In Italy food is more than just sustenance, it is art, tradition and community rolled into one; specialized butcher and bakery shops where the proprietors have served the same clients for years and where they know the providence of each cut they sell; weekly community markets where local farmers sell their produce, and dish gossip, with their friends; 0km restaurants who believe in sourcing locally grown vegetables and meats, hand-making their pasta and working with fresh, not frozen, ingredients. These things combine to create a culture of food that not only tastes better but also reminds us to slow down and enjoy our meals instead of rushing through them.

While the above is true the whole country over, it is equally true that each region has specialties and unique offerings that must be enjoyed in order to enrich any visit to Italy and your understanding of the region.

GETTING TO KNOW PUGLIA THROUGH ITS FOOD

Whether it’s meals eaten at our host venue, prepared by experienced private cooks; an informative lesson with our hostess Vanessa, who is a certified cheese maker and taster; meals prepared by talented local restaurants; or the hands on cooking lessons and demonstrations that are a part of our itinerary, we will eat our way through Puglia getting to know this region through the foods and traditions that make it so special.

Known as “cucina povera”, many of Puglia’s culinary traditions are born from its history as one of Italy’s poorest regions. Translated to “kitchen of the poor”, cucina povera refers to the cooking techniques and recipes that originated from the rural peasant populations who often only had access to poor cuts of meat and vegetables. Creating filling, tasty meals from less than optimum ingredients became a strength of the region and they are now renown for their creativity and skill. That said, today the culinary choices and variety, while still seasonal, are much more varied than they were in the recent past.

With a few exceptions, most of the meals included in the retreat tuition will be eaten at our host estate. And most of these will be eaten, family style, in the breakfast room, or a large communal dining room.

BREAKFAST

Breakfast is served buffet style and includes your choice of croissants, pasticciotto (a local pastry), yogurt, fruit, tomatoes, toast, cold cuts, eggs, and cheese. To drink, attendees will be able to choose from an assortment of coffees (espresso, cappuccino or Americano) teas, fruit juice, or water.

For our other provided meals, water will be provided with lunch and dinner, and regular coffee and tea will be offered after dinner. There will be a few occasions where wine is provided with the dinners. You are welcome to purchase wine when it is not provided, or bring your own to the retreat. Further details will be provided in the private Facebook group, prior to the retreat.

In each apartment you will find a kitchen or kitchenette with a cook top and fridge which you will find stocked with water and/or soda to get you through the first few days. As we journey through Puglia you are welcome to bring additional drinks or snacks back to your apartment to prepare and eat at your leisure.

If you have any food allergies, or dietary restrictions, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can confirm that the kitchen will be able to safely accommodate your needs.

NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR RETREAT TUITION

There are three lunches and one dinner which are not included in the retreat tuition.

For the lunches: They are during days when we will be away from the estate at meal time and in locations with plenty of options for your meals. You will find that you can eat on the cheap, with a €5 slice of pizza, or go all out with a €65 four course lunch. The choice is up to you.

For the dinner: This dinner is on a day when we will be touring a city in the evening. Once again, you will have plenty of options for your meal at many different price points.

OUR FEATURED CULINARY EXPERIENCES AT PRONE TO WANDER: PUGLIA

• A cooking lesson at our home estate with a local cook, where we will explore the flavours of Puglia.

• A cheese tasting lesson with our venue owner, Vanessa, who produces and sells her own cheese at the farm, and is a certified cheese taster. She has planned a wonderful lesson where she will walk us through the fantastic cheeses of her region.

• A foraging and cooking lesson, focusing on focaccia, at a beautiful Masseria

• A decadent 0km dining experience at a local hotel/spa

• A farewell pizza party in the garden of our venue using the wood burning oven. This is going to be so much fun!