Macelleria Belli
Our favorite butcher shop in Tuscany is Macelleria Belli, located in Torrita di Sienna. During our foodie trips to Tuscany and Umbria, we purchase all of our fresh and cured meats from their shop located on a small side street in the village. We first met Roberta Belli in 2010 during our first organized trip to Tuscany and have gotten to be good friends over the years. She gave me a tour of their facility that I would like to share with you.
The air in the curing rooms is dense with the aroma of ground fennel and fresh meat. The meat is deeply rubbed with their “secret” curing mix of salt, garlic, fennel, pepper and other ??spices? Next, Roberta took me into the cool aging room where the fragrance was even more intense. Racks full of hanging whole Prosciuttos, salamis of all sizes and lombo (cured pork loin). They make salami and other cured meats from regular domestic pigs, wild boars (Cinghiale) and the local Cinta Sienese (black with a white stripe).
In addition to the cured meats they are also a full service butcher shop and cut everything to order. It is a lot of fun to be in the store during a busy period and watch the little old lady stand and wait in line for a single freshly ground and pressed beef patty, a small steak for one and a few slices of prosciutto. This is the shop where I first saw the Spiedini (kabobs) that we now make in the kitchen in Cortona. Click here to see my post on making Spiedini.
Visit the Macelleria Belli website to see more of what they have to offer and your mouth will water. If you find yourself in Tuscany, stop by and experience Belli…it is well worth a visit. Tell Roberta hi for me!
