The Love story that is, the Tuscany region of Italy. From the romance of Florence architecture to the beauty of the perfectly manicured green rolling hills, cypress trees and rustic farmhouses of Chianti. The magnificent medieval towns of San Gimignano, Siena and Pitigliano, the velvet touch of a Brunello di Montalcino or Chianti Classico, and endless slices of buttery cured meats and salty pecorino. No place can ignite your passion for food quite like Italy hunnie, and what better way to start your Italian food fantasy, than a road trip through the dazzling region of Tuscany?

The delectable dishes, exquisite wines and unique dining experiences make Tuscany a paradise for foodies and non-foodies.

Tuscan food is known for its simplicity and use of fresh, high-quality ingredients.  During our unforgettable road trip, Tuscany captured our hearts and taste buds, making it a challenge to narrow down the favourites from this food lover’s paradise. 

From Pisa to Rome, 370 k’s of driving, eating, drinking and admiring, from one foodie to another, our top 10 must-try dishes of the region. Trust me hunnie this is one food trip you won’t want to miss. 

Let the Tuscany Food Trip Begin…

1. Bistecca alla Fiorentina

If you’re a meat lover, you can’t miss out on trying the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina. This mouthwatering T-bone steak is cooked over an open flame and seasoned with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Many restaurants offer a 30 euro deal for the beloved steak with crispy potatoes and a glass of red wine.

This steak is best served medium, I’m a rare gal usually but this steak was one of the best I have ever eaten trust the waiter on this one. The steak was huge, and one serving was enough to feed two. 

2. All’Antico Vinaio Sandwich

A trip to Florence is incomplete without visiting one of the best sandwich shops in Florence. As you walk through Florence you will be greeted with everyone carrying a sandwich with the same wrapping from All’Antico Vinaio! The sandwich shop that is so popular, they have 3 shops on the same street. Expanding its influence to hit LA, NY, Vegas and of course the biggest cities in Italy, it’s the one sandwich shop you won’t want to miss!

Before hitting Florence we knew we had to eat one of these sandwiches and by golly hunnie, they did not disappoint.

They use the traditional Tuscan Schiacciata Bread baked fresh at the stores and the flavour combinations are a sandwich lovers dream. I recommend the Favolosa! It’s so good we’ve attempted to remake it a few times.

Don’t get put off by the crowds, they sling sandwiches quicker than Max Verstappen can lap a track. If you love a good panino, this place is your heaven.

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3. Lampredotto Panino

The lampredotto panino is one of Florence’s delicacies, the trade mark street food of the city you’ll find many food carts around slinging lampredotto panino’s. It’s filled with tripe (cow stomach) cooked in a delicious broth.

I know it doesn’t sound like a vibe but trust me hunni you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s a street food experience that is too good to miss.

Highly recommend you seek out Trippaio del Porcellino, in the Piazza del Mercato Nuovo in Florence.

4. Gelato

There’s no better place to get your daily gelato fix than Italia. Gelato is my kryptonite, and when you stumble across a gelato store known for being the world champion for gelato, you can’t pass that up hunni you’d be a fool too.

San Gimignano is a must-visit town on your road trip through the Tuscan hills and gelateria don doli is worth the journey in itself. After you’ve been enchanted by the famous 4 towers and spent the afternoon getting lost in the beautiful cobble streets there’s no better way to end the adventure than a stop at the world’s best gelato shop.

The saffron cream and pine nut is a must try!

https://www.gelateriadondoli.com/

5. Pappa al pomodoro

The one thing Italians are good at is making sure nothing goes to waste. Stale bread? no worries there’s a place for everything. Pappa al Pomodoro is a traditional Tuscan soup using ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic and you guessed it, stale bread.

To have a truly authentic Tuscan experience and get the best Pappa al Pomodoro you will ever eat! stay at a Tuscan villa and have a 4-course meal cooked for you, by the resident Nonna.

We stayed in this breathtaking villa in the Siena region, not far from San Gimignano. After you’ve had the best gelato in the region, jump in your car and head to https://www.casolaredibucciano.eu. It is one of our favourite places we have ever stayed! A destination of our dreams. I can not wait to go back here.

