Cake Travels - My Tuscan Cake Adventure

Apologies for the lack of blog posts over the last week or so, I've been stuck in Tuscany!  It originally started as a week off in the sun but due to an Italian transport workers strike and a very unhelpful airline my flight home was cancelled and not rescheduled until a few days later.  Woe is me, such a hardship! :)

It did however give me a bit more time for sightseeing (que a day in Pisa holding up the leaning tower) and more importantly cake tasting!!

I felt it was my duty to taste as many sweet treats as I could while in Tuscany and in this duty I did not fail!  Italians really know their sweet treats and everything I tasted was absolutely delicious.  Highlights included biscotti, white chocolate parfait drizzled in dark chocolate, panna cotta and of course lots and lots of gelato! 

But by far the yummiest I found in a restaurant called Fufluns in Cortona.  If you ever get the chance to visit Cortona in Tuscany you must go and have a meal in Fufluns (http://www.fuflunssnc.it/default.asp).  I've been visiting Cortona for around five years now and tried many of the restaurants there but not one has ever beaten Fufluns.  I'd probably go as far to say that its my favourite Italian restaurant and the desert menu did not disappoint.  I chose the Zuccotto which is a traditiona Tuscan cake which was handmade at the restaurant.

It's a chilled desert consisting of a chocolate ice cream like substance covered in a dome of cake, drenched in liquor and convered in chocolate sauce.  Almost like a sophisticated arctic role covered in booze, what's not to love!!  Apparently the desert originated in Florence and the shape is inspired by the dome of Florence's famous duomo.

I've discovered a great Zuccotto recipe by Gennaro Contaldo over on BBC Food which also features one of my favourite Italian drinks, Limocello (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/zuccottoallimoncello_74818).  I will give it a go and let you know how I get on!