Visiting Tuscany & Sicily
/Editor’s Note: All M’tucci’s Locations Closed on Thanksgiving
While Tuscany and Sicily are part of the same country, they couldn’t be more different. Tuscany receives more rainfall and the hills are more lush and green. Sicily is also mountainous, but significantly drier and cacti grow throughout the island. The cuisine in Tuscany relies more on pork and beef, while the seafood in Sicily is predominant.
After saying goodbye in Rome to the M’tucci’s partners, I met family in Florence and then spent a few days in Montalcino and a few more days in Rome. We flew to Catania in Sicily and spent five days along the Southeastern Coast of the island.
Before arriving in Montalcino, we stopped for lunch at the architecturally modern Antinori Winery. The Antinoris have been making wine since 1385 and the business is now run by two Antinori sisters. M’tucci’s carries several Antinori wines, notably Guada al Tasso. Dining in their restaurant allowed us to sample several of their reds and enjoy a very good Tuscan lunch of charcuterie, pasta and Chianina beef.
Montalcino is one of my favorite Tuscan hill towns: with great wine and food. The small town is very walkable and features incredible views over the vineyards that produce one of Italy’s best (and priciest) red wines, Brunello di Montalcino. The village is the perfect place to eat, walk and do little else - or you have your pick of winery tours.
In Sicily, we visited the town of Noto, which had been destroyed in an earthquake in the late 1600s and rebuilt in the baroque style, certainly unusual compared to the sun-drench stuccoed houses of the island. The small, sleepy coastal town of Marzamemi is gaining popularity with summer visitors and the movie industry, but was quiet and charming on an October afternoon.
The 2,700 year-old town of Siracusa was the most important city in the Greek empire, allied with Sparta and Corinth. In the 5th Century B.C. it rivaled Athens in size and power. Walking the streets of Ortigia, the historic part of the city, is like walking through history and should be a stop during any visit to Sicily.
Throughout the island, there is one constant - amazingly fresh, expertly prepared seafood. Calamari, prawns, shrimp, anchovies, swordfish, tuna and mussels. Fried, grilled or served with pasta, we couldn’t get enough of it. Many of the dishes reminded me of the appetizers and seafood pastas at M’tucci’s. Almost as if they had hired a Sicilian consultant for the menu. I highly recommend a trip to Sicily for your next Italian vacation.
In the past, Alitalia was the most popular way to travel to Sicily. However, they are in bankruptcy and ceased operations in October. ITA Airways, Vueling and Whizz Air are three possibilities for traveling to Sicily. Renting a car on the mainland and taking a car ferry from Calabria to Messina is also another option. My recommendation is to visit during the spring or fall and avoid the crowds and heat of summer.
Today (Friday, 11/19) is the last day to order a Thanksgiving Pie. Pickup is available next week.
Pumpkin with Pumpkin Seed Brittle & Ginger Vanilla Chantilly Cream - $17
Apple with Toasted Oat Streusel $15
Bourbon Pecan Pie with Vanilla Chantilly Cream $18
The toppings will come packaged separately, so you can add them when you are ready for dessert (or breakfast). Please call the restaurant closest to you to place your order and to arrange a pick up time (online ordering is not available). Add a pint of Salted Caramel Gelato for $7.
M’tucci’s Italian Stuffing for Thanksgiving
Watch Cory demonstrate the recipe on M’tucci’s YouTube Channel.
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli: House Made Ravioli filled with Lobster & Herbed Goat Cheese, tossed with Butternut Squash, Sautéed Pink Shrimp, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Rapini in a Lemon Cream Sauce topped with Fresh Arugula & Lemon Zest $25
16 oz Hand Cut NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $33
Pan-Seared Corvina: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $29
Sackett Farm Pork Belly Braised in Red Wine, Porcini, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes over a Creamy Risotto $25
Weekend Cocktail
The Copperhead: Copper & Kings Apple Brandy, Berto Rosso Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Lemon Twist
M’tucci’s Moderno
24 oz T-Bone: Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $38
Pan-Seared Barramundi: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roast Artichoke, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $27
Sackett Farms Pork Belly: Creamy Carnaroli Risotto, Carrots, Celery, Mushrooms $21
Weekend Cocktail
The Yohoho: Pyrat Rum, Chai Simple Syrup, Grapefruit Bitters, Bruleed Orange Slice
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
Herb Roasted Sackett Farms Pork Porchetta: Creamy Risotto, Braised Greens with a Gigante Bean Brodo, garnished with Lemon & Parmesan $26
Ruby Trout: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Escarole, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter, Capers $21
NY Strip: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Brocollini, Smoked Blackberry Bone marrow Butter $27
Weekend Appetizer
Ciccioli di Miale: House Cured Sackett Farms Fried Guanciale, Red Chile Fennel, Honey, Arugula, Amalfi Lemon Oil & Shallots $6
Weekend Cocktail
Enjoy a great evening for a great cause.
Live Music for December & January at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno
Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:30
11/19
Oscar Butler @ Moderno
11/26
Jason Seel @ Moderno
December
12/2
Lani Nash @ 25
Kirk Matthews @ Moderno
12/3
RJ Perez @ Moderno
12/9
Jason Seel @ 25
Cali Shaw @ Moderno
12/10
Lani Nash @ Moderno
12/16
Kirk Matthews @ 25
RJ Perez @ Moderno
12/17
Jason Seel @ Moderno
12/23
Amy Faithe @ 25
Eryn Bent @ Moderno
12/24
?? @ Moderno
12/30
RJ Perez @ 25
?? @ Moderno
12/31
Jason Seel @ 25 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30
Lani Nash @ Moderno 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30
January
1/6
Cali Shaw @ 25
Jason Seel @ Moderno
1/7
Lani Nash @ Moderno
1/13
Kirk Matthews @ 25
Sloan Armitage @ Moderno
1/14
Eryn Bent @ Moderno
1/20
Amy Faithe @ 25
RJ Perez @ Moderno
1/21
Kirk Matthews @ Moderno
1/27
Lani Nash @ 25
Melissa Rios @ Moderno
1/28
Jason Seel @ Moderno
Don’t miss next week’s La Gazzeta for news about Holiday Gift Cards, a fundraiser for the Sophia Fund and M’tucci’s participation in the Nob Hill Shop & Stroll.
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
