Sans Plans in Paris | In Which We Are Torta Lesson

Sans Plans in Paris | In Which We Are Torta Lesson


One of the famed local delicacies of Pisa is torta co’ bischeri, a tart of pastry, chocolate, pinenuts and candied fruit. The filling, though delicious, is quite heavy and, well, filling! These days in Pisa, it is not always easy to find one, they’re not really something you can get everywhere. So we were very excited when we passed by a little pasticceria and saw they had torte co’ bischeri for sale:




So we purchased one, posthaste! It was nicely wrapped up in a brown paper package tied up with string… hmm, perhaps this shall become one of my favourite things. Yes, I suppose that was a little obvious. But you try coming up with clichés at the drop of a hat. Oh leave me alone. Onward!



A rustic Italian package just crying to be opened up and eaten in onesitting. But what terrible delights are really contained within?

There is much debate about what the ‘bischeri’ in torta co’ bischeri means. Signora Can-guru believes that it refers to the pinenuts sprinkled on top. I would hate to argue with a real Italian mamma. But other internet experts believe it refers to the pastry horns or strips laid over the top of said pie. Bischeri is also commonly used to refer to a stupid or naive person. What do stupid people have to do with this pie, I hear you ask?



There are pastry objects, pine nuts, and possibly stupid people atop this pie. Which is it?!

Read more: Sans Plans in Paris | In Which We Are Torta Lesson