Farm-to-table Restaurants in Puglia
You might ask what exactly is “farm-to-table” and why is it such a hype? It is a movement, which promotes the consumption of local food directly from the producer, thus taking out the middleman and allowing for direct distribution. Whether it be a winery, brewery, bakery, a vegetable grower, or the very restaurant growing their own food, farm-to-table is a way of knowing where your food is coming from and ensuring utmost quality.
The movement was popularized by Alice Waters, the chef behind Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, but has quickly spread across the world. There are other similar and related movements like the KM0 in Spain, which is about essentially eating in a radius of 0 km from your house, and the Slow Food Movement, which originated in Italy and has also spread across the world. Slow Food seeks to promote the consumption of local food and traditional cuisine, in addition to encouraging farming of plants, seeds, and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem.
The concept of eating locally and buying from small producers is a concept deep-rooted in the Apulian traditions, and one of the most common forms of farm-to-table restaurants can be found at agriturismi. An agriturismo is essentially a “farm-stay” on an independently-owned farm where people can stay, have dinner, or buy locally-produced items. In Southern Italy the most commonly produced staples at agriturismi are olive oil, tomato sauce, vegetables cured in olive oil (sott’oli) and jams.
The Salento province is full of agriturismi and the local people take pride in their fresh ingredients, which put the quality products at the forefront of their cuisine. Looking to see where you can find a farm-to-table restaurant in Salento? Read on to find out three ideal places to experience this style of cooking.
Surprising fusion and top-notch products paired with farm-fresh ingredients and wines at Origano Farm-to-Table Restaurant
Origano and Menhir Salento winery, located in Minervino di Lecce, between Maglie and Otranto was a concept born from brothers Gaetano and Marangelli in 2002. They carefully combine food, wine and a 45 hectare organic farm to create dishes with wine-pairings that elegantly complement each other. Visit Origano for a flavor explosion evocative of the land where the top-notch ingredients come from.
An authentic farm-to-table restaurant inside an agriturismo
Gli Ulivi, located in Tricase is an agriturismo owned by Giulio and Cesarina where you can indulge in their house-made vegetable preserves, olive oil, marmalades and tomato sauce. Enjoy a farm-to-table dinner under the olive trees and be inspired by the humble local cuisine that will delight your taste buds.
A one-of-a-kind farmhouse offering farm-to-table cuisine and yoga and wellness retreats
At the Aia, owned by half New Yorker-half Pugliese, Giulia, is an agriturismo that produces its own olive oil, walnuts and marmalades, as well as fresh produce and Mediterranean herbs. Giulia took over this little oasis, just 5 minutes’ drive from Nardò and the spectacular beaches of the Ionian sea, four years ago. Her vision was simple: a place for connecting people through yoga, wellness and good food.
At the Aia also offers poolside brunch, lunch, cocktails and local wines. You can sit by the pool at tables carved out from olive tree trunks, and enjoy some farm-to table breakfast, brunch and lunch items, evocative of the mix of cultures behind the AIa (New York meets Salento). Imagine having a classic American brunch cocktail like a Bloody Mary while taking in the Salentine landscape and lazing by the pool. Book a nights’ stay, or stay for an All-inclusive Experience Week and indulge in some wonderful farm-to-table cuisine at the Aia, by the pool. See Menu Below.
Brunch & poolside Dining At the Aia Summer 2021
