Uncle Romano and before him grandmother Assunta
The Le Macinaie restaurant is located at Prato delle Macinaie at 1400 metres above sea level, near the summit of Monte Amiata, in the municipality of Castel del Piano (GR).
The wines offered all come from wine-growing areas around Mount Amiata: Montecucco, Scansano Morellino, Montalcino Brunello, Montepulciano Noble, Orcia Doc, White di Pitigliano. We close with exquisite homemade desserts. Obviously we will try to satisfy the needs of the little ones, for whom the price will also be special
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Reservation recommended
The central element is the quality brands of the territory: oil (after Olivastra Seggianese), wine (Montecucco DOCG), castagna (Chestnut IGP Monte Amiata), mushrooms, truffles and food and wine events.
Alongside the countless festivals we find the very important event Amiata at the Table. Born in 1987 from the ideas of the gastronome Gianni Bonacina, it has been perpetuated over time albeit with different formulas but always with the aim of valorizing and promoting.
It all comes from a cultural and therefore food reality that has developed in a particular territory like that of Amiata. First of all local products, the chestnut. “Pan di Legno e vin di nuvoli”, as our grandparents used to say, represented the only element of support for many centuries and until the end of the Second World War. In autumn, when the leaves of the trees begin to change color, here is that the precious fruit begins to make its presence on the tables of the Amiatini who are very attached to it.
There are a great variety of chestnuts, but among these, 3 have been able to boast the IGP Castagna del Monte Amiata brand since 2002. They are: Brown, Cecio, Red Bastard.
From the chestnut dried in traditional dryers and ground, a flour is obtained which is used to produce a wide variety of traditional dishes, pastas and desserts.
Even for these, we are looking for a recognition of quality. Among all of them, obviously, the one that stands out is Porcine (boletus edulis), but the richness and quality of the mushrooms of the territory is really big
Going down around 700 meters we find the first olive trees. The oil is one of the oldest productions. Already in documents from the 9th century we find stories of wonderful olive groves. This plant has found an ideal environment here. There are several varieties, but among the others the cultivar “Seggianese Olive”In the area we have both traditional mills, those with large stone millstones, and modern mills from which high-level production can be obtained.
Even further down, after the olive trees, there are the vineyards and therefore the large productions of wine. Amiata is located in the centre of the most suitable wine-growing area of Tuscany. To the north the Brunello in the Montalcino area, to the east the Noble in the Montepulciano area, to the south Morellino in the Scansano area and the White of Pitigliano in the municipality of the same name, to the west the Montecucco the new wine of Amiata, born in 1998 but already capable of offering great products. A little further away we then have the areas of Chianti Classico.
Here then are the cheese. The Amiata area, a traditional sheep breeding area, offers great pecorino cheeses, and some companies manage to produce valuable cheeses with extremely different and particular maturations.
La Love Senese It is a variety of pig that the Amiata tradition wants to be native to our territory. In a painting by Nasini dated around 1500 we already see these animals moving freely in the woods. Today here we find one of the most interesting farms at a national level, with a production that is at the top. Great cured meats are also obtained from traditional pig breeds thanks to a centuries-old pork butchery tradition
even the honey It is a traditional production of our territory. There are many poultry farmers who create great products. Finally, baked goods. The bsalted iscotto of Roccalbegna, the traditional breads which today with the affirmation of a new quality brand are able to affirm our artisan productions also abroad. Of particular interest is the production of sweets, including the Panettone, Panforte, polentine, curly, which small artisan companies propose at the highest levels
Obviously this great wealth of products gives life to an extraordinary cuisine, where alongside soups we find homemade pasta, roasts, stews, which in our restaurant we offer with great care in the preparation.
