One of the influences you will find in the food at our Orlando fine dining establishment, Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, is the Tuscan area of Italy. Stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Apuan Alps, this artistic and historic region located in central Italy is said to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance. Museums, palaces, medieval villages, churches; the region is replete with sites to explore and will satisfy any historians’ quest for knowledge. Be prepared to do a lot of walking when you visit. Many places are accessible by car, but most people enjoy exploring on foot.
The culinary experience in Tuscany is beyond compare. Whether you are considering having a taste of baccalà (salt-cured cod), a medium-rare bistecca (steak), or a fabulous penne strascicate (pasta served in a rich cream and tomato sauce), you are certain to expand your palate and welcome the new tastes and textures of the food in this region of Italy. Fresh fish, beef, pork, poultry, duck, and rabbit are all components of the Tuscan diet, as are paparadelle (wide noodle) and umbrichelli (thick spaghetti).
Tuscan cooking is simple fare; you will not find many heavy dishes, and grilled meats are very popular. Beans (fagioli) are a huge staple of the Tuscan diet. Peasant bread is crusty and dense and most often used to make a simple bruschetta of grilled bread drizzled with olive oil, a little bit of garlic rubbed on and a hint of coarse salt; sometimes diced tomatoes are piled on top.
The Tuscan region boasts of amazing olive and fig trees. Olive oil is taken as seriously here as the making of wine. There are venues to learn how to taste olive oil and observe how it is made. The phenomenal vineyards of Tuscany are proud to be the origin of the first Chianti to be fermented here in the Chianti Rufina area. There are many vineyards producing a variety of Chianti wines, and red wine is the prevalent offering in this part of Italy. Vernaccia di San Gimignan is another popular white wine also produced here.
If you have a craving for the taste of Tuscany that won’t wait for a trip across the Atlantic, make your reservations now to spend an evening at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, Orlando’s fine dining experience. Make a reservation now to enjoy the most authentic Italian cuisine in the City Beautiful.
