FLORENTINE STEAK (Fiorentina) - history and recipe (2024)

The Florentine steak (called Bistecca alla Fiorentina or simply La Bistecca) is a serious matter in Florence, no jokes with the Ciccia (meat in Florentine slang)! The Tuscan cuisine has plenty of delicious dishes, but if you must choose only one of them, as your last meal, opt for La Bistecca!

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HISTORY AND LEGEND

Florence, Tuscany; The night of San Lorenzo, August 10, sometimes in the XVI Century. That is the night of the shooting stars, symbolizing in the popular imagination the hot coals on which the Holy man was martyred.

Large braziers placed around the Church of San Lorenzo. Huge quarters of beef are cooking slowly over the braziers. The Florentine people are sitting on benches, on the steps in front of the church.

Around the fire, they eatvoraciously large portions of meat, while butchers improvised cooks keep going to roast and slice more cattle ready to be mauled.

Florence in the '500 is prosperous and booming. The De' Medici’s family rules the city with a firm hand and bright intuition; The banking system, invented and managed by this great Florentine family, brings into the city Lords and rich merchants from all over Europe.

Right here history and legend intertwine together; a group of British aristocratic, attracted by the pantagruelian feast set up between the fires of San Lorenzo, sits next to the populace and bite the slices of meat with their noble teeth.

"Beefsteak! Beefsteak!"Scream the hungry blue blood still asking more meat. From this hungry cry - beef steak! - was born the Italianate term of the most famous Tuscan dish in the world: the Bistecca.

CUTTING AND PREPARATION

The Florentine Steak is a cut of meat made from the part of the loin near the leg of the Scottona (young female bovine that has never gotten pregnant, aged 15/16 months).

The cut of the Florentine steak must include a Porterhouse cut between the sirloin and the tenderloin; otherwise, it will be called ‘Costata’ (the only Sirloin with bone), and it is derived exclusively from the part of the loin near the shoulder.

The meat is tender and tasty, so it must be well marbled, for this reason, the cattle must have the characteristics of the Scottona.

Even the hanging has a vital role to ensure the flavor and softness; the whole loin must be hanged for a time varying between 15 and 21 days before cutting.

The cutting of Florentine Steak in Tuscany is an ancient art; the minimum thickness for a Florentine Steak worthy of its name is of 1.5 inches, but the perfect cut is not less than 2.

The weight ranges from 1.5 lb to 3lb, but my favorite cut weighs 2 lb, a yummy feast to share... or not! (it's depending on your hunger, LOL!)

BREED CHOICE: CHIANINA OR NOT CHIANINA?

Several people in Italy think that the only breed apt to obtain a traditional Florentine Steak is the Chianina; This is only partly right.

Although the Chianina produces a meat of excellent quality, many Tuscan butchers prefer other national races.

Dario Cecchini, the most famous Italian butcher, serves in his butcher shop/restaurant in Panzano; a village in the province of Florence, an excellent Florentine produced by Spanish cattle!

WHERE TO EAT THE FLORENTINE STEAK IN FLORENCE

In Florence, all the city’s restaurants serve the T-bone Florentine Steak, but sometimes the results hit-and-miss.

To make no mistake, I recommend some historical restaurants, which prepare and cook “the Queen of the meats” following the tradition.

Among these, I suggest the "Trattoria Mario" near the Mercato Centrale, "I' Brindellone" in San Frediano and "Perseus" near Piazza della Libertà.

In my recent trip to Florence (click here to read my travelog!) I ate a terrific Florentine Steak at "Antico Ristoro di’ Cambi”, in San Frediano and would highly recommend a visit!

If you are planning to explore the countryside surrounding Florence looking for a delicious steak, one of the best choices is "Ristorante Tullio” in Montebeni, a little village near to Fiesole.

Other places I strongly recommend are "L’officina della Bistecca" (where the owner Dario Cecchini cooks and serve the steak reciting verses from the Divine Comedy!) In Panzano, and “Osteria di Nandone” in Scarperia, a rough and spartan place but serving great steaks cooked on the fireplace.

COOKING AND PRESENTATION

I must reveal to you a couple of tricks to figure out if after ordering the Florentine steak it is better to get out of the restaurant and run like hell! 1) The restaurant should give you the option to choose the Florentine before cooking 2) The cook does not have to give you the opportunity to choose the level of cooking, There is one only way to cook and eat the Florentine Steak: rare!

In the past times, the Florentine Steak were cooked on the embers. Currently, especially in cities, the health rules in force make it tough to proceed with this type of cooking. Cooking Florentine Steak begins by standing by the bone on the hot grill for about 15 minutes. In this way, the bone will transmit heat to the meat without cooking it, relaxing the fat fibers.

Once the interior of the steak is warm, it is cooked on high heat for 5/7 minutes each side, depending on the thickness. The steak should be turned only once and must be distinctly marked by the grill.

The salting of meat should be carried out only after cooking, possibly with coarse salt. It will enhance the flavor of the meat without attacking it too much (while you eat the steak, discard the salt!).

Before you can eat it, Florentine Steak must rest between 10 and 15 minutes in a hot environment (such as a heated oven and then turned off) to allow redistribution of the juices.

HAPPY “BISTECCA”, FOLKS!

Whether you decide to enjoy the Bistecca alla Fiorentina in Florence or the surrounding countryside, due to a significant amount of meat, share the experience with your friends!

To thoroughly enjoy the steak, you must not miss an excellent bottle of Chianti red wine and a few typical Tuscan sides, like roasted garlic potatoes, spinach with Pecorino cheese or Cannellini beans.

If you want to take on cooking the Florentine Steak at home, you can find below all the indications; May the Ciccia be with you!

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST STEAK TO PREPARE THE FIORENTINA!

Living in US, I spent several hours to find the right cut and replicate a perfect Bistecca alla Fiorentina! Here my preferred steaks and were I buy them (click on the orange links!):

USDA PRIME SELECTION PORTERHOUSE-This hand cut USDA PRIME certificated steak, is perfect to replicate the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and will satisfy 2 to 3 persons. Marbled at the right point, it weight approx. 1.75 lbs.

AMERICAN WAGYU PORTERHOUSE-Here we are a step higher: the marbling of this steak is stunning and enhance a natural buttery taste to the meat: 2 lbs of tender steak composed by a big fillet mignon and an excellent New York strip.

DRIED AGED AMERICAN WAGYU PORTERHOUSE- Personally, this is my steak: at least 45 day of dry-aging add to the natural tenderness of Wagyu cuts, a bold meaty taste: a must to try, at least once in your life!

WINE PAIRINGS

A great steak requires a great wine! Here my wine paring suggestions:

CHIANTI CLASSICO CASTELLO DI VOLPAIA 2016- This Chianti Classico produced by Castello di Volpaia near Siena, is a great deal for the quality of the wine, and for its convenient price! A nice bottle to share with your friends every time you want to came back in Tuscany.

CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE BADIA A PASSIGNANO ANTINORI 2013 - Terrific Chianti with a bold character ideal for a beef steak alla Fiorentina!

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO BIONDI SANTI 2013 - this is the wine for special occasions: my first choice when I need to celebrate something very important! This Brunello is the Limousine of the wines for the Florentine steak: bold, and rich in history!

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