Masseria Il Frantoio Ostuni - Foodies Heaven!
We came to experience the simple authenticity of Puglian food, wine and traditions. We certainly found it when we visited Masseria Il Frantoio near Ostuni.
Masseria (working farm) were originally part of a feudal system of subsistence farming that dominated Puglia’s landscape for centuries. The reliance on farming actually hindered Puglia’s development in comparison to other Italian regions. However, in recent years the masseria have been a feature in the development of tourism in Puglia. Masseria range from basic bed and breakfast on a family farm to five star luxury.
Whether simple or deluxe, masseria have the common goal of providing great food. -Great food featuring local specialities. The objective is to make the visitor feel at home. Il Frantoio, the masseria of choice for Vicki and I, made a point of making guests feel as though they were returning ‘home.’ Armando, our host kept uttering the phrase, ‘Welcome home’ I got the impression that Armando felt he was living in heaven. ‘Puglia has the perfect climate,’ he said. ’Eight months of summer, and four months of spring!’
Il Frantoio nestles among ancient olive groves on an estate covering approximately 150 acres. The family house was built over an underground cave which not so long ago was where the olives were pressed. Resting above the excavated cave, the masseria consists of different buildings from various centuries and goes back as far as the sixteenth (century).
The few guest rooms are mostly to be found in, the nineteenth century main body of the house. They are complete with antique furniture and are beautifully presented. The surrounding gardens provide a world of relaxation whilst the vegetable garden provides the kitchen with an abundance of wonderfully fresh produce.
An avenue of pine trees leads you to the inner courtyard, a place in which one can easily pass away the afternoon and where, in the summer months, you may dine by candlelight. From the courtyard we discovered a romantic Italian garden while another gateway lead us to a sun-drenched citrus orchard, bursting with lemons, mandarins, oranges, limes and a solitary banana plant.
The large herb garden is located right next to the kitchen and is full of almost every herb imaginable, all of which are cultivated using traditional methods.
Following a tour of the house and its immediate surrounds, we sat down to a feast of food. This was a culinary pleasure. The entire meal and its presentation was delivered with an almost reverential tone. Armando, his wife Rosalba and their staff took obvious pride in presenting the wine and produce of Puglia, .Altogether, this was a memorable dining experience.
Masseria (working farm) were originally part of a feudal system of subsistence farming that dominated Puglia’s landscape for centuries. The reliance on farming actually hindered Puglia’s development in comparison to other Italian regions. However, in recent years the masseria have been a feature in the development of tourism in Puglia. Masseria range from basic bed and breakfast on a family farm to five star luxury.
Whether simple or deluxe, masseria have the common goal of providing great food. -Great food featuring local specialities. The objective is to make the visitor feel at home. Il Frantoio, the masseria of choice for Vicki and I, made a point of making guests feel as though they were returning ‘home.’ Armando, our host kept uttering the phrase, ‘Welcome home’ I got the impression that Armando felt he was living in heaven. ‘Puglia has the perfect climate,’ he said. ’Eight months of summer, and four months of spring!’
Il Frantoio nestles among ancient olive groves on an estate covering approximately 150 acres. The family house was built over an underground cave which not so long ago was where the olives were pressed. Resting above the excavated cave, the masseria consists of different buildings from various centuries and goes back as far as the sixteenth (century).
The few guest rooms are mostly to be found in, the nineteenth century main body of the house. They are complete with antique furniture and are beautifully presented. The surrounding gardens provide a world of relaxation whilst the vegetable garden provides the kitchen with an abundance of wonderfully fresh produce.
An avenue of pine trees leads you to the inner courtyard, a place in which one can easily pass away the afternoon and where, in the summer months, you may dine by candlelight. From the courtyard we discovered a romantic Italian garden while another gateway lead us to a sun-drenched citrus orchard, bursting with lemons, mandarins, oranges, limes and a solitary banana plant.
The large herb garden is located right next to the kitchen and is full of almost every herb imaginable, all of which are cultivated using traditional methods.
Following a tour of the house and its immediate surrounds, we sat down to a feast of food. This was a culinary pleasure. The entire meal and its presentation was delivered with an almost reverential tone. Armando, his wife Rosalba and their staff took obvious pride in presenting the wine and produce of Puglia, .Altogether, this was a memorable dining experience.
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