Eating is always a pleasure, in Puglia you are in heaven, whether you're cooking for yourself with fresh local produce, or dining out in one of the many friendly restaurants.

The freshness of the food, with local markets filled with produce is hard to beat. Vegetables don't have an official organic label, but a taste will tell you that they are produced by traditional methods

The long coastline means a wealth of fresh seafood is available week in, week out. A visit to the local fishing village of Savelletri is well worth while to either buy fresh fish or sample the local restaurants with an abundance of fish, oysters, mussels, octopus and even sea urchins.

The usual meats available are veal, beef, pork and lamb in wide variety. Those of you who are of an adventurous nature might try horsemeat. Chicken and turkey, are sold in the supermarkets or more traditionally sold in specialist poultry shops, and remind you of organic or outdoor reared in flavour and texture.

Vegetables and fruit are best found in the local markets which rotate around the towns during the week or from small green grocers. In winter months vegetables are often imported from other regions of Italy and Sicily, the food on offer is mainly seasonal and locally grown. The variety of greens and vegetables on offer, many of which are uncommon or unknown in the UK, for example turnip greens, wild chicory, lampascione (an onion-like root) and courgette flowers.

The bakers' output ranges from baguettes and soft rolls to the famous durum wheat Altamura, hard whole meals and focaccia.

Then there is the pasta. The local speciality is orecchiette, small and ear-shaped. These have a great texture and provide an ideal pasta meal when served with a vegetable topping laced with olive oil, one of Puglia's main products.

Alternating with olive groves are the vineyards which produce some of Puglia's distinctive wines. The Primitivo grape is the base of a characteristic rich red wine, while lovers of white wine will find quality bottles in sweet or delicate dry styles from the famed Locorotondo and Martina Franca vineyards.

The quality of the local produce is reflected both in the variety of delicious Puglian recipes and the generally excellent standard of food served in the restaurants.

The classic Puglian recipes spring from the farming tradition, letting the fresh ingredients speak for themselves. Apart from home-made orecchiette, a typical favourite Puglian dish is fave, broad bean pureed with potatoes or cime di rape, or simply on its own with olive oil dressing. The Pugliese antipasti can be an education in the marriage of vegetables with the olive and seafood.

Vegetarians are well served, except perhaps in the seafood restaurants where the main courses will be restricted and simple.

Lunch is the main meal of the day here, with restaurants open later than you might expect. It is easy to fall into the local habit of long lunch and afternoon siesta. (13.00 to 15.00)It is difficult to eat out before 8pm in the evening, but you can eat until late, and enjoy the long summer evening passeggiata, promenading through the streets to walk off any overindulgence.

Come to Puglia a superb location for a relaxing holiday

For a Trulli Fantastic Holiday

Food and wine of the region