• My Account
  • Cart
Items: 0

Especially Puglia

From Puglia to your table

  • About
  • Adopt
    • adopt_an_olivetree
      Adopt an Olive Tree from Puglia
    • menu-adopt_a_beehive
      Adopt a Beehive from Puglia
    • adopt_a_cow
      Adopt a Cow from Puglia
    • Adopt an Olive Tree
    • Adopt a Beehive
    • Adopt a Cow
  • Farmers
  • Blog
  • Visit Puglia
  • Shop

We’re Dreaming of the Delicious Bread of Altamura During Quarantine! Here’s Why it’s Special

Jul 06 2020

Altamura Bread

“Altamura bread, by far the best bread to be had, so good that the wise traveller takes a supply with him for his onward journey.” (Horace’s Satires) 

It seems that everyone is making bread lately and we really aren’t surprised. After all, breadmaking can be incredibly therapeutic and the reward of warm, carb-y goodness after all that kneading and patient waiting is even more enticing. Breadmaking has been around since the Stone Age, so there is something about making bread that taps into our primal desires to nourish and provide sustenance to ourselves and our families (as if you needed another excuse to make bread). 

Whether you’re a bread connoisseur or just a lover of carbs, the bread of Altamura (or pane di Altamura) should be on everyone’s radar. The Roman poet Horace claimed it was the best bread he’s ever eaten and we’re not about to argue with him. After all, this is the only PDO-protected bread among Italy’s 1,000 types, which means that in order for it to truly be a loaf from Altamura it has to be made from local ingredients (look, Italians are serious about the quality of their food!). 

Altamura bread is incredibly versatile, which means that you can break into this crusty loaf and enjoy on its own, with a generous drizzle of olive oil or with fresh herbs, vine-picked tomatoes and fresh pecorino. This bread is the perfection combo of soft, doughy insides encapsulated by a satisfyingly crunchy exterior (that must be at least 3mm thick), which also keeps it perfectly preserved for a few days without drying out. 

If you love bread as much as we do, then a trip to Puglia is the ultimate foodie’s pilgrimage. After all, there is no better place in the world than one that includes heaping plates of hand-rolled pasta, local olive oil, freshly picked vegetables, warm homemade Altamura bread and flowing wine. Ah yes, now that’s la dolce vita!  

While we may not know what travel will look like over the next few months, once things start to take on some semblance of normal and people begin to jet set once again, we’d love to take you on a trek through the rolling wheat fields and olive groves of Puglia, where sun-bleached homes loom over dramatic Adriatic coastlines and the famed alabaster stone hunts of Alberobello beckon like an Italian fairy tale. 

You’ll visit small organic and sustainable farms, enjoy wine tastings among the local vineyards, take a culinary tour of the small towns that make up Puglia and you’ll even learn how to make pasta. Once it’s safe for us to travel again, we do hope you’ll join us for food, frivolity and some much-needed dolce far niente in Puglia. In the meantime, we hope that you are finding some stress relief through baking and breadmaking; we certainly are. 

 

Posted by Editor · Categorized: FarmStay, Visit Puglia · Tagged: Homecooking, italian food, Italian holiday, slow food, slowfood

Explore

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oils
  • FarmStay
  • General
  • Honey
  • Pugliese Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Seasonality
  • Visit Puglia
  • Wine

Newsletter

Follow Us @EspeciallyPuglia

especiallypuglia

Especially Puglia
🎄While in the US the start of the Christmas sea 🎄While in the US the start of the Christmas season is for-most people-after Thanksgiving, in Italy the unofficial kick off is December 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception or “l’Immacolata Concezione” holiday. Today is traditionally the day that Italians decorate the tree, start shopping for Christmas presents, towns light their Christmas trees, and families get together for the “starter meal” for the following holidays.

Buona Festa!

📍Alberobello and Locorotondo

#EspeciallyPuglia
🌿 Sneak peaks from our fall tour and farmstay i 🌿 Sneak peaks from our fall tour and farmstay in Puglia. A weeklong multisensory-immersion into the local culture, exploring Pugliese gastronomy, masserias, UNESCO cultural heritage sites, learning sessions with local cheese, wine, and olive oil makers, and a rich understanding of the Slow Food culture in Puglia.

Michele meticulously crafts the tour itineraries to give you an insider’s look at Puglia that you can’t find in the guidebooks.

Stay tuned for more updates and announcements on upcoming tours!

#Farmstay #EspeciallyPuglia #EspeciallyPugliaTours
Fall in Puglia means it’s “sagra” season, wh Fall in Puglia means it’s “sagra” season, where different towns throw festivals, usually centered around local food and wine. You can visit Ruvo di Puglia for their annual “Cardoncello Mushroom Festival”, Conversano for the “Novello Sotto il Castello” festival, or Noci for the “Bacco Nelle Gnostre” festival, just to name a few!

