In Italy, what's on your plate is what's in season.

Life in Italy revolves around food. Correction around incredibly delicious food. Italians have set the bar for creating delectable dishes. What is the secret? It is using quality ingredients in peak season.

The ethos is simple. Use local and seasonal ingredients. Traditional Italian recipes usually contain no more than 5 or 6 ingredients, which change with the seasons.

My love for cooking took on a whole new chapter after moving to Tuscany. I learned that recipes follow the seasons and quickly adapted to this lifestyle.

Winter is the time of year when I prepare warm and hearty dishes such as Wild Boar Stew or Ribollita, a thick white bean soup that includes Cavalo Nero, Tuscan black kale.

When garden tomatoes are plentiful, and at their peak, Panzanella is the perfect summer dish. A light and refreshing salad using day-old bread, tomatoes, basil, and olive oil.

Tuscany is known for its Truffles. These irresistible super fragrant tubers are available two times a year, in the spring and the fall. If you would like to see a short video of us shaving them over warm pasta, click on the link below. https://youtu.be/qVwwRa-K7so

Near Siena, the olive harvest begins mid-October. I suggest taking a tour of an olive oil mill to taste the wonderous oil as it is coming off the press. The taste and perfume of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil are like none-other. A most memorable experience.

Visitors to Italy find that what is in season is plentiful, and what is not in season is all but non-existent. I learned this lesson first hand on a trip to Sicily with my dear friend Libby. Libby had fond childhood memories of her Italian aunt baking her delicious stuffed artichokes. We both looked forward to tasting them on our trip.

We arrived in Catania, Sicily, a bit jet-lagged but hungry and prioritized enjoying a nice meal out. After visiting a half-dozen restaurants and not finding artichokes on any menu, we spoke to some locals. They told us, 'you have to come back in October for artichokes. They are not in season in July'.

I now savor seasonal produce. When it is out of season, I anxiously await its return the following year, knowing that another vegetable or product will take its place.

Eating seasonally will elevate your food experience while traveling in Italy.

If you love to sample different foods and explore open-air farmers markets, we suggest booking a Foodie Tour. If you find yourself in Tuscany, we offer several delicious, fun-filled food and wine tasting tours.

Italy Unfiltered offers personalized wine tours for small groups in Tuscany specializing in Chianti, Brunello, Vino Nobile winery tours. Daily tours or multi-day tours, Italy Unfiltered will meet you at your location and take you on an insider, local wine tasting experience. An authentic tuscany experience awaits you with ITALY UNFILTERED. Visit our website for more about our Tuscany tours and personal driver. Contact us today!

Servicing Siena, Florence, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Radda in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, and the greater Siena and Firenze provinces.