Every year we spend a week at a seaside hotel in Puglia. Domenico is from Bari, and his mother still lives there. So we make the 4 1/2 hour drive to Bari, pick her up, and continue another 3 hours to Ugento. Although we’ve been doing this about 15 years, each year seems like the first. Do we leave Rome on Friday? And stop in Bari? Or leave Saturday, and drive right on through. From year to year, we can never quite remember how we did it the year before.
Once we decided to eat lunch in Bari, what to eat was a no-brainer. When it comes to a meal you really don’t want to cook, but do want to eat at home, the barese head to the Focacciaro. Although I’m sure there are many of these all over town, the one near Domenico’s family home is – according to most – one of the best.
Wow! I haven’t been in Puglia for years, but one thing that I always remember is the focaccia. I am missing Italy now. I think we’ll have to go to Puglia next year instead of Alto Adige.