Could seasoned Tuscany travellers or residents tell me what fresh food there is in the spring. What and when is there fresh garden produce or do people eat any fresh greens in late April. i.e, I
just had my first meal of fiddleheads picked along
a stream bed and it made me wonder what can we look forward to next April in Tuscany.

Debrah,

We were there in early May last year and found artichokes, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes of course. Almost all of the produce we found came from Southern Italy and Sicily. Lot's of swiss chard and spinach too.

I must admit, the peppers in Italy had to be the largest I have ever seen in my life! The artichokes... like nothing you can get here and delicious!! Almost forgot eggplant too!

Hope it helps!

Doug

Yum, it all sounds delicious!

Italians in all of Italy, not just Tuscany, start eating wild greens the end of March. Dandelion, wild spinach and other green sprouts are picked in Piemonte and used to make Torta d'Erba for Easter. Vegetable gardens get planted the middle to end of April, and baby salad comes up in May. In the spring, we have loads and loads of artichokes available,as well as zucchini with flowers,and sweet tomatoes all brought in from the south. I have just put in my swiss chard, tomatoes, peppers, basil and parsley. MOre things will go in next week.


Another spring veggie is the Friar's Beard, which resembles long grass in appearance. This is cut a bit and sauteed in olive oil with garlice, peperoncini and anchovie.

The fresh baby and wild asparagus are wonderful grilled with balsamico and put in a fritata.

Diana

Debrah,
Ciao from another Deborah! We are here right now. Have been enjoying some wonderful fresh spring veggies.
The baby artichokes are delicious. The spinachi is so very tender and green tasting. And because we are so far south (currently in Lecce) the tomatoes are good.

I LOVE fiddlehead. They are a hard to find delicacy where I live in St. Louis, and I pay dearly for them. (Usually at Whole Foods)

How about in September/October? We will be in Tuscany and Umbria for several weeks. Love fresh produce - veggies, fruits.

Is locally grown arugula readily available at that time - it is a particular favourite of my family?

Thank you for any information you can provide.

PORCINI !!!

We were there just a few weeks ago, so it was a feast of artichokes, porcini and to our surprise, wonderfully ripe tomatoes. Surprised, I guess, since it's so early in the spring, both there and here. All delicious
I really enjoyed walking in the grocery stores with my daughter, who was living in Siena.
Marcia

Diana, et all - thank you for the notes. I especially was interested in the local things or that taste fresh in the spring. It was great to hear about the spring greens - I'm sure they taste like the return of the good life! Deborah - yeh, fiddlehead ferns are great - lots in eastern canada - good stir fried with garlic, ginger and sesame....here's to spring!

In Tuscany in April you will find strawberries, artichokes, asparagus, and medlars.

Gloria, how about I come there for some strawberries and you come here later for some truffles?