Reviews | Apulian Way

Pizzeria “La Bruschetta” – Vieste (FG)

by Luca | Jun 30, 2017 | Local Cuisine, Reviews

FLAG: Pizzeria “La Bruschetta”

ADDRESS AND TOWN: Via Cavour 3 – Vieste (FG) – Apulia – Italy

WEBSITE: None

LOCAL PRODUCTS: Instead of products of the season, is better to talk about local products. There isn’t an enormous variety of dishes and pizzas, few things but good. The menu is tipically for tourists, considering the town (one of the most famous and popular of the Gargano) and the period, you couldn’t expect a lot from a pizzeria opened from June to October.

LOCATION AND INTERIORS: It’s situated near the historical center, in a little square. The tables are disposed in this square, because is a pedestrian area. The traffic is very close to the tables anyway.

PRICES: Different menu, different prices.

BIKER FRIENDLY: During the day, there isn’t shade but you can find a parking space. It’s better by night.

Restaurant – Pizzeria “Padre Pio” – Vieste (FG)

by Luca | Jun 30, 2017 | Local Cuisine, Reviews

FLAG: Restaurant – Pizzeria “Padre Pio”

ADDRESS AND TOWN: Via Cavour 2 – Peschici (FG) – Apulia – Italy

WEBSITE: —

LOCAL PRODUCTS – TYPICAL CUISINE: All dishes in the menu are made with local products and according to the local cuisine and traditions. The variety of pizzas (prepared only in the evening), gluten free too, and “paposce” (‘extended’ pizzas, stuffed with products of the season and ‘reclosed’) is enormous.

LOCATION AND INTERIORS: Pizzeria is on the highest area of Peschici, on a lateral little square, at the end of Corso Garibaldi and the beginning of Via Cavour. The furniture is simple, coloured with the white of houses in the town and the blue of sky. You can see the amazing view of beaches below by the inner room and the first clients can choose their table with panorama. There’s the open-plan kitchen.

PRICES: Starters (local products) – average € 8 /// Starters (fish) – average € 12 /// First dishes – average € 10 /// Second dishes (fish) – average € 12-13 /// Second courses – average € 7-8 /// Side dishes – average € 3 /// Desserts – average € 3 /// Pizzas – average € 6-8 /// Paposce – average € 6-8.

BIKER FRIENDLY: There aren’t a lot of parking spaces for cars, but for bikes you can always find a little space.

Restaurant – Pizzeria “Guarda che luna” – Vieste (FG)

by Luca | Jun 30, 2017 | Local Cuisine, Reviews

FLAG: Restaurant – Pizzeria “Guarda che luna”

ADDRESS AND TOWN: Via Jeduca 2 – Vieste (FG) – Apulia – Italy

WEBSITE: None

LOCAL PRODUCTS – TYPICAL CUISINE: All the menu is dedicated to Apulian products. We ordered two different starters (a seafood salad and a mixture of local cold cuts and cheeses), one main course (squid ink troccoli) and a meat course (calf with rocket salad and grana cheese). Ten minutes later my order, I asked to substitute the meat course with a first course, but I received a curt negation: “No, I’m sorry! Your meat course is cooking yet.”, he said, serving the appetizers…..Ok…

The seafood salad, at the first taste, shocked me! It was disgusting! The seafood was old, dry and drowned in extra virgin olive oil, to mask the taste. I sent it back complaining what happened. They didn’t propose us something else to apologize.

Our first and meat courses arrived. The meat I asked with ‘blue steak’ cooking was quite pink only in the middle (maybe they don’t know what ‘blue steak cooking’ means or maybe they cooked the meat in that way because it comes from a very cold place) and with the black scorching of the grill (scorched grease) that proved slightly bitter. Squid ink troccoli was served spicy. The chili sauce with fish! Never!!

LOCATION AND INTERIORS: To reach the restaurant you should walk through a street that seems going on forever……and after three flights of stairs and you arrive finally. The view from terrace isn’t so beautiful. The back rooms in the restaurant don’t exist. The toilets are upstairs, above the kitchen and the chimney. Boiling. We dined with the ants.

PRICES: Appetizers – average € 10/15 /// Main Courses – average € 10/12 /// Second Courses (Fish) – average € 15 /// Second Courses – average € 10/12 /// Pizzas – average € 8 /// Wines – average € 18.

BIKER FRIENDLY: Absolutely NOT for bikers.

