Dario Cecchini
Panzano in Chianti
Antica Macelleria Cecchini
If you're walking down Via XX Luglio number 11 in Panzano in Chianti, some days you can hear the bass of AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' thumping through the narrow alley from afar. This is exactly where you'll find Antica Macelleria Cecchini – the shop of world-famous butcher Dario Cecchini! Take a peek inside, and you'll see something you wouldn't expect in a butcher shop: lots of people in the sales area, swaying to the music, a glass of red wine in one hand, a piece of fennel salami in the other. And behind the counter? Dario Cecchini himself, joking and chatting with his guests. Then, when the music switches to classical, it's not uncommon for Dario to belt out an aria in a duet with Luciano – Pavarotti, of course.
A Visit with the Famous Butcher
Dario has been running Antica Macelleria Cecchini since 1976. In almost all travel guides about Tuscany, a visit to Dario's butcher shop is listed as an absolute must-do under 'Panzano in Chianti'. Why? Simple: because from the very beginning, Dario has championed a philosophy of respect for the animal and the products derived from it. Plus, he's a gifted butcher and a real showman. Dario Cecchini himself isn't just famous in cooking circles – mega-star Jamie Oliver, for example, has immortalized him in his cookbooks. The butcher from Panzano is also invited to give talks, interviews, and attend symposiums all over the globe. Since the Netflix series *Chef's Table* featured Dario Cecchini, his international fame has grown even more.
Solociccia: Meat, meat, and more meat!
To this day, Dario says about himself: "I'm not a cook, not a chef – I'm a butcher!" So, he simply calls his butcher shop "Macelleria con Cucina" – a butcher shop with a kitchen. At Dario's, you can not only shop and try his products, but also fully indulge your meat cravings with three different food concepts! More than ten years ago, Dario opened his first restaurant called Solociccia. Solociccia means "only meat" – and that's exactly what was served back then and still is today: just meat. This restaurant concept was how Dario first brought his own meat dishes to the table.
Products from old recipes
For Dario, it's super important to bring old recipes, thought to be lost, back to life! You'll love the fennel salami, Burro del Chianti, and Sushi del Chianti (a beef tartare). A local specialty is Tonno del Chianti: pork that looks and tastes just like tuna. Dario isn't just a master of meat; he's also amazing at everything that goes with it, like his mustard and Mostarda Mediterranea. And get this, the poetic name Il Profumo del Chianti is actually an aromatic herb salt! Under Dario Cecchini's label, you'll also find excellent extra virgin olive oil and dried fennel blossoms called Fiore di Finocchio.
To beef or not to beef!
One floor above the Macelleria, you'll find the Officina della Bistecca. The whole idea here is to cook Bistecca alla Fiorentina and its different versions on a charcoal grill. When it first started, there was just one table for up to 20 guests. The concept was a massive hit and grew super fast, so Dario expanded pretty quickly. Today, guests get to enjoy Dario's meat in several courses, starting with Sushi del Chianti, then moving on to three types of Bistecca: Costata alla Fiorentina, Bistecca Panzanese (that's the Panzano style of Bistecca), and finally, Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Dario himself presents the juicy grilled meat with his legendary words: To beef or not to beef!
