Variety: "Incantatore" Type: Rosso di Treviso Tardivo Days to Maturity: 100-110
In our opinion, the forced winter chicories represent the absolute pinnacle of grace and culinary joy in the radicchio family. Distinctively elegant in appearance, “Incantatore" has long slender burgundy leaves with pure white mid-ribs that curl fancifully inwards at the tip. Produced primarily around the town of Treviso, in the Veneto region of northern Italy, this type of radicchio is known as Rosso di Treviso Tardivo and is traditionally “forced", or brought inside (roots and all) in late fall/early winter after growing for months in the field to produce a second, deliciously tender growth in the heart of the rosette. The practice originates from historically lean times when poor rural populations sought out sources of winter-time nourishment. Plants that produced a core of edible greens in the coldest months of the year when brought inside barns and cellars became food of necessity. Ironically many have now come to be thought of as gourmet culinary treasures like Belgian endive, Treviso Tardivo, and Rosa di Gorizia. The first Italian vegetable to gain IGP, a European protected status for special food products specific to a place of origin (similar to many wines and cheeses) radicchio, Treviso tardivo was celebrated with a producers exhibition in 1900 which, interrupted only by wartime years, has been held every year since. Use raw in salads, grilled, roasted, sautéed with risotto or pasta. A true source of joy
While some strains of tardivo produce a blanched core even in the field setting, we strongly encourage you to take the extra step of forcing which produces the most tender midribs and unquestionably superior eating quality. It is worth the additional effort. Tardivo has always reminded us of hooded snakes standing upright, hence our name for the strain Incantatore, Italian for “charmer”. As a reference point for those familiar with other strains on the market in the US, ours slots right in the middle in days to maturity between "Sile Precoce" and "Sile Tardivo" and is, in our opinion perfectly suited to our PNW growing conditions, producing a bigger head than the extra early varieties, while still being able to be forced in time for the Thanksgiving market. 100-110 days + forcing. UO