Restaurant & Grill “La Cemener” – Ruvo di Puglia

by Luca | Jun 13, 2017 | Local Cuisine, Reviews

FLAG: La Cemener

ADDRESS AND TOWN: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 20 – Ruvo di Puglia – Bari – Apulia – Italy

WEB: —

LOCAL PRODUCTS: The products used are season only and come from Apulia. All appetizers are prepared with the typical care of our land. Most of the meats offered are locally breeding and are only good cuts. The wise choice made of property is appreciate at the table, thanks to a perfect cooking of the meat, with little salt and the perfect cleaning of the grills that avoids burnt taste, sometimes present in the barbecued meat. Apulian wines cellar with discrete variety.

LOCATION AND INTERIORS: Restaurant is in the old town, closer to the main church in Ruvo di Puglia. In good position for a walk after lunch or summer dinner, visiting old part of this town or for a coffee or an ice cream in the main square. Interiors are made of ancient rough stones, solid wood tables, open view barbecue without the trouble of smoke. Comfortable atmosphere and the owner Enzo is at your disposal to present every dish.

PRICES: Our dinner, two people, various local appetizers, meat dish each, one bottle of red wine, one plate of fresh fruit and one dessert, 25 euros each.

BIKER FRIENDLY: Remember that restaurant is in the old town of Ruvo di Puglia, so there are narrow streets, but you can park 5 – 6 motorcycle side by side. During summer the motorcycles are in the shadow, thanks to narrow streets.

Caruso Ice Cream Shop and Bar in Polignano a Mare

by Luca | Jun 13, 2017 | Local Cuisine, Reviews

FLAG: Gelateria – Yogurteria “Caruso”

ADDRESS AND TOWN: Via Martiri di Dogali, 3 – Polignano a Mare and others in Monopoli, Molfetta and Bari.

WEB: www.gustocaruso.it

LOCAL PRODUCTS: In the shop their work philosophy is well explained: all is handmade with primary products of high quality. In effect above the ice cream display case there are many posters showing the flavours and the ingredients.

In the price list there are also many other proposals, such as yogurts, waffles with and without ice cream, brioches to fill, cremolates, popsicles and ice cream cakes.

We decide for a classic cup of pistachio ice cream with topping and a waffle with gianduja ice cream.

The pistachio flavour seems hazelnut. Few plastic spoons of ice cream later, it continues to have an hazelnut aftertaste with vague hints of pistachio. The heated waffle is definitely hard and with the supplied plastic spoon it is difficult to eat. The gianduja flavour too, will not be absolutely among the best ever tasted.

LOCATION AND INTERIORS: It’s located on one of the main street of this nice town, closest the main entrance to old town. Nice and modern bar, look total white, with plenty of seating.

PRICES: In the average, considering this particular town.

BIKER FRIENDLY: It’s not easy to park in Polignano, but with a motorcycle becomes easier.

M.Ar.Ta. Museum in Taranto

by adminus | Mar 17, 2017 | Places, Reviews

It was a long time since I heard about it and I’ve never had the opportunity to visit it.
The opportunity came on a Sunday morning. I decide to get on the bike and go to Taranto to visit the archaeological museum of the city, better known as “M.Ar.Ta.”.
MARTA is located in the most beautiful part of the town (in my opinion), close to the swing bridge, the Aragonese castle and the seafront, where you can admire ancient palaces.
The museum is open daily from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm, except 25 December and 1 January. Ticket is really cheap, young people max 18 y.o. do not pay it and the entrance on the first Sunday of each month is free. A really nice way to approach potential visitors to one of Italy’s most beautiful museums. More detailed information can be found on website http://www.museotaranto.org

I’m not an historian and expert of ancient art, however, many of these objects caught my attention. The collection of goldsmith’s art of the Hellenistic period, the vessels of the eighth and sixth centuries b. C., the relics of the Roman period of Taranto, with its collection of statues and various mosaics. I think all this and much more is worth a visit.
An advice. Before going to Marta, especially if you come outside Taranto, make a phone call to the museum to ask if the plans are all open at the same time.
One last tip. I do not recommend to end your visit to the museum and look for a restaurant, for a time between 2.00 pm and 3.30 pm. The only ones open in the streets nearest to the museum (Corso Umberto I and Via Pitagora) are a few bars. The restaurants, taverns and the like, are already closed.
Enjoy your visit!