In Tuscany, villa rental holidays have a huge advantage over those that are based in hotels. That is that they can place you directly in the local heartlands of one of the world's great centres of gastronomy - and you'll be there on a self-catering basis so you can try some of these yourself!
Italian food - a labour of love
The French lay claim to having the world's best cuisine, yet there may be some that might be inclined to dispute that - notably the Italians! Sadly, some people think that Italian food consists of pizza and various forms of pasta. When they get to Italy, they sometimes can't believe their eyes as "real" Italian food often bears little resemblance to that seen outside of Italy. Of course, pizza and pasta are great traditions in Italy but they actually represent a relatively small proportion of Italian cuisine.
Tuscan delights
In Tuscany, villa rental allows you the opportunity to shop at the local markets and see the fantastic range of produce available. You can then combine that with visiting some of the local bars and restaurants to sample some of the traditional Tuscan dishes, and that may give you ideas about how you can use that market produce.
Tuscan basics
Why not start with Tuscan bean soup? This is a great vegetable and bean slow-cooked soup that also makes healthy use of chilli and garlic. It's really a wintertime dish, but don't be a slave to convention - if you're in your villa and have access to a local market, source your fresh ingredients and give it a go.
In Italy, pasta is often served as a separate dish before the main meat or fish meal. Why not try Pappardelle Sulla Lepre? This is ribbon pasta dressed with a sauce made from wild hare and is a dish that originates from Arezzo. Serve it in modest quantities as it may be quite filling.
Then, you could move on to Peposo. This is a very slowly cooked beef stew, seriously heavy on the pepper and garlic. The secret is that slow and very lengthy cooking which is why, if you're in Tuscany, villa rental holidays are ideal for trying these recipes out with authentic ingredients, because you'll have the time to leave things to cook as long as you wish!
Finally, if you have any room left, why not conclude with cenci? These are sometimes known as "lover's knots" and are a fried confectionary. They are absolutely delicious though maybe not for the diet-conscious!
Working off the calories
If you have munched your way through several days of Tuscan delights, you may well find yourself feeling a little guilty and thinking about trying to burn off some of those calories you have consumed. That's the beauty of visiting Tuscany: villa rental holidays can place you right in the heart of the mountains to do some walking, cycling or swimming. If you're nearer the coast, a little beach exercise and water sports will also help - just to get you ready for the next evening's eating!
