Curiosities

Where does the term runoff come from? If you pass by Florence, stop for a visit to the Tower of the Chestnut, famous because the Priors of the Arts gathered there (they were the magistrates appointed to govern the city before the Signoria was established, called of the Arts because they also administered justice in disputes between the various associations, the Arts, which represented the productive population of the time). Sometimes to avoid pressure and intrusion and to not be influenced by politicians, bankers, and merchants, the Priors locked themselves in conclave (Cum clave meaning under key) in the tower. The name of the tower comes from the fact that the Priors voted by inserting or not inserting chestnuts into a bag and then comparing the number of voters with that of the chestnuts. But in Florentine, chestnuts are called “ballotte” from which the term runoff, commonly used even today, derives.

To prepare the necci, I used a simple pan, but in reality, to make necci properly, you should use iron texts: two 8-inch discs with long handles necessary to hold them over the fire without burning yourself. In the past, terracotta texts were used to heat over the fireplace embers. The texts, then lined with chestnut leaves, were stacked on a rack where the necci could cook slowly.

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