*Ottima parmigiana in un ristorante a San Casciano in Val Di Pesa.*

As someone who has loved Italy since teenage years, finding myself in Tuscany feels like unreal sometimes. Especially here, in the beautiful green Chianti hills, south of Firenze, where food and wine are not luxuries, but they are simply a way of life.

In our little corner of Tuscany, even the simplest ingredients feel sacred. A bowl of ribollita, that humble, simple, thick vegetable soup tastes like comfort, history, and tradition in every spoonful.

Tuscan cuisine is often known for its rustic, red meat-based dishes, but as I prefer vegetarian and fish, I have discovered an entirely different side of it, one filled with seasonal vegetables, fragrant herbs, creamy pecorino, and sun-ripened tomatoes bursting with flavour.

I like vegetarian food made of zucchini, melanzane, tomatoes and peppers paired with a glass of local, deep ruby Chianti Classico, it feels like the most natural way to end the day. The wine here is not just something you drink, it is part of the landscape itself, born from the very hills that surround us. Of course you need to be careful how much and how often you drink wine. Cheapest wines cost at supermarket 2-3 euros, really good ones 6-10 euros a bottle. Same goes to food too.

For me for example pasta and wheat everyday is not a healthy choice, I swell from wheat. But wheat quality is here higher or somehow stomach-friendlier than in Northern Europe. Italian bodies are used to wheat and pasta everyday, but for someone who is more used to wholegrain like oat bread and other oat products and eating more fish and protein, Italian “diet” might be too much. So fasting days and salad days are needed. Also more walk and movement is needed for the health.

*I love sun-dried tomatoes, pomodori secchi.*

In Tuscany, food is connection, it is important in social events and while meeting people. It is very significant to Italians. Also the time when to eat or drink is really important and this might be difficult for non-Italians to understand. Depending on where you are in Italy, dinner time is at 19-22, lunch time seems to be at 12-14 in most places. Aperitivo time could be after work and before dinner so at 17-19.

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the real Chianti region beyond the postcards, I would love to share my favorite bars, wineries, and hidden hilltop gems with you.

With love from Tuscany,

Con amore dalla Toscana,
Finn-dolce 🍷

#Toscana #Tuscany #Chianti #collini #Chiantihills #pranzo #cena #vino

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