Excursion S.a.l.t. the wild side of puglia: a tasty adventure with the region's legendary foragers tour at Bari

Take a walk on the wild side and join this unique foraging experience in Puglia, a true adventure in one of Italy's most fascinating ecosystems, the Murge plateau, learning about rare and tasty edible plants and their beneficial properties. As you trek on the plateau, you will be accompanied by two charismatic young chefs and their foraging mentor, local legend "Ciccillo", and together you will also transform the day's bounty into a most unforgettable (and delicious) lunch in the countryside.

The Murge Plateau, Montaruli Brothers & Ciccillo

As Laura Lazzaroni writes in her book "The New Cucina Italiana" (Rizzoli, 2021), "When brothers Francesco and Vincenzo Montaruli were little, their father, a farmer, would take them out to the Altopiano delle Murge. This karst plateau, barren and moon-like between the Tavoliere delle Puglie ("Italy's barn", sown with wheat and oat), to the north, and picture-perfect Salento, to the south, is where he'd go to pick wild vegetables. They didn't call it "foraging" back then; it was known as andar per campi (walking the fields). It was a necessity (…) Something else they recall from those early days on the Murge was a man with a majestic mustache zooming by on a 1972 Gilera motorcycle with off-road wheels. He never wore a helmet and strapped behind his seat were bundles of weeds and flowers so big they covered his license plate. That man is Francesco Gargano or, as everyone calls him, "Ciccillo". One day he showed up at the Montarulis' restaurant, offering to sell a bunch of wild asparagus. Since then, they've been inseparable."

Ruvo di Puglia, Restaurant Mezza Pagnotta, Meet Chefs Francesco and Vincenzo

At the pier, meet your guide and start the 50-minute coach ride towards Ruvo di Puglia and Restaurant Mezza Pagnotta.

Mezza Pagnotta is a bit of an anomaly in Puglia. A restaurant sitting at the crossroads of some of Italy's most touristy routes, where no pasta nor meat are served. Strange, right? But the Montaruli brothers know what they're doing. Drawing from the deep, nuanced tradition of the Mediterranean basin - spanning from the South of Italy to North Africa and the Middle East - they built an unforgettable series of dishes bursting with flavor and soul. They use mostly vegetables, which they either grow in their own garden or forage in the wild, drawing from the ancient knowledge of the village's elderly. The result - even if meatless - is as satisfying as Sunday roast.

For this rather unique experience, you will meet the brothers at the restaurant, where you will enjoy a cup of invigorating "shepherd's tea" made with "acino pugliese", a short plant with purple flowers the locals have been using for centuries for its invigorating properties.

Trekking, Foraging Experience with your hosts

Then you will head out towards the Murge plateau and you will start a trekking of approximately 3 km (approximately 2 hours) under the guidance of Francesco Montaruli and Mr. Ciccillo. You will help pick the wild vegetables and learn about their history, traditions, and beneficial properties. Like the wild cardoons that retract their leaves when immersed in cold water: the milk oozing from their roots can be used as a clotting agent, like rennet, the most tender part of the roots can be candied, and the green part of the cardoon is delicious stewed or sauteed. There will be mint and other herbs, mushrooms, tubers, wild fennel and so much more.

Agriturismo Tenuta Tedone Consolini, 5-Course Vegetarian Lunch & Wines

After foraging, board your coach and start the 60-minute drive to Agriturismo Tenuta Tedone Consolini for a brief workshop on the plants collected: the brothers will illustrate their healthy properties and how to prepare them to best conserve them while maximizing flavor. You will then be treated to a true Mediterranean feast in the Pugliese countryside, surrounded by nature: 5 most satisfying courses prepared with the fruits of your own harvest, plus other vegetables grown by the Montarulis and a selection of local artisanal cheese. You will also enjoy a tasting of local natural wines and at the end be offered a coffee brewed from toasted roots picked on the plateau, a local delicacy. Are you ready to "Stai brado (be wild)"?

At the end of this amazing experience start the 60-minute drive towards Bari and the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: The picturesque town of Ruvo di Puglia, home of one of Puglia's most important historical centres; the unique ecosystem of the Murge Plateau, the site of your foraging experience; the typical Pugliese countryside, with olive groves, vineyards and farming land, where you will enjoy lunch at a local agriturismo.

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking over sometimes cobblestones, and a Trekking walk of approximately 3km in the nature over mixed terrain and inclines. Some steps to be considered in the venues in addition to entering and leaving the coach. Guests will also have to stand for some periods of time. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with limited mobility. Children are not suggested to participate unless good walkers. Wearing comfortable seasonal clothes, hat, sunscreen sunglasses and comfortable flat trekking shoes is highly recommended. No meat of Fish will be served during Lunch, Only seasonal vegetables and cheese. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.