Dario Cecchini: ...creator of magic wedding barbeques

We meet a master butcher who provides succulent wedding feasts

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED in Italy it’s likely that it’s not only the beautiful venue, unforgettable menus and good weather that you are looking for. One of the most important ingredients is the Italian people that make the atmosphere so special. There is one man who single-handedly seems to embrace all the passion of Italy and of course the love of fabulous food.

Dario Cecchini is an incredible butcher who is not only famous in his region of Tuscany but actually revered throughout the world. That cheeky and talented chef Jamie Oliver is a massive fan and lover of all quality products Prince Charles has also vastly enjoyed the delights that Tuscanborn Dario placed at his table when asked to make a very special presentation to him a few years ago. ‘It was a great honour and I risked it I guess when I said to the Prince “To Beef or not to Beef”. I have to say he took it very well and laughed.’
Dario has been a butcher for 33 years and is very proud of it. His father, grandfather, greatgrandfather and great-great-grandfather were all part of the business too. Dario inherited Antica Macelleria Cecchini from his father. It’s renowned not only for it’s incredible food but also for the wonderful ambience. You could literally stay here all day listening to beautiful music, nibbling food from Dario’s tasting table (below) and catching up on all the local news. ‘I have a lot of English and American customers, most of whom have become friends over the years.’ He tells with fondness of friend and customer Susan Rose who has lived in Panzano for 42 years and Dario has seen her come into the shop, with her now grown-up children, and has naturally developed a wonderful relationship with them all.

That cheeky and talented chef Jamie Oliver
is a massive fan...

WORLDWIDE FAME AND WEDDINGS

The charming and artistic Dario not only looks after customers from near and far (they come from all over the world) with his Macelleria and two incredibly popular restaurants, Solociccia and Officina della Bistecca, but he also hosts fabulous barbeques at Villa Vignamaggio for the most delightful and memorable wedding receptions.

There is nothing more exciting than the happy couple and their guests being wowed and made to laugh by a man who is larger than life and innately charming. They also get to smell the aromas of the absolutely delicious food whilst enjoying themselves and watching Dario and his wonderful team cook al aperto.

James Lord, of wedding planner Love and Lord, has worked with Dario at many weddings: ‘I got to know Dario when I first starting buying food from his butcher’s shop about four years ago. I got chatting to him and I asked him outright if he’d do barbeques for our weddings. Dario said he would and six months later we came to an agreement. We had to wait six months for it though because he’s just so incredibly busy!’ Dario thought that James was ‘simpatico’ and some say that making him wait for a few months was Dario’s test to see if he was serious about the proposal and of his level of patience and endurance! Dario has in fact created a brand new menu for Love and Lord’s clients called ‘Amore e Carne’ which is something that will certainly be succulent and spectacular. ‘We want our happy couple and their guests to feel as if they have wonderful Italian memories to treasure,’ says James. ‘Dario’s presence has always been a big part of that. He’s fantastic.’

Dario has forwarded us some delicious thoughts about food, namely delicious bistecca alla fiorentina and arista.

DARIO’ S SECRETS FOR BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA Given that the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (a Florentine-style T-bone steak), is already one of the most supreme physical pleasures in this earthly life, it follows that this dish cannot be ‘improved upon’ or ‘modernised’, because it is perfect as is and thus untouchable.

PREPARATON CHECKLIST

– a T-shaped bone, filet (top loin) and tenderloin, of mature beef, aged at least 20 days, with just the right amount of fat and not straight from the fridge, standing on a wooden chopping board while waiting for the grill. (This last part is more symbolic than practical, but important nonetheless.)

– Hot coals under the grill (use red or evergreen oak), let burn past their hottest point, when a bit of white ash forms on the embers.

– Grill low to the coals and the Grill Master ready to begin the ceremony, with a glass of good Chianti on hand for courage and inspiration.

– Five quick minutes per side and then fifteen minutes standing on edge. – No salt or other seasoning that would offend this culinary alchemy.

– Return to the chopping board, let it stand, slice into chunks and eat!

‘To describe what this pleasure means for a healthy carnivore is impossible. It is to enter into communion with Tuscany itself, sealed with good red wine. After, if you must, you can lightly salt, sprinkle with pepper or bless with a drizzle of olive oil.’

...THIS DISH CANNOT BE ‘IMPROVED UPON’ or ‘modernised’...

DARIO’ SARISTA

Legend has it that during the Council of Florence in 1430, in an effort to calm the spirits and keep good relations between the delegates of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, a grand banquet was arranged.
The banquet was a huge success and one of the dishes that was especially appreciated was a loin of pork served with garlic and rosemary.

After he had eaten his fill, the Patriarch of Constantinople raised his hands to heaven and declared ‘Aristòs’, which in ancient Greek meant ‘excellent’, ‘the best’. The dish hence baptized ‘arista’ is ever a source of joy on Tuscan tables. It is still the pièce de résistance at any feast worthy of the name.
‘My version is cooked in the oven with thyme, garlic, fennel flower and rosemary.

Cut into thick slices and serve as is, or perhaps with a plate of white Tuscan beans and olive oil. For us Tuscans, it has the same religious effect as admiring the sublime lines of a Romanesque church, reading Dante, or drinking good red wine. It is the quintessence of the Tuscan way of living.
May you always have arista, red wine, a lust for beauty and joy for life.’

For more information:
www.loveandlord.com
www.dariocecchini.blogspot.com