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BEST RESTAURANTS IN TUSCANY: MICHELIN STARS 2013

Aerial view of Tenuta la Badiola with Hotel Andana and Isle of Monte Cristo in the background
The isle of  Monte Cristo as a perfect backdrop for luxury hotel Andana,
home of Alain Ducasse's Michelin starred Trattoria Toscana

 Tuscany's Michelin star count for 2013 looks similar to the one in 2012. As in the previous years the only three starred restaurant of the region remains ever-green Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. Whereas Southern Tuscany is still the Mekka for lovers of two starred Michelin restaurants: Massa Marittima's Bracali, Da Caino in Montemerano and Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole are all based in the region's south. The only exception to the rule is restaurant Arnolfo, which sports two Michelin stars in central Tuscany's Colle Val d'Elsa (30 minutes from Siena). 

 The only change in regard to Michelin stars handed out this year has been in the one star section. Comparing the 2012 and 2013 lists of Michelin starred restaurants in Tuscany, two establishments in Viareggio have lost their stars (or maybe closed their doors). However in the Maremma, Southern Tuscany's pristine nature reservoir, the situation hasn't changed. Tenuta La Badiola still proudly serves Alain Ducasse's best at Trattoria Toscana and Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort confirms the Michelin star for its in-house restaurant All'Acquacotta (a new entry from 2012).
Michelin starred Italian dining at Alain Ducasse's Trattoria Toscana
Tuscan haute cuisine according to Alain Ducasse at Trattoria Toscana near Castiglione della Pescaia

A third one Michelin star restaurant I keep mentioning on this blog is La Pineta on Bibbona's beach. Strictly speaking La Pineta lies on Tuscany's central coastline, but I love Luciano's Zazzeri's beach restaurant far too much to start fuzzing about geography. 

 Below the list with the names of all the 24 restaurants in Tuscany that have been awarded one, two or three stars in the 2013 edition of the Michelin guide.   


A name I'm surprised to see missing in the Italy Michelin guide, is the one of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The international gourmet awards collector has taken on the restaurants of the Castel Monastero Resort near Castelnuovo Berardenga. Personally, I'm no fan of the overly polished and trimmed holiday resorts in the Chianti (I prefer a less Disney like version of Tuscany). Nevertheless, I'm still planning to find out more about the famous Scotsman's take on Tuscan cooking!

 Wondering what the Michelin stars situation looks like in Venice, Rome or Milan? Check out restaurant Bracali's blog for a complete listing of Michelin star restaurants in Italy. As you'll see, Northern Italy heads the ranking of fine dining heads down. Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna and Veneto are the regions, which dish out most of Italy's Michelin starred food. 

 For the most recent accolades read: BEST MICHELIN RESTAURANTS IN TUSCANY IN 2015. And if you want to go the whole nine yards, don't just eat well but learn how to pull off a fabulous Italian meal yourself during a hands-on cooking class in the Val d'Orcia or southern Tuscany (send me an email if you want help with this). 

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