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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

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Olive oil is undoubtedly one of the most common co Olive oil is undoubtedly one of the most common condiments found on our dining tables; yet, it is sometimes avoided and viewed as unhealthy. On the contrary, studies prove that the fatty acids and antioxidants found in olive oil offer several health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease. 

With the new year right around the corner, why not make a resolution to do something good for your health and for the palate.  Our new harvest of small producer Apulian EVOO - an iconic region for olive oil production - is ready for you!

Click the link in bio to read more about the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil and preorder the new harvest of Apulian EVOO by clicking the link in photo!
Need ideas for your New Years gathering?! Be like Need ideas for your New Years gathering?! Be like the Italians, and follow your antipasti course with Cotechino and Lenticchie.  This dish is composed of braised lentils with rich cotechino pork sausage that originates in Emilia Romagna.  The legend goes that those who eat these coin-shaped legumes will have prosperity in the new year, and the more you eat the better!
Happy Boxing Day everyone! We hope you had a wonde Happy Boxing Day everyone! We hope you had a wonderful holiday with friends and family. Remember the new harvest is here! 

Enjoy the freshest experience when our EVOO arrives right off the boat mid-January.  Olive oil is the very best when it is enjoyed fresh from the press so place your orders soon or DM for more details.
The festive season is magical anywhere, but even m The festive season is magical anywhere, but even more so in Salento. Towns and villages come alive with street markets and exhibitions full of treats, handicrafts, and traditions unique to the region and the season. Full of carefully displayed nativity scenes, beautiful sunny days and mouth-watering candy dishes, Southern Italy really is the place to be during Christmas time. Click the link in bio to read more about their Christmas traditions. 

And remember whether you want to try making some traditional Apulian dishes for you and your family, or you just want to add a little Italian touch to your holiday feasts and festivities, we can help.  Especially Puglia’s olive oil and other artisan products are the perfect addition to your pantry and a gracious gift for the holidays.  Click the link in photo to shop!
Traveling this holiday may still be up in the air Traveling this holiday may still be up in the air but let’s have fun reminiscing about the incredible vacations of years gone by.  Post a photo and tag @especiallypuglia sharing your favorite time in Puglia or Italy.  We will repost some of our favorites next week and send out 250 ml stocking stuffers of our EVOO from the 2020 harvest to 5 lucky winners!
Our small farmers from Puglia have worked hard all Our small farmers from Puglia have worked hard all harvest to share their delicious extra virgin olive oil with you.  They harvest and process everything by hand and we send it straight to your door.  Preorder the new harvest now for your holiday gifts. 

Although global shipping delays have moved the ETA to January 20th we will be sure to send the adoption certificate, information packets, and gift notes to your loved ones in time for the holidays.  They can look forward to something special in the new year!
Stocking Stuffer Giveaway! In celebration of the Stocking Stuffer Giveaway! 

In celebration of the new harvest we are giving away TEN, 250 ml extra virgin olive oil tins to TEN lucky winners.  This extra virgin olive oil is cultivated by one of our favorite farmers, Carolina Villani, in one of the most revered regions in Italy for olive oil production.  They tend a grove of Peranzana olives’ cultivar that are harvested and processed within 6 hours, directly from the field.  Follow the 3 steps below and you might get to try her 50 year old tradition! 

🫒Like the post
🫒 Follow @especiallypuglia on Instagram 
🫒 Tag two friends in the comments

We will randomly select 10 winners on Friday 12/10 and contact you from @especiallypuglia via DM.  We will ask only your email and mailing address.  In bocca al lupo!
The olive harvest has finally finished just in tim The olive harvest has finally finished just in time for the holidays! At Especially Puglia we have the perfect gift for your loved ones.  With our Adopt an Olive Tree program your friends and family can enjoy high quality organic olive oil year round knowing they’re supporting the local heritage and small scale farmers keeping the tradition alive.  Every subscription of olive oil comes with a certificate of adoption for your specific olive tree growing in the beautiful region of Puglia.  Choose from one of our family run olive groves and gift someone special something unique this year that will make them feel good both in and out of the kitchen. Click the link in bio or directly in post to visit our website and preorder your gifts today!
Nothing beats a bowl of pasta with tomato sauce an Nothing beats a bowl of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese on top! Drop a comment to let us know your favorite type of pasta. ⁠
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PC: @noahdevereaux
Looking to broaden your cheese palate but don’t Looking to broaden your cheese palate but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Click the link in our bio for our guide to Pugliese cheeses that’ll be sure to change your cheeseboard game. ⁠
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PC: @aliceandcophoto
Did you know that in addition to our olive oil, ch Did you know that in addition to our olive oil, cheese, and honey, we also make homemade tomato sauce? Using our farm-grown gorgeous tomatoes, we make a bold and delicious sauce perfect for a bowl of pasta and stracciatella! Click the link in our bio for bottle of tomato sauce.⁠
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PC: Mitsky
Another day at Ostuni Market! Oh how we love our f Another day at Ostuni Market! Oh how we love our fresh fruits and veggies, perfect for a summer afternoon by the water or a meal with loved ones.
What a gorgeous lemon rosemary focaccia. We can on What a gorgeous lemon rosemary focaccia. We can only imagine how delicious it would be with some olive oil on the side! Drop a comment to let us know your favorite type of bread to eat with olive oil. ⁠
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PC: Quin Engle
We absolutely love our seafood in Puglia! From our We absolutely love our seafood in Puglia! From our branzino to shrimp and mussels, seafood is a staple in puglian diets.
We so agree with Anna Akhmatova’s sentiment, “ We so agree with Anna Akhmatova’s sentiment, “Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life.” 💛🇮🇹⁠
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PC: @mariedehayes
A must visit in Puglia: the weekly Ostuni Market. A must visit in Puglia: the weekly Ostuni Market. Filled with lush just harvested vegetables, flavorful cured meats, and fresh eggs for miles, it’s the perfect place for your farm to table feast.
There’s nothing quite like a bowl pasta with tom There’s nothing quite like a bowl pasta with tomato sauce and arugula. The gorgeous flavors with a zest of cheese makes for the perfect home cooked meal. Click the link in our bio for this wonderful recipe.
Did you know honey is a prebiotic? This means that Did you know honey is a prebiotic? This means that honey not only tastes delicious, but also helps to fight bugs and bad bacteria in our gut microbiome that leave us feeling not on our A game. Click the link in our bio to check out our blog post on the amazing benefits of raw honey!
What a gorgeous night we had filled with Puglian s What a gorgeous night we had filled with Puglian staples like orecchiette, burrata and panzerotti at @cannebianche
There’s nothing like a gorgeous mozzarella plate There’s nothing like a gorgeous mozzarella plate on a summer day in Italy! Tag someone you would eat this with💛⁠
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PC: @nessundormacinqueterre
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