BY GIULIA FISCA
After a relaxing walk in the seaside townlet of Castiglione della Pescaia, where the disarming beauty of the landscape brings the spirit back to an ancient feeling harmony with nature, we just have to stop in Via IV Novembre at the Merenderia Riserva Naturale. Here Sergio and Lorenzo await in their little cornershop of delights: a myriad of flavours, fragrances and colours will overwhelm us, as food is transformed into a real and absolute experience.
At the Merenderia Riserva Naturale you can try out and also buy natural products, prepared according to old traditional recipes, all strictly Italian and with in particular many Maremma specialities.
In 2017 Sergio and Lorenzo took over a pre-existing business and created from scratch their very original shop, where every product has been researched in detail, and each food item has its own particular story. Some products here, both for sale and to eat in are Organic or without gluten, lactose or preservatives. The soups, cheeses, cured meats are all produced at low food miles distances and come from small local producers which, in addition to genuineness, guarantees unique and authentic tastes.
The list of specialities is really long: you can choose from burrata, ricotta, mozzarella, cold cuts and fresh truffles as well as panzanella enriched with local vegetables, legume soups, ribollite and tomato soup. To ensure freshness and quality the list changes according to the season. Products such as ricotta, yoghurt, cheese and burrata are in fact offered only during specific times of the year, that is when the raw materials and their derivatives are available at the highest level of quality.
Sergio and Lorenzo have chosen only the highest quality gastronomic producers and farms for their range, as for example the Pira brothers of Tenuta Il Radichino who provide completely natural high nutritional value unpasteurized raw milk. Exclusive salamis from Cinta Senese pigs – a DOP breed – are raised and butchered according to venerable Tuscan tradition. Extra Virgin Olive Oil always has a special place for the unmistakable touch it generously delivers to so many dishes and salads. Here they offer Tuscan oils direct including the Olivastra di Seggiano oil, an award winning DOP product.
Finally you can try renowned classic local wines like Vermentino, Montecucco and Morellino. Their natural biodynamic wines deserve a separate mention being wines which please the most refined and sensitive connoisseurs and enthusiasts due to the absence of added sulphites.
Sergio and Lorenzo’s love for their business was recognised in 2020 by Travellers’ Choice and numerous positive reviews have allowed them to expand their client base and they are rightfully among the first places in lists on Trip Advisor.
In 2019/2020 the Merenderia received the Certificate of Excellence.
Info: Merenderia Riserva Naturale, Via IV Novembre 8, Castiglione della Pescaia (Gr)/ Tel. 338 540 6847/ www.riservanaturale.it/ info@riservanaturale.it