A lot of restaurants claim to have authentic Tuscan fare. But at Sapori Italian Restaurant in Lexington, co-owner Karen van Heerden has tested and perfected her recipes in the most authentic of places: Tuscany.

An Italian word meaning “flavors” or “tastes,” Sapori opened in Lexington in August. Since that time, van Heerden has been serving up dishes such as Mediterranean risotto – creamy risotto with lumb crab meat, fresh parsley and lemon served with grilled scallops, shrimp and finished with a lemon butter sauce –and fresh tuna carpaccio – made with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mango, cucumber and avocado with a sweet lime dressing and basil-infused olive oil.