Artichoke-shaped Florentine breads

Culinary Dictionary: Carciofini

  Carciofini, which translates into “little artichokes,” are small Florentine breads that vaguely resemble in shape artichokes. Bread is the quintessential Florentine ingredient. Lots of traditional recipes use stale bread to make deliciously comforting dishes. Although Florence’s most popular bread is pane sciocco (saltless bread), bakeries display a wide array of different Florentine breads. Carciofini is one of them. These artichoke-shaped …

Helichrysum Tuscan herb

Helichrysum: a Tuscan substitute for curry

Helichrysum is an evergreen plant that grows in the Mediterranean area. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has been used for centuries to fight stomach cramps, colds and coughs. Florentines add this Mediterranean herb to vegetables and meats to give them a spicy kick. Helichrysum (in Italian, elicrisio or elicriso) used to be a common ingredient …