Italian Agriturismos
/While I have visited Italy in the Spring, Summer and Fall, I really prefer September and October. The produce is amazing, the weather is nearly perfect and the cities and towns are less crowded. AirBnB has certainly changed selecting a place to stay for the night or for a week, but there is a great network of farm stays throughout Italy called Agriturismo. They are apartments, rooms and entire villas located on working farms and vineyards and can be booked on the website: https://www.agriturismo.it/en/
Traveling Italy by train is a great way to see the country, however many areas are not connected to Italy’s extensive rail network. Visiting many of the small towns in Tuscany, Sicily or Puglia will require a car. You certainly don’t want a rental car in Rome or Florence since driving in the cities is crazy and parking is rare and expensive.
Agriturismos are the perfect option for food lovers and travelers who don’t want to stay in the city. A few years ago, we wanted our visit to Tuscany to include Florence, but we also wanted the freedom to explore Arezzo, Chianti and Montalcino. We found an agriturismo in the small town of Pontessieve, about 6 miles east of Florence. We got our rental car in Pontessieve, drove it around Tuscany and parked it for free at the train station when we visited Florence.
I Veroni is in the hills above town surrounded by Sangiovese vineyards and olive groves. The former farmhouse has been converted into five apartments, some with two bedrooms. Since it was August, the pool was an added bonus. Another bonus was a bottle of their Sangiovese, a bottle of their Bianco and a tin of their olive oil waiting for us in the small, but efficient kitchen. I Veroni offered a huge breakfast (which had to be ordered 24 hours in advance) and had an outdoor grill where we prepared bistecca alla fiorentina.
My first agriturismo experience was in the Piedmont region, where we had a room with a family in their house, also surrounded by vineyards. It was in October and we were able to visit the wine cellars of the local coop, experience the wine harvest and have lunch with the crew picking grapes.
Once you’ve seen Rome, Florence and Venice; venture into the countryside and stay at an agriturismo. You may not want to leave!
Wine Dinner at M’tucci’s Italian - Thursday, August 18 @ 6:30
M’tucci’s & New Nuevo Cocktail Kit Release
M’tucci’s Vice President Austin Leard, who created our Shrubs and Shrub Cocktails, has created a new cocktail for a New Nuevo Cocktail kit. It’s called Monsoon Magic and will be available for order on their website soon. Click here to order one or two. In addition, there is a video, where Austin shows you how to make the cocktail.
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli - Prosciutto/Ricotta filled: Mushrooms, Roast Chicken, Caramelized Onions, Roasted Red Peppers, Okra, Pesto Cream Sauce, Pine Nuts $25
24 oz Hand Cut Herb-Rubbed T-Bone: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $37
Pan-Seared Ruby Red Trout: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $27
Braise - New Mexico Red Chile Pork over Calabacitas, Corn, Spring Onions, Feta $27
Weekend Cocktail
Crème Brûlée Martini - Vanilla Vodka, Frangelico, Vanilla Syrup, Cream, Chocolate Bitters
M’tucci’s Moderno
24 oz. Hand Cut Porterhouse - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $41
Pan-Seared Yellowtail - Roasted Artichoke, Braised Escarole, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $27
Beef Tortellini - Beef Tips, Cajun Seasoning, Tomatoes, Rosa Sauce & Gorgonzola $21
Appetizer
Fried Oysters with Spicy Garlic Aioli $11
Weekend Cocktail
Lavender Lemondrop - Tito’s Vodka, Violette Liqueur, Lavender Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, Lavender Bitters, Sugared Rim
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
14 oz. Hand Cut Rib-Eye - Grilled Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry bone Marrow Butter $37
Pan-Seared Artic Char - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $34
Linguine alla Portofino - Clams, Shrimp, Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Herbs, Red Pepper Flakes, Clam Juice & White Wine Garlic Sauce $19
Weekend Cocktail
Roller Coaster: Botanist Gin, Fresh Lemon Juice, Fresh Passion fruit, Orgeat, Ginger, topped with Soda
M’tucci’s Bar Roma
Pan-Seared Yellowtail - Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Braised Arugula, Garlic, Pan-Seared Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $27
Herb Roasted Game Hen - Pickled Golden Beet Hash with Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, M’tucci’s Pancetta, Caramelized Onions, Purple Kale, Fresh Herbs, Served with Balsamic Reduction and a Roasted Golden Beet Butter $23
Cicchetti Special
Crispy Fried Italian Olives served with an Amaro Fennel Reduction $6
Weekend Cocktail
Missin’ Cozumel - Espolon Tequila, Fresh Lime & Grapefruit Juice, Simple Syrup, Sprite Float
Live Music for August & September
M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm
8/14 Amy Faithe
8/17 Austin Van
8/21 Rob Martinez
8/24 Shane Wallin
8/28 Austin Van
8/31 RJ Perez
9/4 Rob Martinez
9/7 Shane Wallin
9/11 Shane Wallin
9/14 Sloan Armitage
9/18 Amy Faithe
9/21 Chessa Peak
9/25 John Martinez
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30
8/12 Sloan Armitage
8/18 RJ Perez
8/19 Jason Seel
8/25 Lani Nash
8/26 Chessa Peak
9/1 Austin Van
9/2 Jacob Chavez
9/8 Paul Hunton
9/9 Alex Maryol
9/15 Melissa Rios
9/16 RJ Perez
9/22 Amy Faithe
9/23 Lani Nash
9/29 Chessa Peak
9/30 Jacob Chavez
M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30
8/12 Jason Seel
8/18 Alex Maryol
8/19 Lani Nash
8/25 Matt Jones
8/26 RJ Perez
9/1 Lani Nash
9/2 Chessa Peak
9/8 John Martinez
9/9 Russel Ash
9/15 Shane Wallin
9/16 Cali Shaw
9/22 Melissa Rios
9/23 Alex Maryol
9/29 Austin Van
9/30 Paul Hunton
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
