Ristorante 13 Gobbi in Montefollonico

We were given a tip-off that we should go to Montefollonico near Montepulciano and Pienza, where there is a restaurant with a really special house special. So in these last couple of weeks we are fitting in as many experiences and creating as many memories as we can, to tide us over the time before we can return.

Ristorante 13 Gobbi is easily located just inside the porta, the old gate. It was a lovely 29 degrees and we were seated in the prettiest outdoor setting with ancient rock walls oozing charm, an old wine press and pots and pots of multi-coloured flowers.

We started with local oil and bread then Kel followed that with carpaccio of beef and I had a strawberry, melon and prosciutto salad with a drizzle of balsamic. We had a glass of Vino Nobile de Montepulciano DOC, local to the area.

The house special is a tagliatelle pasta cooked then stirred in a large wheel of mature pecorino cheese. It is stirred around and the wall of the cheese scraped until the pasta is nicely coated with the gooey delicious cheese. A twist of pepper and it is ready to enjoy. It is such a speciality of 13 Gobbi that almost every person present had this dish. It is a photo opportunity as the chef brings the pasta to the wheel of pecorino which is placed in the centre of the dining area and mixes and serves it whilst you watch.

I can assure you that it was really special!

We have only had dessert a hand full of times but today we weakened and Kel had an excellent tiramisù (if it doesn't have marscapone in it then it is not in the running for tiramisù excellence.) I had almond and pear cake.

After this most enjoyable lunch we had to be like Inspector Montalbano and walk it off. We looked around the little village of Montefollonico admiring the beauty of its walls which are made from a mix of rocks and bricks. It is a stately fortress town and has incredible views for miles around.

As we were fairly close to Pienza we took the opportunity to run an errand for Cate. She had run out of her favourite pasta herbs and sent us an SOS... and there was a gelato opportunity there too!