Above: twilight in the Val d’Orcia (Orcia River Valley) is stunning. The sun was setting as my friend Ben and I arrived yesterday evening.
Whenever I come to Montalcino, Trattoria Il Pozzo in Sant’Angelo in Colle is at the top of my list. It’s one of the few classic trattorie that has remained unchanged since I first came here nearly twenty years ago. The cuisine is traditional Val d’Orcia fare, no frills and no fuss. And while the arista di maiale (the roast rack of pork loin) is excellent at Il Pozzo, one of the highlights of any trip to Montalcino is always the restaurant’s fiorentina, the Tuscan porterhouse (made from gigantic Chianina cows slaughtered young).
My dinner at Il Pozzo always begins with an assortment of crostini: chicken liver and spleen, tomato, and caramelized onions.
Pinci or pici are traditional hand-rolled long noodles, made with just flour, salt, and water. I like mine with ragù.
Ben had his with mushrooms. Also very good…
We had our choice of steaks: I would have liked to order the large one with the tenderloin, but in my book it’s the striploin that counts (more flavorful) and I didn’t want to overdo it on my first night in Montalcino.
Now that’s one MEAN PIECE OF STEAK!!! I’ve been to Il Pozzo with winemakers in the past and the ladies who own and run it are always cool about bringing your own wine. But last night we just did a simple old-school, food-friendly “locally produced” Sangiovese.
Trattoria Il Pozzo
Piazza del pozzo, 2
Sant’Angelo in Colle
53024 – Montalcino (SI) Italia
Tel. 0577.844015
closed Tuesdays
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I am currently blogging from Le Logge, a classic Montalcino mainstay, and the ONLY place I can find to get online in this town!
I can’t find a listing on Google for Le Logge (man, this place is old school, but how cool is that, that they have free wifi? Some German girl at an enoteca down the road overheard me asking about internet and hipped me to it. There’s no sign or anything.).
So I’m just reading the address from the street: 1 Via Giacomo Matteotti.
That’s 2005 Canalicchio di Sopra in my glass. I think that Canalicchio may have declassified some of its Brunello in 05 (a warm vintage) and this wine is drinking really well right now.
Do Bianchi 
oh my god that steak! that steak! ora, sono senza parole anch’io.
wow….what a hunk! ( o’ meat, that is)
you’d need at least half a bottle to wash that enormous sucker down.
Sitting in the Denver Airport right now waiting for my bird to Italy and DAMN that food looks good. I will me sure to stop in at the places you listed, some rustic sangio and a half a cow sounds good right now.
CHE FAME!!
Fortunately the net doesn’t transmit the flavor otherwise it would be a torture….