mini-biking, cycling, golf, mini-golf, and tours of the area are also available. There are many great places to explore in Punta Ala, including Bagno Punta Hidalgo, Bagno Belmare, and Stabilimento Balneare (seaside resort) La Vela.
I know visiting Tuscany can be overwhelming because there are so many tempting places to visit! I hope these suggestions will give you a start on exploring the magnificent culture, history, food, and beauty that this special region of Italy has to offer.
TRADITIONAL DINING IN ITALY
Food is an essential part of Italian life. There are cafés and restaurants everywhere, and if you visit any Italian home, you’ll be offered a drink or something to eat before you can even sit down.
There are several regions in Italy—Tuscany being one— each with its own specialties and particular ways of preparing standard dishes. For example, you might order a pasta dish in one region, then order the same dish in another region and find that they are prepared very differently, despite having the same name.
The Italian approach to food is different from what is generally found in America. For example, Italian breakfasts are small, just an accompaniment for morning coffee and talk about the upcoming day. Lunches involve a little more food—a salad and a pizza, for instance. Not a large American-style pizza, though; Italian pizzas are very thin and much smaller, and you won’t find them overburdened with toppings or cheese. As a matter of fact, my favorite pizza in Tuscany is simply topped with anchovies, capers and a light sauce with no cheese—just enough to satisfy the midday appetite. Dinner is served later in the evening; many restaurants in Italy don’t open until 7:30 p.m. You may walk by a restaurant at 7 p.m. and notice the proprietor’s family eating together at a table—they will not open until they are finished with their evening meal.
There is a famous saying in Italy for dinner: “How many courses can you eat?” The first course is the antipasto, or appetizer course, which usually consists of olives, cheeses, anchovies, pickled vegetables, and a variety of delicious meats. The next course is the primi piatto (first dish), generally consisting of fresh homemade Italian pasta or rice. Next comes the main course, or secondi piatto. This is usually made up of meat and a vegetable platter called the contorno. Most places serve delectable cuts of meat accompanied by perfectly cooked fresh vegetables. (If you get a chance, try eating boar—many restaurants serve it, and it is astoundingly good.) The final course is the dolce, or sweets. Italian desserts, which are justifiably famous, consist of many pastries, cakes, and other original specialties.
None of these courses are large; in Italy, a course consists of a small plate of food. For example; if you order ravioli, you might get one large piece of ravioli, not a full plate of pasta. When ordering, always remember to give your server all your course selections at once.
Italian restaurants tend to be much more relaxed than restaurants in the U.S. You are never rushed, and servers treat you more like family than a customer. There is a great feeling of closeness among the guests, and it’s very easy to make great conversations and find new friends. Some restaurants even have long tables where many customers sit together. I love these types of restaurants, because they allow me to meet many new and interesting people as we bond over delicious Italian food.
While dining in Tuscany, you’ll notice that bread is not automatically brought to your table; you have to ask for it. Tuscan bread is not salted, and it’s very dense. Be sure to try some before you order, as it may be different from what you’re expecting. As for wine, I recommend asking for the house wine in Tuscany. It comes in an unlabeled bottle and it’s not expensive, but it is delicious. You may even order a second glass!
If you have a chance to visit Italy, you will treasure your dining experiences. The amazing food, relaxing atmosphere, and friendships that Italian restaurants offer are unique to that country. There are so many wonderful restaurants with great food that it can be hard to choose which one to visit. They each have something unique to offer their guests. I suggest trying as many different Italian restaurants as possible to make the most of the Italian dining experience.
ABOUT THE PALEO LIFESTYLE
As noted previously, this book assumes that you are familiar with the Paleo lifestyle. Whether you’re already following the Paleo diet, are living gluten free, or just want to eat healthier, I hope this book helps you make authentic Italian dishes you and your family will enjoy. Your decision to eat better is a great start! You’re probably already familiar with the large number of cookbooks, food blogs and other information available about the Paleo lifestyle. Be sure to visit my blog at CindysTable.com. I’m not a nutritionist, just a woman who has been cooking since I could reach my Nana’s kitchen counter—but I hope my experiences give you more ideas that will help you stay on track.
We all love Italian food, and I hear complaints that you can’t enjoy Italian food if you’re following the Paleo diet. That’s just not true! I have found it easy to do, and often making a recipe Paleo-friendly makes it taste even better.
AT THE GROCERY STORE
You have the recipes for the week and your list is made! Make sure you’re not hungry when you go shopping. If necessary, make a quick smoothie before you leave. As you shop, follow your list, and don’t stray from it unless you find high-priced items like seafood or nut butters that are on sale. Avoid the center aisles with all of the junk food—remember that you’re preparing to create wonderful Paleo Italian fare. Also, don’t stop at the endcaps, as tempting as they may be. The vendor pays for that endcap, and their goal is to get you to purchase their product and look no further! The same items will be available in the aisle, and you may find another brand there that’s less expensive. Have fun while you’re shopping; let your imagination run away with you while you consider the incredible healthful meals you’re about to create.
IT STARTS WITH A PLAN
All you need to succeed with Paleo or any other diet is commitment and planning. It’s really that simple. I was a single mother for over ten years, and I always served my kids healthy meals. I would sit down and go through the advertisements every Sunday morning, and we would have a “family meeting” to decide what we wanted to eat in the coming week. Then I would drive around to the various markets and gather my ingredients. Now I can go to one or two markets, or even the farmers’ market alone, and get what we need. Even though my kids are now grown and have left the house, I still plan the week’s meals in advance. The first thing to consider when planning your meals is what’s in season. Then review recipes—whether in this cookbook, other cookbooks or online sources—for those main ingredients and make a list of other items you’ll need. Before you shop, do an inventory of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer and see what you have on hand, so you won’t buy food you don’t need. Then go online and find out what’s on sale at your local grocery stores, so you know where to get main ingredients on sale. Now you’re ready to shop!
ESTABLISH A COOKING DAY
When you have all the necessary ingredients on hand, take one day that works for your schedule and cook a few meals in advance. They can be stored in serving containers in the fridge, or frozen to be reheated during the week. Alternatively, you can do basic prep for a few meals—chopping vegetables, slicing meat, or premixing sauces or marinades, for example—to make cooking during the week a little easier.
