Authentic Tuscan pastas - try the specials!
We wondered what the dinner scene would be like in San Gimignano, since relatively few tourists actually stay overnight in the town (most are day-trippers coming in via waves of tour buses)
We wandered down a back street away from the shops, and saw a lighted outdoor dining space. So we sat down without any info about the restaurant.
We started with the Tuscan rustic bread soup, Ribolitta. The seasoning was sophisticated and layered. Very satisfying.
The pasta special of the day was Penne alla Norcina, featuring bits of local sausage, porcini mushrooms and a generous amount of truffle shavings on top. The dish was rich and satisfying - heartier than the truffle pasta we had in Florence (that one had no meat).
Our second pasta was from the regular menu, Pici alla Sinese. Thick round noodles in a sauce of tomato pesto and porcini. Flavors were carefully blended and it really had more character and umami than the tomato based sauces we get in Italian restaurants back in the USA.
All three dishes made us want to take a cooking class while we are in Tuscany :-) read more