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I’m a magazine founder & editor, a private food & shopping guide and watercolour artist who wants to share everything I know about the best-kept secrets in Tuscany with you.


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TASTE : Food & Drink

Alla Vecchia Bettola

Beautiful bike out the front of Alla Vecchia Bettola

Last night we went to a great restaurant which even though is outside of the historical center of Florence, it has started to attract the tourist crowd. I think it must be written up in a few tourist guides. The restaurant is called Alla Vecchia Bettola which roughly translated means The old run-down house. It is anything but this and actually offers some of the most authentic Florentine and Tuscan dishes.

 

You can see by the menu what was on offer (menu changes daily and seasonally) and the prices of each dish. You can order the house Chianti red wine by the glass, half litre carafe, full litre carafe or the whole bottle. Don’t worry if you don’t finish the bottle though! You will only be charged for what you have consumed.

Here is what we ordered last night :

Antipasto
Crostini Fiorentini con Prosciutto e Finocchiona
Porcini Funghi e Funghi del bosco sott’olio
Salame e Fichi
Fiori Fritti – Fried Zucchini Flowers

Secondi Piatti
Insalata di Trippa (yes that’s Tripe salad in case you were wondering)
Crocchette al Limone – these looked pretty boring but the flavour of the meat and lemon was amazing!

Dolce
Torte di Mela

And then we finished off our meal with Vin Santo e Cantuccini (also known as biscotti di Prato) This is another Tuscan tradition and I plan on adding the recipe for these biscuits very soon. The almond biscuits are dipped into the sweet wine before eating and I must say, this is one of my favourite ways to finish a meal…………. (or enjoy in front of a good movie after dinner – it’s just difficult to know when to stop and put the lid on the cookie jar)!

Crostini, Prosciutto and Funghi

 

Salame e Fichi

 

Fiori Fritti

 

Alla Vecchia Bettola

 

Insalata di Trippa

 

Crochette al Limone

 

Torta di Mela

 

Chef

 

Uva

The atmosphere is loud and family friendly – you actually feel like you are sitting in someone’s kitchen. The staff are incredibly friendly and always make us feel like old friends.
The walls are decorated with old black and white images of Florence as she once was. Sitting at ‘The Vecchia Bettola’ helps to bring this history to life.

Vespa & the Orto

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FOOD OBSESSED, FASHION LOVER, BUSY MAMMA, MAGAZINE CREATOR & WATERCOLOUR ARTISt.

Ciao, I'm Lisa B,
I’m a magazine founder & editor, a private food & shopping guide and watercolour artist who wants to share everything I know about the best-kept secrets in Tuscany with you.

I created This Tuscan Life blog, magazine and experiences to share everything I love about Florence & Tuscany, one of the most popular and visited regions in Italy.   Add a splash of watercolour & you've got a creative mamma of two who wants to show you the true & authentic side of Tuscany.

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