Italian composer, Giacomo_Puccini  was born on December 22, 1858, in the ancient city of Lucca, Tuscany.  Among his most popular compositions are the operas La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly.

Having lived most of his life in Tuscany, it is only natural that he had a love for the food of that region, pasta not the least. 

There is a legend that Giacomo was extremely fond of the ladies.  Mrs. Puccini was aware of this.  Instead of making a fuss however, when she suspected that he was going out on for an evening’s adventuring, she would prepare him a sumptuous dinner of all his favorite dishes and load them with garlic.  Giacomo could never resist Mama Puccini’s dinners, however, afterwards the ladies had no trouble resisting him. True or not, it’s a delightful story and perhaps you will enjoy celebrating the maestro’s birthday with a menu using some of these traditional Tuscan dishes, all replete with garlic.

Tuscan Bruschetta

Cozze con Bruschetta in Tegame – (mussel soup with garlic toast)

Gnocchi in fresh tomato, basal sauce

Pasta in Garlic Cream Sauce

Straccotto -  (Tuscan Pot Roast)

Pollo alla campagnola – (country roast chicken)

Fagioli all'uccelletto - (white beans with Italian sausage)  

There is little that can reduce me to a quivering puddle of tears quicker than a Puccini opera, particularly when sung by Luciano_Pavarotti.  A friend of mine once said that when Puccini sat down at his piano to compose Madama Butterfly he said, “...today I’m-a gonna write an opera.  She’s-a gonna make-a Geraldine cry...”

 MADAMA BUTTERFLY                 LA BOHEME                       TOSCA