A Curious Absence of Chickens: A Journal of Life, Food and Recipes from Puglia

‘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.

“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