THE BEST OF THE BEST IN LUCCA

Whet your appetite, for this week we’re headed to the best pasticcerie and gelatoria in the walled city. 🎊🎈🎺🍹🍸🍻🍺🍢🍡🍧🎂🍪🍰🍭🍎🍏🎊🎈🎸🎺🍹🍸🍻🍺🍢🍡🍧🎂🍪🍰🍭

Best Pasticceria for Breakfast: Buralli

Like the Lucchesi we start each morning at one of our favorite pasticcerie, Pasticceria Buralli, located near the old marketplace in Piazza dei Carmine, where you can view Torre Guinigi, Lucca’s famous tower with the trees on top. Buralli is filled with delicious pastries and wonderful cappuccino and molto buono caffè Americano. Keti and Romina run the small pasty shop and they are delightful. Say buongiorno for us – and remember in Lucca we go by Roberto and Donato.  Now, dig into a sfoglia di ricotta or un cornetto vuoto. You might be surprised to find that in Lucca there are two things that differ from many cities: The Lucchesi use a napkin, rather than their hands, to hold and eat their pastries, and they pay after they eat. Note that many pasticcerie are closed on Monday mornings, which is when we head over to Dianda, on via Della Rosa where we have a torta di riso…a spectacular rice-based dolce.

Best Pasticceria for Mid-morning Merenda: Pinelli

What’s a merenda, you ask? Literally, it’s a snack and generally we take our morning merenda at Pasticceria Pinelli, on via Beccheria.  The sfoglio di ricotta and the apple strudel – yes, you read that right – are amazing.  They have a wide array of wonderful dolce. Order inside and say ciao from us to Renza, Maria Pia, Angela, Sandra, as well as the rest of the staff. They are especially welcoming. Sit outside under the columns and enjoy the daily morning passaggiata.

Best Pasticceria for Afternoon Merenda:  Taddeucci

Pasticceria Taddeucci, run by Giulio, Manuela, and their son Marino, is famous for its Buccellato, raisin bread that Donato devours. I’m a big fan of their mini pizzas, as well as the wide variety of tortes they offer, including chocolato, la pera, and la crema.  In fact, all of their dolce are deliziosi.  They also serve a very pleasant Aperol Spritz, perfect for spending part of an afternoon under one of the umbrellas in front of the pasticceria, next to the stunning San Michele church. The trio is like family to Donald and me so be sure to say hello, in Italian!  By the way, the pasticceria has been in the Taddeucci family for generations and has served, among people from all around the world, British Royalty, as one can see from the wonderful photos hung inside the original wood-paneled walls.

Best Gelatoria: Matta

I love ice cream and nothing beats Italian gelato – did you know that gelato has less calories than ice cream? For years my favorite spot to get gelato was Momo on via della Frate.  But thanks to our Foodie friends I found Matta, a new gelatoria on via Filungo, 175 and now there are two fabulous gelaterie.  At Momo I like the Pinoli, an unusual pine nut gelato, and Croccante, a crunchy, nutty gelato. The gelato at Matta, which means mad, as in crazy, is rich and creamy and the whipped cream and hot, dark chocolate drizzled on top of the tasty treat is “to die for.”  More than once, we’ve died and gone to (gelato) heaven.

Know anyone heading to Lucca?  Be sure to send this along to them and encourage them to sign up at www.welovelucca.com.  

Next week we’ll conclude the Best of the Best series with a look at Getaways, spectacular spots within a 90 minute drive of the walled city.

Ciao,

Roberto