Some days ago I went for a lunch with two colleagues of mine. They have been living in Tuscany for a short time, so I was asked to choose the place. I’m very lucky to work in Siena, a town that I definitely love. We had a little time for our lunch break, and we wished to spend it in the best way, eating something simple but tasty and good, so I proposed to go to the Vinaio “Trombicche” in Via delle Terme, near to Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral. This tiny place is one of the last Sienese style old taverns and, always crowded, represents perfectly the identity of Siena, not only from a culinary point of view.
Most customers are locals, speak about the town’s basketball and football teams, to the Palio, depending on the season we are in, and know each other. The atmosphere is informal and familiar, the tiny room host a few tables and the owners, the friendly brothers Davide and Bobbe, run the place offering old traditional food. What to eat? First of all have a glance at the counter to see what the two guys have prepared for the day, and ask the owners for additional details: usually a wide sort of ham, salami and cheeses, omelets, vegetable cakes and different varieties of soups are offered up. All recipes are based on the traditions and change according to the season. In Autumn and Winter, for instance, following the Sienese custom, tripe can be tasted on Thursdays. After ordering, take a seat at one of the tables, set with a typical yellow paper table mat and ceramic plates.
We had a big antipasto made up of zucchini filled with cheese and meat, spinach cake, onion cake, potatoes cake and anchovies with parsley’s pesto, the latter a delicious typical dish of Siena. Then we had two Tuscan soups (one pappa con il pomodoro and one ribollita) and a lasagna. We drunk red wine in caraf (1/4) and a bottle of water, and spent 40,00 € (for three people), ate in good time and tasted with all our senses the unique atmosphere of Siena.
For more information visit www.trombicche.it, for reservations, call 0577 288089
