Florence, Italy: Go to Osteria I'Brincello for the BEST Ragu di Cinghiale

They raved about the food and the reasonable prices, too, so my husband and I decided to give it a try one day. We were surprised to discover that it has been open and running for 10 years.

The location is very convenient; just on Via Nazionale near the SMN Train Station (big plus for day trippers in Florence). My husband ordered Crostono di Lardo (big crostino with cured, spiced pig fat- sounds a bit heavy, but it's delicious and has less saturated fat than butter) and Tagliata al Rosmarino (tender beef steak seasoned with fresh rosemary).

Both were very good and they cooked the meat nicely- and it was hot when it arrived at the table. Nothing is more disappointing to me when I go out than to get my meat (or any dish for that matter) warm or cold. And yes, it can happen even here in wonderful Italy!

We also noticed that they freshly sliced the lardo to make the crostono. Other people were ordering cheese and meat plates and they sliced everything to order rather than have the slices sitting out. This makes a big difference in taste and quality of the deli meats.

What really impressed me was the Pappardelle di Cinghiale (pappardelle is the thick "ribbon" pasta and cinghiale is wild boar). Unlike the wild boar ragu I've had in the past, this one was so tender it reminded me of juicy pulled pork from those great BBQ joints in the U.S. Only it's wild boar with Tuscan seasonings. Price for a big plate: only 8,00 euro!

I usually recommend that my clients try wild boar when they are here since it is such a Tuscan specialty. For those who are afraid of committing to a plate full of stewed chunks, this ragu would be the perfect introduction to this delicious wild game meat.

Open for dinner and lunch (go early to avoid the local lunch crowd- there were as many Italians as tourists). The interior is very bright and cheerful, too! Thank you for reading!

Osteria I'Brincello
Via Nazionale 110r
Firenze

C. De Melo
Author & Artist
www.cdemelo.com