spaswinefood: Dario Cecchini’s Solo Ciccia Ristorante

The culinary traditions from the Chianti Classico region are fascinating. One of the culinary highlights from our European Wine Bloggers Conference Tour was a visit to Dario Cecchini’s Solo Ciccia Ristorante in Panzano, Tuscany. Dario Cecchini is one of the most famous butchers in Italy. Dario's Solo Ciccia Ristorante across the street from his butcher shop attracts visitors from all over the world.

Entrance to Solo Ciccia Ristorante © Spaswinefood

Solo Cicca Ristorante

The evening we dined at Dario Cecchini's Solo Ciccia Ristorante in Panzano, Tuscany Dario Cecchini welcomed us with appetizers and wine at his butcher shop, L"Antica Macelleria Cecchini. You might want to check out Joe's article in The Wine Travelers, which captures the event on video. Fellow wine bloggers (Magnus Reuterdahl and Elizabeth Gstarz) also videotaped some of our visit. Needless to say, we had fun that evening.

Appetizers © Spaswinefood

Anthony Bourdain has visited Dario Cecchini. Ann J. Reavis's article in Slow Travel Stories captures the essence of this unique butcher and his shop. New York Serious Eats did a post on Dario's demonstration at New York's International Culinary Center.

Dario Cecchini welcomed us at his butcher shop © Spaswinefood

Dario Cecchini pouring wine © Spaswinefood

The traditional Chianti bottle © Spaswinefood

Appetizers and wine in the butcher shop helped to set the stage for a great wine and food dining experience at the restaurant.

During the European Wine Chianti Classico trip we got to eat food being prepared Tuscan style. Here is what our dining experience at Dario's looked like.

Is that the Queen of Holland's Table? © Spaswinefood

While the Queen of Holland dining upstairs our table was downstairs © Spaswinefood

I may have been the only vegetarian dining that night but, the restaurant served me a great vegetarian meal.

Look at these Chianti Classico logos © Spaswinefood

Some veggie appetizers © Spaswinefood

Garbanzo Beans © Spaswinefood

The Vegetarian Entrée © Spaswinefood

I must admit that initially I felt a little apprehensive about the whole steer experience being a vegetarian. However, given the wonderful vegetarian foods that I was served it was an awesome experience. There was obviously lots of meat for those who eat meat, for details check out the menu. Wine bloggers Jim Budd and Schiller-Wine have written about this event. You can also check restaurant reviews on Tripadvisor.

Now here are some of the happy people at our table:

Dario drop-by our table © Spaswinefood

One of the happy couples at our table © Spaswinefood

All too soon the fun evening was over; we were taken back to our hotel to rest for the next day of Chianti Classico wine tasting.

I invite you to join me in my travels in Tuscany and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood. During my travels throughout Tuscany I got to sample some great Chianti Classico wine. However, being in Tuscany is not just for the wine, which is fabulous but Tuscany also has great Tuscan cuisine.

Sharon

January 2012

Chianti Classico, Tuscany