Hi - I am looking for a “gastronomy” experience in Puglia for early May (think cheese making, bakery experience, olive grove/olive oil). I’ve done all my normal research but am having trouble finding one accessible via public transportation from Bari.
Any recommendations? I would really prefer not to get a car.
Thanks
Ciao Kerry
Have you thought about joining a small activity group or get a private driver?
Have you checked with the tourist office? Maybe you can make pasta right in Bari old town?
Maybe try writing this food writer, who has Bari roots? https://www.sophieminchilli.com/
Andria is where burrata was invented. Can you get there by public transport and if so< I can post an idea or two.
ekscrunchy - yes! Looks super easy to get there, just a 45 minute bus ride. Would appreciate your suggestions.
vakadelphia - I can def check with the tourist office once there, but I only have a few days so was hoping to book in advance. Thx for the local recommendation too.
annalisa - a private driver is pricey for one person, and it seems like the group experiences (which I’d be great with) all start at the place…so getting there is a challenge.
Ok, Kerry, this is what I would do in your place:
What you want is a caseificio in Andria; they will all make burrata and other cheeses. They may not say on their website that they give tours, but I think there is a high probability that if you get in touch with them in advance, they will let you watch their process. If you are staying at a hotel or have a B&B host, you could ask them to phone a few place and ask if you could visit at the hour that they are making the cheeses (usually in the early morning). But the likelihood that they speak English is slim so that would not be a tour, but it would allow you to watch how the cheese is made. I've done this a few times, once near Alberobello and twice more in a caseificio on the main SS road in Speziale, near Savelletri. And once, I asked at my hotel and they had someone drive me over to a cheese-maker nearby....this was also near Savelletri.
So here are a few names; you can e-mail and if you get no answer, have someone phone for you a day or two in advance, not weeks ahead. It goes without saying that if you do this, you ought to buy a few cheeses from the makers.
https://montrone.net/our-artisans/?lang=en
https://caseificioolanda.it/museo-del-latte/?lang=en. (They have a "milk museum," so apparently are ok with welcoming tourists...)
https://www.caseificioperina.it/en
Those will not be organized tours, just a chance to let you watch the process.
Your other option would be to try to find a tour, which will cost a lot more but might I include transport and English speaking guide.
Here is a producer of olive oil and wine in Andria that allows visitors; they also sell a variety of jarred and tinned food items.
So in order to go this route, you have to look into it and make some phone calls or, better, have an Italian-speaker call for you..... I have not been to Puglia in more than ten years but when I was there, the cheese makers were always happy to have visitors (they especially loved Americans; I don't know where you re from..). I think there now are more organized tours and visits but I still like going solo, and it's a lot less pricey.
Do you understand any Italian?
Please let us know how you fare.if you get in touch with any of those makers; they are just a few of the many you can find online by googling "caseificio Andria," or "azienda Andria."
Elizabeth Minchilli runs week-long tours in Puglia (and elsewhere in Italy) centered around food. They are expensive but the groups are small and you stay in high-end accommodations. Unfortunately, the tours in Puglia are all sold out.
ekscrunchy - thank you so much! This is incredibly helpful. I am from the US and do not speak Italian other than typical pleasantries, but think I would still gain a lot by visiting and watching the process. I appreciate all your advice on how to do this!
Kerry
