A Curious Absence of Chickens

Sophie Grigson

'Sophie Grigson has written twenty odd excellent cookbooks but I think this is the best of them. It is her first book for a decade and was obviously driven by a real love of her subjects which are Puglia people and food. It is witty informative fascinating and stuffed full of recipes you want to cook.' Prue Leith

'Puglia is a region I wanted to get to know intimately to understand culture life history and geography reflecting through the prism of the food that's put on the tables of locals and tourists too. I'm reminded of my 20-year old self scribbling in notebooks as I first travelled through Italy's south only this time I'm back to stay.'

After her children grew up and left home Sophie Grigson found herself living alone. About to turn 60 she took the decision to sell or give away most of her belongings to pack up her car and to drive to Puglia on her own to start a new life. In a part of Italy where she didn't know anyone having last visited the region 40 years ago this narrative book of food writing stories and recipes brings to life the region its food and the local characters that she meets along the way.

This is a book about courage hope new horizons and above all delicious food.

'Vivid humorous and unsentimental Sophie's portrait of modern Puglia still seeped in old ways is a delicious treat' Xanthe Clay

'OMFG! This beautiful book is transporting me there. I can't put it down. And the lack of chickens...I never bloody noticed!' Matt Tebbutt

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