6. Pollo alla cacciatora

This was another dish served to us at the beautiful villa we stayed at. The season and what’s available at the farm will influence the menu however you’re guaranteed an entree usually a soup, a pasta dish a meat dish and a dessert. It’s by far the best way to experience all the Tuscan countryside cuisine, and it’s hands down, one of the best feeds you will ever have the pleasure of eating.

Pollo alla cacciatora is a chicken dish, where the chicken is cooked in a tomato and red wine sauce on the stovetop for a few hours accompanied by olives, vegetables and herbs. Simple yet delicious, the sauces in Italian cuisine make every dish. Long, slow cooking there’s nothing better!

It truly is a must-try, paired with the wine from the farm’s vineyard. It’s a memorable food adventure, just try not to get too drunk on the wine like we did.

7. Peccorino Tuscano Cheese

Cheese glorious cheese, you can’t take a trip through Tuscany without enjoying a beautiful glass of chianti paired with the cheese of the region pecorino. Pecorino Tuscano is made with sheep’s milk from the region, giving the cheese its unique texture and nutty flavour.

A perfect pairing on any cheese board, and one you’ll find at the many wineries, tasting rooms and restaurants scattered throughout the Tuscan countryside.

By itself, over pasta in a sandwich, it slaps either way.

8. Prosciutto Toscano

We all know that Italian-cured meats are the creme della creme when it comes to cured meats. Salami, prosciutto, mortadello, but trust me when I tell you hunni prosciutto Toscano is the champion of them all.

Without a doubt, you must visit the town of Monteriggioni a small medieval walled town located on a natural hill lock. It’s small, it’s beautiful and home to some of the best wines & Prosciutto we ate in the region.

Hit up Cantinetta di Monteriggioni located in the main square of the castle, it’s the wine and tasting room for the Monte Chiaro winery. The wine and food pairing experience is a must! Proscuitto Toscano paired with strawberries and followed with a sip of the finest chianti red is a pairing you never knew you needed but always wish you had.

My mouth is salivating just writing about it. Trust me hunni you will love!

9. Pappardelle alla lepre

An absolute must-visit of Tuscany is The Saturnia thermal hot springs! a collection of magical turquoise blue pools situated in the picturesque fauna of the countryside. Hang out with locals in the morning, before setting off on the next part of your journey to one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Pitigliano is a breathtaking medieval town that belongs in a fairytale, and the perfect place to enjoy the next must-try dish of the region. Pappardelle pasta, large broad and fat, fettuccine’s Tuscan cousin. Perfect for latching on to those glossy Italian sauces. Originating from Tuscany you will find many pappardelle dishes in the fabulous restaurants of the old town of Pitigliano.

There are many pappardelle dishes in Tuscany, from mushroom to wild boar to hare and they are all worth a mention, however, Pappardelle alla lepre would be the most famous of the region. A slow-cooked hare Ragu, rich, nutty and glossy, the sauce and pasta are a match made in heaven. I’m new to meat eating and this was my first dance with a gamey meat-like hare and trust me hunni I will meet that one on the dance floor again.

10. Pici All’Aglione

Pici is another pasta dish you’ll find all across Tuscany. Spaghetti’s thicker, sexier sister, hand rolled thick long pasta, Pici is a staple in the Tuscan Kitchen and is believed to have originated from Sienna. This pasta is made with flour and water and served with a rich tomato and aglione (giant garlic) sauce. Like all Italian dishes, less is more with this fabulous dish.

Skip the usual pasta dishes, order the Pici, pair it with a Chianti Classico, sit back and admire the beautiful scenery around you, the gorgeous Italian people, and reflect on what has been, an incredible road trip through the Tuscan hills.

The food of Tuscany is a true reflection of the region’s history, culture, and passion for the culinary arts. So pack your bags, jump in your rental and embark on a journey through the Tuscan countryside. Let your taste buds and soul experience a culinary adventure they won’t forget!

Buon appetito hunni!