In this post, I’ll be introducing you to none other than her majesty Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the most renowned Italian beefsteak. It’s a sacred food in Florence, so don’t mess with it.
Dripdrip, I’m truly sorry.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina, also known as La Fiorentina, is a loin steak on the bone that is grilled to rare (al sangue). The level of doneness is non-negotiable; if you want your steak medium or well done, you’re asking for trouble. The steak is obtained from the sirlion of a young steer (vitellone) or heifer (scottona) of the Chianina breed. This breed is reared in wild or semi-wild conditions. The steak weighs 1 to 1.5 kg and is 5 to 6 cm thick. In Tuscany, they have a strict, minimalist approach to the Florentine steak and enforce a zero-tolerance policy against barbarism. They salt the meat, but don’t add lemon, olive oil or any kind of sauce. They do, however, serve a side dish, which is either a salad or cannellini beans dressed in oil; the latter is a dish in and of itself, called cannellini all’olio.
Since I like to add interesting facts about Italian words from time to time, I can’t help but discuss the etymology of bistecca. You’re not going to believe it, but of all people, the English had something to do with this…the English! I’m sorry, but this is amusing. There are two main theories. The first is that in the Middle Ages, a group of English knights was in Florence for the feast of St Laurence. When they were served this particular steak, they called it beefsteak. The term spread and was adapted into Italian. The second theory is that powerful English families living in Florence in the ninth century used the term beefsteak to refer to this steak. Either way, something is amiss here. According to etymonline.com, the term beefsteak wasn’t coined until the 1700s. Nevertheless, the Daily Mail or Channel 4 should present this as England’s greatest contribution to food and run the headline, "England’s finest moment: when our lads taught the bloody Italians how to name their own food." Dripdrip, I’m joking. Please don’t be mad at me.
Linda, Tuscany has countless second courses, but the Florentine steak is a must if you love meat. Just be careful because a Chianina steak costs a fortune, between 40 and 60 euros a kilo (it’s the same in dollars). Also, bear in mind that the meat is kept for weeks or even months in dry-aging chambers; the longer the better. If you find a cheaper Florentine steak, it’s not Chianina and there’s no point in ordering it.
The French call us rosbifs, so we are associated with beef. There were lots of English mercenaries in and around Florence at the end of the fourteenth century, so they weren't just there on one day in the whole of the Middle Ages. I'm trying to imagine why the name would stick if it was only used once by foreigners. Did the Florentines all think "Thank goodness these English knights have given us something much better to call this dish than the word we've been using for centuries"? Stories like that never make sense.
I was on my way somewhere else when I realised the significance of it being the feast of St Laurence.
@Simone-, Thank you so much for that explanation! One more question about this beefsteak: how much bone is that usually? So do you usually eat that steak alone or with two persons?
@Dripdrip I agree. I only shared it because I thought it was interesting.
@LindasLinguas There's no much bone. Italians don't usually share steaks, but that doesn't mean you can't. If I were you, I'd order a steak to share (I mean you order just one steak and you share it.)
@Simone- It is interesting. Share as much as you like about the Middle Ages; I'll always be interested.
The Beefsteak part is very interesting because we call that exact same ビーフステーキ. People love calling it with the short term, ビフテキ. Sorry probably, the Japanese words doesn't make sense to you. I didn't know that we adaptted the word from Italy? maybe England too.
So, this is how ビフテキ sounds. https://forvo.com/word/%E3%83%93%E3%83%95%E3%83%86%E3%82%AD/
To me, it sounds like bistechi. That's fascinating.
Hahaha, it's awesome you can listen to Japanese! To my ears, it sounds bifuteki.