Walk down from Cortona’s upper piazza and enter Hostaria La Bucaccia, to be greeted and seated by Franceschina, little Francesca, daughter of owners Romano and Agostina Magi. With a captivating smile, your preferences in water are taken and menus served. The ambiance of La Bucaccia feels slightly mid-evil with its antique wooden beams, delicate lighting, and copious artifacts lining the single-room dining room. After you have had time you review the evening’s offerings, you will be greeted by Romano, who will describe the typical Tuscan dishes he recommends for the evening. La Bucaccia, as impressed upon us by Romano, is a family restaurant that is the embodiment and result of generations of family customs. Romano’s wife, Agostina is the chief chef, his mother still works in the kitchen, and Franceschina is on her way to carrying on the family’s culinary traditions. Each dish is prepared to order and is served exactly how I like it, portions large enough to satisfy, but small enough to allow the tasting of multiple dishes and flavors. The food is highly traditional of the Tuscan region, featuring the freshest of vegetables, finely prepared pastas with well-complimented sauces, phenomenal meats, and dolci made in house. After the meal, if you choose to leave before Romano insists on serving you an assortment of some of the region’s finest cheeses, you will have missed out. If you are so inspired after your meal, we recommend you return the next day for a cooking class. Agostina and Romano have developed a unique cooking school, which can accommodate one couple or large parties, and customizes a menu for the class based on the fresh ingredients available that day. Agostina insists on working individually with each of her students, coaching them in the artistic construction of each dish through till you are ready to enjoy it. Overall, the restaurant is a fantastic representation of Tuscan cuisine, with a great ambience and enjoyable family atmosphere that you will definitely love.
