Driving through Puglia (Apulia)

I had a wonderful trip through Apulia last summer and my conclusion is that the only problem you won't have there is about well-eating . I heard that when two Apulians meet, they don't ask one each other "How are you?" but often "What have you eaten for lunch?". The cheapest solution in order to try the true taste of apulian typical products could be to find them directly where they're made. This is not so difficult as it could seem and I think it's particularly indicated for cheese like "burrata" (a typical fat cheese of Andria), because the one you'll find in the "caseifici" (cheese-making shops) is often better than the one that is served in restaurants. However I had a very good and not so expensive typical apulian dinner in Monopoli at "Trattoria il Porto" (http://xoomer.alice.it/trattoriadelporto). It is located in the eldest part of the city and (like other restaurants in Apulia) it seems to be specialized in making "antipasti" (appetizers) (e.g. a very good small stewed goosefish and a fragrant mix of chicories and broad beans).
Another very good but certainly more expensive experience was at "La Fontanina" (http://www.lafontanina.it), between Ceglie Messapica and Francavilla. It's both an hotel and a restaurant and it offers some modern elaboration of many typical apulian tastes.

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