Dario Cecchini
Antica Macelleria Cecchini
Welcome to Antica Macelleria Cecchini
When you approach Via XX Luglio number 11 in Panzano in Chianti, on some days you can hear from a distance the bass of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" rumbling through the narrow alley. Right there is the Antica Macelleria Cecchini of the world famous butcher Dario Cecchini! If you take a look into the shop, you will find something you wouldn't expect in a butcher's shop: lots of people standing in the sales room, moving under the rhythm of the music, a glass of red wine in one hand, a piece of fennel salami in the other. And behind the counter: Dario Cecchini, joking and chatting with his guests. And when the music changes to classical, it can happen that Dario smashes an aria in a duet with Luciano (Pavarotti of course).
As guest of the famous butcher
Dario has been running the Antica Macelleria Cecchini since 1976. In almost all travel guides about Tuscany you will find as an absolute must a visit to Dario's butcher's shop in the section for "Panzano in Chianti" . Why? Quite simple: because Dario has always had a philosophy of appreciation for the animal and the products made from it. He is also a gifted butcher and a real showman. Dario Cecchini is not only famous amidst the cooking circles, but the mega star Jamie Oliver has immortalized him in his cookbooks as well. The Panzanese butcher is often invited to lectures, interviews and symposia around the globe.
Products according to old recipes
It is important for Dario to give a new life to almost lost old recipes! The Fennel salami or the Burro del Chiant, as well as the Sushi del Chianti (which is a Beef Tartar) are a real treat for the palate. A regional speciality is Tonno del Chianti: pork that looks and tastes like tuna. Dario is not only a master in terms of meat, but also in everything that goes with it: for example Dario's mustard and Mostarda Mediterranea. The poetic name Il Profumo del Chianti is nothing less than an aromatic herbal salt. Under the Dario Cecchini label there is also an excellent extra virgin olive oil and dried fennel flowers called Fiore di Finocchio.
To beef or not to beef!
Officina della Bistecca is situated one floor above the Macelleria. The main idea is to prepare Bistecca alla Fiorentina and its variants on the charcoal grill. In the beginning there was only one table, which was meant for a maximum of 20 guests. The concept had a resounding success and developed rapidly, so that Dario had to enlarge quickly. Today, Dario's guests can try meat in several courses, starting with Sushi del Chianti and passing through the three variants of Bistecca, Costata alla Fiorentina, Bistecca Panzanese, i.e. the Panzano variant of Bistecca, and last but not least Bistecca alla Fiorentina. The perfectly grilled piece of meat is presented by Dario himself with his legendary words: To beef or not to beef!
Solociccia: Meat, meat and again meat!
Even today Dario himself says: "I'm not a cook, not a chef - I'm a butcher!" That´s why he simply calls his butcher's shop "Macelleria con Cucina" - i.e. butcher's shop with kitchen. Because at Dario`s you can not only buy and try his products, but you can also indulge in the delights of the meat at 100 %. Because he has three different food concepts. More than ten years ago Dario opened its first restaurant with the name Solociccia. Solociccia means "meat only" - and that's exactly what was served and is still served there: only meat. This way Dario brought his own meat dishes to the table for the first time.
