BOOKLET DI BENVENUTO

TUSCAN FOOD & WINE
Away from the standard Italian food, and the
tourist-oriented "international" style restaurants, there
is a genuine local cuisine well known all around the
world.
Specialties that one should not miss are fettunta or
bruschetta and crostini as "antipasto"- hors-d'oeuvre
- small slices of toasted bread with fresh tomato,
garlic and olive oil, sausage and ricotta sauce or
other home made patés. "Primi Piatti"- the first course is typically either a pasta
dish, a minestrone ( thick vegetable soup) or its winter version ribollita (bread
based). In the summer, the panzanella ( salad with dry bread, fresh tomatoes,
onions and basil ). "Secondi Piatti" - the main courses are often meat dishes such
as wild boar or chicken in the inland of Tuscany (Cinghiale in umido or bistecca
alla fiorentina), while fish is the main course in the coast of Tuscany for example,
baccalà or cacciucco alla livornese ( delicious stew of fish in a hot sauce) Every
course could be accompanied with one of the excellent wines that Tuscany has
to offer, from The Chianti to the Brunello di Montalcino, Sassicaia or Morellino,
depending on where you are in Tuscany. However, every province of Tuscany has
its own cuisine and specialties sometimes well different from the others and
although it tends to be simple cooking, it is infinitely varied in flavour and
presentation.
OPENING HOURS
Shops are open Monday to Saturday between 09.00 and 12.00 and then from
16.00-19.00. The big supermarkets and department stores will do a 9 am to 8 pm
stretch 6 days a week. Governmental offices are open only in the mornings. Apart
from the larger towns, shops are closed on Sundays. Museums and churches
have very varied opening times
Source: www.abctuscany.com/tuscany-essentials-info