in the Chianti region
Author: Sabrina Nesi, founder of Lovefromtuscany.com, passionate about sharing the beauty of Tuscany and Italy with the world.
