Local markets and good food

Tuesday is Poggibonsi market day.  Poggibonsi is our nearest large shopping town, about 20 minutes drive away.  There are a number of large supermarkets, a couple of big industrial estates and lots of ugly buildings.  Unfortunately Poggi, as it is called by us locals(!), was hit very badly in the Second World War and was not sympathetically restored.  It thrives as a community and holds, arguably, the best food market in Tuscany every Tuesday morning. Poggi market is the reason I tend to cook for our guests on a Wednesday.  I buy all of our Pecorino and parmesan from Andrea Frati who runs a small stall with his brother that they have taken over from their mother and grandfather.  They don't make the cheese but they do make their own salscicca (Italian sausages, 100% meat and delicious) and their own porchetta.  Porchetta is Tuscan barbeque!  Slow roasted over night with rosemary, sage and fennel, it is served in slices.  I find everyone elses very salty, too salty but Andrea's is delicately spiced and seasoned, the meat is tender and the crackling is delcious and crunchy.  In my opinion, this is the best porchetta in Tuscany!  I buy my fruit and veg from a lady and her daughter who grow their own produce and sell dried beans, homemade 6 year old Vin Santo (desert wine), homemade salsas and honey.  I know when I buy from them that the food is ripe and seasonal and therefore delicious and good for us.  When you come to Italy food is bound to be one of your reasons for coming so don't miss out on your nearest street market.  Don't be put off by the language, many market holders won't speak English but pointing is a universal language and they will automatically offer up cheeses and meats for you to try before you buy.  See our website for a list of markets closest to us (http://www.patrignone.com/57/markets.html)