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About Trattoria Toscana

Our Story

Pietro Cinus, Chef and owner of Trattoria Toscana, was born on the breathtaking island of Sardinia. A countryside filled with wild asparagus and bright green chard, nestled up to the Mediterranean Sea overflowing with mussels, clam, fish, and squid . This is where Pietro’s taste for fresh and natural flavors developed. As a young boy, Pietro would spend his time in the kitchen with his mamma, Maria, learning all of her signature Sardinian Recipes.


sardinia lanscape of fields and hillssardinia landscape of hills and nature
 


He then later moved to Tuscany, where he lived for over 20 years, developing his skills as a chef and woodworker. Pietro’s love for high-quality food continued to flourish in the Chianti region. He frequently would venture into the forest to collect wild mushrooms and greens, hunt for wild boar and quail, and then prepare it to perfection for friends and family. For Pietro, the joy of life is to prepare a delicious meal for others to enjoy with a glass of fine wine.


beautiful landscape in tuscany of trees and hillshills of the landscape of tuscany

sardinia, a region of italy, is an island in the mediterranean sea, sardinia distinguishes itself in the kitchen with hearty pastas and a love for pungent local cheeses, like pecorino and smoked ricotta. sardinians also produce notable wines and a head-splitting firewater, filu e ferru. tuscany is a region in central italy. it is one of the most popular places to visit the country. there are several reasons to visit Tuscany. Breath-taking scenery, exquisite tuscan dining and excellent local wines.
Pietro and Blythe with their two kids

In 2007 Pietro meets Blythe, a California-native who embarked on a walking adventure through the Tuscan countryside of Italy. While they did not speak the same language, the connection was instantaneous. Several years, two kids, many language lessons, thousands of dollars in phone and plane expenses later, they are now bringing the Italian cuisine and romance of their first meeting to Temecula. He started Trattoria Toscana in a small, boutique restaurant on Ynez Rd in 2013. After almost 8 years, in April 2021, he moved to a new location, close by, in Creekside Circle, on Nicole Lane in order to offer a full bar, a lovely patio for outdoor dining, and to continue the tradition of authentic Italian food in a setting reminiscent of Italy. 

The Trattoria Toscana Difference!


Here at Trattoria Toscana, Chef Pietro draws on his Italian and Sardinian roots to bring the community a true Italian experience, transporting his guests to Italy for a delicious, enjoyable meal. He believes that the best flavors come from fresh food, using the highest quality ingredients, prepared daily, just as they do in Italy. We are a scratch kitchen.

Chef Pietro prepares his dishes with care and passion, attending to every detail. He makes the pasta and bread from scratch each day. He rolls tortelloni and ravioli by hand. His gnocchi is made in house with potatoes and imported Italian pecorino cheese, using his mother’s recipe.

You will find the staples of Italian cuisine, olive oil, and tomatoes, in many of his dishes. He chooses to use high quality, extra virgin olive and truffle oils from Italy to ensure that his dishes have true Italian authentic flavors. He sun dries tomatoes by hand using fresh, organic tomatoes to accentuate the flavors of his dishes, such as his popular dish, Pappardelle con Funghi.

Chef Pietro refrains from making his dishes far in advance, in order to preserve the tradition of serving freshly prepared food. This technique requires time for preparation and provides our guests with a leisurely dining experience, a time to relax and enjoy the company of others, sipping a lovely glass of wine, upholding Italian dining tradition. Cuisine is a passion and a past time in Italy, a time to revel in delightful flavors using just the right ingredients, and investing the time in its preparation every day. His goal is to bring this true Italian experience to our guests at Trattoria Toscana!


Dough being cut into pasta
Ravioli, Spaghetti, Linguine on a dish