A few free days are always a good excuse for a quick visit to Italy, in this case to the enchanted valleys and hills of Tuscany. I believe it’s always good to return to where you were happy, so we went back to the lovely city of Cortona to another stay at Relais Il Falconiere (see).
Wishing for traditional cuisine, to the good style of Italian nonnas, we ended up at the Locanda del Molino, a small restaurant and charm hotel, a property of the Baracchi family.
Located in the family’s former olive oil mill, this space is an anthem to a good Italian renovation, keeping its roots and history, a comfortable space in which you want to be and really feel at Tuscany.
But on to what took us there, una vera cucina italiana. The surprise was soon felt, arriving early to the restaurant we caught a pizza making class in the middle, for the Locanda guests, and we decided to also take part in it.
An even bigger surprise only just when Cíntia awarded us with her very own first pizza.
Cíntia and her first Pizza
Among pizza slices, wine glasses and some tips about dough and the oven work, we went to the table.
Being in a former olive oil press the bread and olive oil couldn’t be missed at the table while choosing the dishes that would reveal to be a very good choice!
Courgette flower filled with ricotta and basil sauce
What a perfect and Italian way to start our meal, great flowers with the right amount of filling and the notes from the basil and the olive oil take the dish to another level. Very good!
Tagliatelle with rabbit ragù and pink Tagliolini with parmesan and black truffle sauce
Since we couldn’t decide for one of the fresh pastas, we opted to share two of them. And gladly we did, both perfectly cooked, with a special remark to the delicate and tasty rabbit ragù, moist and full of nuances, and also to the rich and generous flavor of the truffle and parmesan sauce.
Ossobuco with peas and pancetta
For secondi, we chose a pot dish, also good on terms of flavor and cooking. Melting apart meat, still moist, very well accompanied by the classic combo of peas and pancetta.
Blackberries and pinions Crostata
A “rough” looking pie, very familiar, just what you ask for in a space like Locanda del Molino. Great filling of blackberry and pinion, its only fault was the excess dough of its base. A bit more thin and it would’ve been a success!
Tiramisù
Not a very Tuscan dessert, but we were in Italy at least, balanced in terms of coffee and with great mascarpone cream. Accompanied weirdly well with the fresh apple slices that balanced its sweetness. A great ending!
The chosen wine was a Syrah Smeriglio from the Baracchi family, a DOC from Cortona, of intense color and well-marked nose, with spices, red fruits, and some coffee and vanilla notes. In the mouth, it follows the same pattern, with good persistence and richness of fruit flavors. A good company for the dishes of richer flavors, the case of our dinner.
Friendly and familiar service, without any rush or stress, very Italian, making us feel part of a family dinner.
Final Remarks
The Locanda del Molino is a mandatory stop for those passing through that region of Tuscany, both for sleeping in or like us, to just have a nice familiar meal. The environment is authentic as well as the dishes created by Silvia Baracchi (*Michelin, at Relais Il Falconiere). The prices are fair for the quality of the food and the products, which is not always the case in spaces very frequented by tourists.
Now I just need to return to Cortona again and continue to be happy!
Locanda del Molino
Average price: 30€/ pax without wines
Località Montanare 10, Cortona
+39 0575 614 016
Photos: Flavors & Senses
