I'm hoping that Diva or another food expert can tell me what this is. In September, 2001, one of the nuns at the lovely convent on Piazza Carmine, Casa Santo Nome di Gesu, which provides accommodations, gave me a copy of the menu for the week of September 17-23, 2001.

One of the courses for September 21, a Friday, is Moscardini Toscani. From Faith Heller Willinger's glossary of food terms in "Eating in Italy," I learned that a moscardino is a small curled octopus. Perhaps this really is octopus prepared in a Tuscan style.

Here is the full menu offered that day:

Venerdi 21 Settembre 2001

Fiocchettini al salmone
Passato di verdura
Moscardini Toscani
Formaggi misti
Carote al forno
Frutta

Here is a photo of moscardini. Some characteristics

• similar to a small octopus
• they can reach 40 cm. (16 inches) in length
• a yellowish sac with red and brown spots
• there are two types, red and white
• red moscardini are full of flavor, white are not
• reds are easy to identify by their musky odor
• 100 grams of product have 57 calories

Usually when we buy them here they have been frozen and are a sort of purple color.

Who knows what they mean by Toscani.. Tuscan style?? or from Tuscany.
Did you eat there?

Thank you so much, Cristina and Diva. No, I didn't eat there but the dining room looks so pleasant with large doors onto their beautiful enclosed garden. The cooking smelled good.

Once, we had planned to stay there for our last night in Florence but had to change our plans.