Tastings, wine, music, and craft markets are some of the features of these local town festivals, making Puglia an exciting place to visit even in the colder months!

#EspeciallyPuglia #VisitPuglia
A behind the scenes look at Harvest Season 2023! 🌿

It’s autumn which means it’s time for us to embrace the annual olive harvest, honoring our dedication to sustainable farming and year-round olive tree care. Crafting the purest Extra Virgin Olive Oil begins in our four partner groves, where our olives thrive on family-run, organic farms. Careful hand-picking at peak ripeness ensures only the best make it into our delicious EVOO. 

Happy Harvest season! 🫒 

#EspeciallyPuglia #OliveHarvest #Puglia
Grilled peaches with burrata, prosciutto, pesto, p Grilled peaches with burrata, prosciutto, pesto, pistachios, mint, & honey, also known as summer on a plate! ☀️ Make this for any gathering this summer and we guarantee your friends will keep coming back for more. Get the full recipe and details in our latest blog post!

#EspeciallyPuglia #puglia  #summerrecipes
You've heard of la dolce vita, but have you heard You've heard of la dolce vita, but have you heard of "il dolce far niente?" It's a concept Italians have mastered, which translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing," meaning to notice and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. We think that's pretty "dolce!"
When life gives you lemons, squeeze them over seaf When life gives you lemons, squeeze them over seafood! 🍋 Squeezing fresh lemon onto your catch of the day is the trick that will take your plate to the next level.
What’s on your plate?

#especiallypuglia #puglia #tastepuglia #seafood
“Seas” the day with a big plate of seafood pas “Seas” the day with a big plate of seafood pasta! Squid ink calamarata pasta with clams (“vongole” in Italian) and fresh herbs is a delicious combination, perfect for refueling after a day at the beach. Buon appetito! 🦑

#EspeciallyPuglia #Puglia  #eatpuglia #pugliacooking #seafoodpasta
🎵 Life could be a dream Sh-boom, if I could tak 🎵 Life could be a dream
Sh-boom, if I could take you to *Monopoli* 🎵

#EspeciallyPuglia #explorepuglia #pugliamia #monopolipuglia #pugliatravel
Can you recognize what fruit is growing on this tr Can you recognize what fruit is growing on this tree? That’s right; it's a pomegranate! 

Pomegranates (melograno in Italian) are one of Puglia’s oldest cultivated fruits. Not only are they delicious, but they are also bursting with nutritional benefits. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and are also great for heart health. 

In Puglia, pomegranates symbolize good fortune and abundance, and many ceramic shops sell pomegranate sculptures. Who knew pomegranates were such a big part of the Pugliese landscape? 

#Puglia #EspeciallyPuglia
This is summer in Puglia! Spending an afternoon in This is summer in Puglia! Spending an afternoon in charming beachside towns like Monopoli is the best way to spend your weekends here. A dip in the sparkling blue water, a gelato as you wander the beautiful town, or a big plate of seafood pasta while looking out at the incredible views can cure everything.

Is Monopoli, Puglia on your bucket list? 🐟

#EspeciallyPuglia #Puglia #Travel #PugliaTravel #SeafoodPasta #Monopoli
🍝🌶️ Spaghetti all’assassina or “assass 🍝🌶️ Spaghetti all’assassina or “assassin's spaghetti" is a signature dish from the capital of Puglia, Bari. The pasta is prepared using the same method that you use to cook risotto: adding small amounts of water at a time instead of boiling a whole pot of water. The pasta is cooked with chili pepper and flavorful tomato sauce (or passata di pomodoro), creating a spicy and vibrant sauce.

Because of the slow cooking process, the pasta and tomatoes burn slightly, adding the perfect smoky crunch. When tourists order the dish at restaurants, waiters warn that it is spicy and burnt, but if you know what to expect, you’ll want it anyways!

This dish is “killer!” Have you ever tried anything like this before? 🌶️
While the 4th of July fireworks may have already f While the 4th of July fireworks may have already faded in the US, in the small town of Scorrano, in the very southern tip of Puglia, the light show is just beginning!✨Every year in the first week of July, the people of Scorrano celebrate their town’s patron saint with the Festa di Santa Domenica, one of the world’s most famous religious celebrations. 

Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, Saint Domenica protected the town from a devastating plague and to honor her miraculous intervention, the townspeople began illuminating their homes with oil lamps. Today, Scorrano is the world capital of luminaries. The dazzling spectacle of fireworks and architectural light displays draws in thousands of tourists each year. 

Not only is the festival a feast for the eyes but also for the stomach, as visitors can taste some of the mouth-watering gastronomic delicacies of Puglia, such as pasticciotti, local cheeses, and wines. With this mesmerizing cultural extravaganza, your eyes and taste buds will be in for a treat! 🎇
💚❤️ Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Toda 💚❤️ Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Today, we take you to a town in Puglia, called Vico del Gargano, where Valentine's Day is also the festa patronale (or patronal festival, that is a celebration dedicated to the holy Saint protecting a town). Here, people from Vico celebrate Saint Valentine as their holy protector: he is also considered by people the preserver of oranges and olives and there is an interesting story behind it.

