Food: Tuscan
Address: Loc. San Martino a Bocena, 370 – Cortona (AR) – Italy
Phone Number: +39.0575.612679
Website: www.ilfalconiere.it
Guide Michelin: 1 star
What I paid: 95 € (tasting menu per person, excluding wine, water etc)
Visited: October 28, 2017
Il Falconiere is a 17th century villa encircled by vineyards, olive tress and cypresses. The Baracchi family, managed by owners Silvia and Riccardo, runs this family house with a sustainable lifestyle in a very beautiful Tuscan setting.
The Relais Chateaux Il Falconiere & Spa is in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, up a hill and only 3 km from the lovely medieval town Cortona.
Marvelous seventeenth-century mansion wisely restored, owned since 1860 by the Baracchi family, mirrors the simple and sophisticated style of the ancient Tuscan residences with frescoes, antiques, hand-made fabrics and iron beds. The 22 rooms are pleasingly furnished to the regional style.
There is also s wellness area in the facilities. Fenced by the beauty of the landscape, the Thesan Etruscan Spa is a place where you can have beauty treatments, a massage or a bath. Every guest has access included to the spa and bathrobe, towels and spa slippers are included.
Add to this the only Michelin starred restaurant in the neighborhood, serving hearty rural food and you realize that this is a unique and pleasant place to spend your vacation.
The restaurant outdoor terrace has a striking view of Cortona and the surrounding area. Most vegetables and herbs used, are grown in the restaurant’s own garden, and the wine list includes the estate’s own red wine, Smeriglio.
On the topic of food; we opted for the Dalle Stalle Alle Stelle tasting menu and this, of course, together with some wines from the estate. The theme of this tasting menu was dedicated to the prestigious beef coming from the valley; the Chianina. The names of the dishes are taken from famous local bulls.
DALLE STALLE ALLE STELLE
Amuse bouche
Amuse bouche
Brioche
Fanfullo
Fanfullo
The Fanfullo dish was a flavoured beef tartare with Tuscan spices, sweet-and-sour zucchini, celery ribbons, herbs and flowers.
Bread
Donetto
Donetto
Donetto. Dal “quinto quarto”. Ox tongue flavoured with Tarry Souchong tea and passion fruit sauce.
Drago 77
Drago 77
Stuffed pappardella with traditional Tuscan ragù, tomato sauce and nutmeg flavoured béchamel sauce.
Druso
I forgot to take of the next “Druso” dish that was sautéed calf liver with apples and creamy onion julienne.
Bando
I did unfortunately also forget to take a picture of the “Bando” dish, which was a Ossobuco served with zolfini beans and saffron scented marrow.
Desiderio
Desiderio
“Zuppa inglese” traditional Tuscan dessert with sponge cake, coffee scent, custard and Alchermes in a modern style.
Petit four
Petit four
Summary:
The Il Falconiere restaurant serves cuisine, reflecting the flavors and fragrances of the neighboring terroir. Here you enjoy the best of the traditional Tuscan cuisine, rooted in the land and its traditions, with dishes prepared with fresh and high-quality products.
But this is not a place you go to only for the food! Its surrounding landscape and close-by medieval Cortona town and its spa makes this a very good “combo” trip (i.e. a trip that combines several “good” things and not just a nice pleasant restaurant). Highly recommended!
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