Introducing Chef Daniele Sera and Tosca restaurant at Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
Restaurant: Tosca
Location: Tuscany
Cuisine: Italian
Italian-born and raised, Chef Daniele Sera spent his childhood years between Liguria and Tuscany, greatly influenced by the abundant produce of the diverse landscape and by his mother who passed her passion for cooking to him. His culinary ethos expresses his deep connection with his Tuscan-Ligurian roots, a passion for the finest seasonal ingredients, and a great appreciation for local farms and artisan producers.
His experiences span 40 years of travelling and working in Michelin-starred kitchens, including Le Jardin at the Hotel Royal Monceau in Paris, Domaine Les Crayères in Reims, and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. These gave him the skills to represent his home country in international kitchens and competitions. In 2011 the time came to lead his own kitchen when he accepted a position as Executive Chef at the medieval farm estate of Castello di Casole in his home region of Tuscany.
Over the years, Chef Daniele, along with Executive Sous Chef Michele Raggi, his right hand man for the past 17 years, have curated exceptional menus that pay homage to the best of the region and the property’s 1,300-hectare surroundings. Their skills and experience meld perfectly with their innate understanding of one of Italy’s most celebrated regions, complemented by the estate’s sustainable practices.
Nestled within the castle estate, the fine dining venue Tosca showcases Chef Daniele’s relationship with local farmers and fishermen, along with his farm-to-table philosophy focusing on seasonality and appreciation for pure ingredients. Working hand in hand with the estate’s gardeners, Daniele grows the produce to maximise sustainable food production. Resulting in dishes averaging three ingredients, created with respect to the flavour and nature of the produce, evoking memories of a stunning landscape.
The food offering follows a farm-to-table concept where biodiversity and experimentation take centre stage with seasonal cultivation rotating more than one hundred varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and edible flowers, ranging from rare peculiarities from all over the world to the classics of traditional gardens, such as artichokes, lavender, radishes and more.
Menu highlights include the likes of squid stuffed with Certaldo onion and Mugello potato cream; cappellaci pasta filled with ‘pappa al pomodoro’, mozzarella and basil; and roasted quail with garden roots, aromatic herbs, and vin santo reduction among others. Dishes are complemented by estate-grown red wine, honey, and olive oil as Castello di Casole aims to achieve and maximise complete self-sufficiency.
Chef Daniele Sera is available for interviews, cooking demonstrations, social media collaborations, and projects focusing on farm-to-table cuisine and sustainable practices.
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For further information on Daniele Sera and Tosca at Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany please contact Lotus Land Agency at belmond@lotusinternational.net | Tel +44 20 7751 5812
For further information on Castello Di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany please contact Benedetta Sardelli at benedetta.sardelli@belmond.com | Tel +39 334 6700675
Please find press media imagery for Castello Di Casole here.
Address: Località Querceto, 53031 Casole d'Elsa SI, Italy
Instagram belmondcastellodicasole
ABOUT CASTELLO DI CASOLE, A BELMOND HOTEL, TUSCANY
A former 10th century castle, Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany retains the ambience of a private country house, with 39 suites. It is a gateway to the wonders of rural Italy – rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards – as well as Tuscan towns Siena, Florence and San Gimignano. The property’s identity is deeply rooted in its agricultural past, stretching back to 7th Century BC, with Etruscan artefacts found across the 3,200 acres of land. These are on display throughout the hotel, most prevalent across the Essere spa, housed in the estate’s former wine cellars with barrel vaulted ceilings and restored stone walls. The property’s cuisine is a celebration of its surroundings, with a farm-to-table concept and a focus on simple and fresh produce, cultivated in the Orti del Castello – the hotel’s vegetable garden. Tosca offers guests a fine dining experience whilst Emporio del Castello promotes authentic Tuscan dining, and for the more casual poolside moment, there is the Castello Grill. The region’s famous landscape can be discovered through a range of activities, from stargazing, hiking and biking to wine tasting and truffle hunting. Guests can opt for secluded Etruscan luxury in the two recently opened private villas - Villa Thesan and Villa Usil. Inspired by the estate’s heritage, both villas reflect the codes of Tuscan tradition and boast outstanding views of the surrounding countryside.
ABOUT DANIELE SERA
Chef Daniele Sera spent his formative years growing up between the neighbouring regions of Liguria and Tuscany in Italy’s northwest. Greatly influenced by the abundance of produce from this diverse landscape, with its long coastline bordered by mountain ranges and hills, his food reflects his deep Tuscan-Ligurian roots. His career included extensive travelling and working in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, including the St Regis Grand Hotel in Rome, Le Jardine at the Hotel Royal Monceau in Paris, Domaine Les Crayères in Reims and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence.
In 2011 Daniele returned to his home region and the team at the mediaeval farm estate of Castello di Casole near Siena. A place where he creates dishes that simply honour the natural world that surrounds him. The result is menus that are primarily driven by flavour but are created to evoke memories of a stunning landscape, celebrating the self-sufficiency and sustainability afforded by a centuries-old estate of historical and agricultural significance.
ABOUT BELMOND
Belmond was born from a passion for connecting discerning travellers with the world’s most remarkable properties, locations and journeys. From hotels and trains to river cruises and safaris, Belmond curates incomparable experiences and crafts unforgettable stories. With a legacy spanning over 45 years, since the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has grown into a global collection of 47 properties spread across 28 countries and territories. Exceptional destinations connected by legendary journeys are the very soul of Belmond, where the path that brings you to a place is as important as the destination itself. A pioneer of slow travel, Belmond has been operating the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since 1982. The group later expanded to include pristine beach resorts, such as Maroma on the Riviera Maya, historic hideaways such as Villa San Michele in the Florentine foothills, urbane icons, such as Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and gateways to UNESCO world heritage sites, such as Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. As proud custodians of storied properties, Belmond is committed to building on the past to create a new legacy: the heritage of the future. Working with communities and local talents, together with the world's most respected chefs, designers and artists, Belmond continues its purpose of perpetuating the legendary art of travel. Since 2019, Belmond has been part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton). www.belmond.com