Check the link in our bio and story to read about our new blog article! 💚❤️

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #valentinesday #VicodelGargano #history #patronalfestival #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #italianfood #Italy #apulianfood #regionalfood #typical #traditional photo credits to @happilyontheroad
🥬🫘 Fava beans and chicory: what brings them 🥬🫘 Fava beans and chicory: what brings them together? 

The answer is simple: tradition. Especially an ancient Pugliese tradition, that comes from ancient times, being used since the times of the Greek dominion in Southern Italy.

Fava beans are made into a purè and chicory is stewed with flavors, resulting in this common and simple dish, considered by many people a comfort food; but don’t get us wrong, it is also very nutritious! It is rich in useful substances that can improve your immunity system. When you’re down, it can lift you up! 🥬🫘 

If you want to know more about it, click the link in bio or our story to read our latest blog article! 📖

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #favabeans #chicory #comfortfood #fave #cicoria #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #italianfood #Italy #apulianfood #regionalfood #typical #traditional
🍸🧀🥓🍕 Everyone knows about the Italian- 🍸🧀🥓🍕 Everyone knows about the Italian-style aperitivo, a before-dinner tradition in which people drink wine, a soft drink or cocktail and eat some snacks or appetizers to pair it.

Well, in Puglia aperitivo is even better! We usually eat fresh regional products, mainly cured meat and cheese: snacks like mozzarella fiordilatte, caciocavallo, capocollo with some taralli and a slice of focaccia pugliese.

Have you ever tried it? Share your ideas for the best aperitivo, with the products you love! 🍸🧀🥓🍕 

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #aperitivo #happyhour #curiosity #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #Italy #typical #traditional photo credits to @pugliafoodblog
💚 Do you know Pietramontecorvino? It is a medi 💚 Do you know Pietramontecorvino?

It is a medieval town, or borgo, in Puglia, known as one of the most beautiful hamlets in Italy. This small town is in the Foggia province, nearby the Dauni mountains and it is rich with history, culture and traditions, not only related to food. 

Plus, it is also our founder Michele's birthtown, where he grew up and his interest for food and culture sparked, a starting point to Especially Puglia.

When you walk these streets, you can find yourself in another dimension, in an ancient past that is still alive and kicking today. It's definitely one of the must-see places in Puglia. 💚

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #Pietramontecorvino #curiosity #history #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #Italy #typical #traditional
🍪 Do you know the taralli pugliesi? They are 🍪 Do you know the taralli pugliesi? 

They are a typical kind of Apulian salty biscuits, a very popular food in our region, that is also famously eaten all over the Italian peninsula.

Legend says that they were born in the XV century, because of a bread famine that hit Puglia: that is why Italian housewives decided to prepare a substitute to it, by using what they had available at home.

Their dough is made with olive oil, wheat flour and water, but it can also be seasoned with fennel seeds, onions, olives, cheese and pepper and rosemary. 🍪

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #taralli #tarallini #curiosity #history #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #italianfood #Italy #apulianfood #regionalfood #typical #traditional
❄️🥦 Winter in Puglia means turnip greens se ❄️🥦 Winter in Puglia means turnip greens season! But what are they? 

They are the non-bloomed flowers of the turnip, very common in our cuisine and they can be used in many ways: the most common is to use them as the main ingredient for orecchiette con le cime di rapa, a pillar of this regional gastronomy!

They are also rich in useful substances, such as vitamins, minerals and polyphenols and they taste bitter and pungent, giving a nice flavor to the food preparations. So, what are you waiting for? You should definitely try them out! ❄️🥦

Check the link in our bio and story to read our latest blog article. 📝

#Puglia #pugliese #Apulian #cimedirapa #turnipgreens #orecchiette #pasta #foodie #NewYork #NewYorkCity #italianfood #Italy #apulianfood #regionalfood #typical #traditional photo credits: @pugliakitchen
The final day of 2022 is upon us. Here are Especi The final day of 2022 is upon us.  Here are Especially Puglia we wish you many great moments, meals, and memories in 2023.  Click the link in bio to sign up for our Newsletter and learn about upcoming experiences in Puglia.  Make this a year to remember and get closer to the ingredients that you love.  Join one of our culinary tours this Spring and Fall and see Italy like you've never seen it before.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Connect With Us

Stay In Touch

   

Programs

  • Adopt an Olive Tree
  • Adopt a Beehive
  • Adopt a Cow
  • Corporate Gifting
  • Visit Puglia
  • Events & Catering

More Information

  • About
  • Blog
  • Account
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Shipping and Returns
  • FAQs
  • Contact

Contact Us

Especially Puglia
155 Water Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
+1 (718) 801-8844
info@especiallypuglia.com

© 2023 Especially Puglia. All Rights Reserved.