The Gastronomic Specialities of Prato, Italy

What to Eat in Prato

I was invited by CCT SeeCity to Prato to discover their vibrant modern art scene in the form of the new Centro Pecci. Because I’m an incurable foodie, I had to taste as much local cuisine as I possibly could stuff into my mouth at one time. I sought out all the specialities of Prato. It is only then that I feel like I can get a sense of a city. In addition to tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and ribollita, there are products produced right here in Prato.

Prato, located in Tuscany, has a strong regional cuisine. Just twenty minutes from Florence, you’ll find Tuscan specialties as well as typical specialties from Prato. Here, I’ve provided a list of some of the most traditional products for you to try during your stay in Prato. Here are the gastronomic specialties of Prato!

Savoury Specialties of Prato

Schiacciate

Click on the link to learn how to pronounce this word. All those i and c sounds…
A crunchy flatbread drizzled with olive oil and salt. A traditional snack and oh so delicious. The much much much more scrumptious version of chips (UK crisps).

Find an excellent version at Pane e Vino.

Mortadella di Prato

Mortadella di Prato is very different from the well-known Bolognese version. Firstly, it’s spicier. Seasonings include black peppercorns, salt, garlic paste, mace, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, and alchermes (italian liquor).

Step into Pane e Vino where you can ask to try the difference between Mortadella di Prato and Mortadella di Bologna. You’ll also find great sandwiches here.

Pecorino Pratese + southern tuscany

Pappa col Pomodoro

The essence of Italian cucina povera. Similar to Panzanella, Pappa col/al Pomodoro calls for only bread olive oil, basil, garlic and tomatoes to make a delicious and simple paste. Despite it’s peasant origins, it’s still very popular today. You’ll likely find this at any aperitivo.

Sedani Ripieni

I wasn’t sure about this typically Pratese dish before I tried it. I’m not a fan of celery, and this is stuffed celery. However, the addition of minced veal, mortadella, eggs, and garlic makes a common vegetable into a delicacy. It can be baked or fried.

Find this at restaurant Soldano in Prato or any Pratese butcher will sell them already prepared.

Bozza Pratese 

The locals are very proud of this good-looking bread. As just about all Tuscan breads, it’s made without salt. This dates back to the great wars where such things were in short supply. Personally, I don’t really understand saltless and fatless bread but that’s for you to decide. I do, after all, live in France.

I Fichi Secchi di Carpigano

Dottato variety of dried figs from the local Tuscan hills. Often stuffed with cream and pine nuts or served with mortadella.

La Farina di Castagne

Chestnut flour produced in this region for centuries. A revival of the product must be thankful for the gluten intolerant.

Sweet Specialities of Prato

The Pratese are very proud of their award-winning pastry chefs. Even Florentines have to admit that Prato has the best pastries.

Setteveli

A rich chocolate layered cake made by Luca Mannori at Pasticceria Mannori. If you can’t eat the entire cake, bite-size (gourmandises) are also available. Best to close your eyes when you eat them. Savour that molto rich ganache.

Pesche di Prato 

These are what I would describe to be a more attractive Italian version of a Baba au Rhum. A symbol of Prato, these are a must try during your time in Prato.

We tried these in the morning. Beware, they have a kick!

The best are considered to be those made by Paolo Sacchetti at the Pasticceria Nuovo Mondo located just before you enter the main square.

23, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi

Scendiletto

This is generally a Tuscan custard pastry. Not necessarily typical of Prato but oh my… The Italians love their custard. Perhaps even more than the Brits? Good luck getting a croissant without custard  (not that you’d want one). This is like a mille-feuille with only one thick delicious layer.

Biscotti di Prato (or Cantucci)

These world famous almond biscuits are traditionally served with vin santo (see below) at the end of a meal. They quench the desire for sweets without being too sweet. The question is, to dip the biscotti in the vin santo or not? It seems that no one can decide.

Find the best, most traditional version of these at Biscottificio Antonio Mattei in Prato. In the mornings, you can visit the factory behind the shop to see how they’re made. Watch the video on the site!

Wine

Carmignano 

A red wine that has been well regarded since the middle ages; Carmignano was a favourite of the Medici family. It is simply one of the best wines of Tuscany. You’ll find producers south of the city of Prato, in the olive grove rolling hills of Tuscany on the Medici wine road.

The wine is not as well known as it should be. In 1932, the region was shoe-horned into the much larger Chianti region. Thankfully Carmignano was granted its own appellation in 1975. Finally, it’s specific traditions were acknowledged. It’s the smallest zone in Italy be awarded its own DOCG status.

The wine composed of Sangiovese (min 50%), Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a few other grape varietals in much smaller percentages.

The wine is smooth and robust at the same time. Delicious.

Vin Ruspo

Vin Ruspo is the region’s answer to rosé wine. The story of how it was created is actually quite interesting. It goes back to the sharecropping days.

During the harvest in the Fall the sharecropper (peasant), with the excuse that it was late in the day, delayed bringing to the estates sellers the last batch of grapes which had been picked and then trodded on. During the night he drew off, or “ruspava” a certain quantity of must which ended up in his own cellar. The estate owners were perfectly aware of this but in order to keep the peace pretended to ignore it. The wine, which was only briefly fermented with the grape skins was

stored in demijohns over the winter. There wasn’t any re-fermentation technique as was used for the red wines. Eventually, a merchant came across this peasant wine and decided to sell it.

The same techniques are used today to make vin ruspo. Though of course, it’s done in cellars and there isn’t any stealing involved!

The wine is semi-sparkling wine. A refreshing summer aperitivo.

Vin Santo

Oh, what amber nectar this is. Vin Santo is the dessert wine of Tuscany. For once, it was my British man that made a scene. The vin santo was so delicious he kept making mmmmmmmmmmmm noises at the end of the meal.

To make it, the finest bunches of grapes are laid on straw mats for four months. As you can imagine, the grapes can easily rot in the damp cellars of Tuscan winemakers. In order to control the environment, dry winds of the north are let in while humid winds of the south are not. If the air is especially humid, sulphur is burned in the rooms to prevent mildew.

In January, when the grapes are almost raisins, they are de-stemmed and pressed. The liquid is transferred to small barrels for 3-4 years.

The resulting wine is dense as olive oil and absolutely succulent. To be enjoyed as a dessert wine.

The best is Capezzana Vin Santo. Apparently the Pope’s favourite!

You can find most of these ingredients in Prato’s regional specialities store A Tipico right in the centre of town. 

Eating Out, Specialities of Prato

Aperitivo 

Le Barrique Wine Bar

Beautiful décor and ambiance. Watch out on Wednesdays though, you will be swarmed by ridiculously good looking young Italians singing Karaoke. 

For Lunch, or to try Mortadella and Schiacciate

Pane e Vino Marcellino
Intimate little panini place where you might be expected to join in on the conversation.

For Traditional

Trattoria Soldano
Popular with students for it’s prices, this is an institution of Prato. Home style traditional Prates meals. 

For a cheap and amazing local hole in the wall (you’ll need a car)

Pizzeria Maggie
Simply the best Tiramsu I’ve ever had. Very popular with locals. I do a lot of reserach to find great meals and we went here our last night because it was close to where we were staying. The best meal, and the cheapest, we had in Prato.

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