The Gargano is not just one of the most beautiful places in Italy. It is one of the places where you eat best. A cuisine of sea and land, of shepherds and fishermen, that has preserved authentic flavours the rest of the world has long forgotten.
The Sea of the Gargano
The Gargano sea is among the clearest in Italy, and the fish caught here has a flavour you will not find anywhere else. Octopus, mussels, clams, sea urchin -- all fresh, all cooked with absolute simplicity.
In the harbour restaurants of Vieste, Peschici or Manfredonia, the menu changes every day based on what the fishermen brought in that morning. Do not ask what is good -- just trust them.
Must try
Stewed octopus, grilled mussels, fresh raw sea urchin with lemon, mixed fried fish. All washed down with a cold Falanghina from the Gargano.
Mountain Cheeses
Podolico caciocavallo from the Gargano is one of the most prized cheeses in Italy. Made with milk from Podolica cows -- an ancient breed that roams freely on the hillsides of the promontory -- it has an intense, almost spicy flavour with notes of wild herbs.
Where to buy it
At the weekly markets in Gargano villages, at artisan dairies and in local produce shops in Monte Sant Angelo and San Marco in Lamis.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Gargano olive oil is produced from centuries-old olive trees -- some over a thousand years old -- growing on the sun-drenched hillsides of the promontory. It is a fruity oil, slightly peppery, with an intense green colour when freshly pressed.
The harvest takes place between October and November. If you are in the Gargano at that time, find an open oil mill -- tasting fresh oil on semolina bread is one of the most authentic experiences you can have.
The Citrus Fruits of Rodi Garganico
Rodi Garganico is known as the city of citrus fruits. The mandarins and oranges that grow here, thanks to the particular microclimate of the Gulf of Manfredonia, have exceptional sweetness and an intensely fragrant peel.
"In the Gargano people eat well because they eat honestly. Nothing is constructed, nothing is fake. Just real ingredients, real recipes, real people."
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