Puglia, Italy - DINNER ON THE PONTE MADONNA DELLA STELLA

Our trip to Puglia was planned around a dinner I wanted to attend that was hosted by Outstanding in the Field. When I saw this dinner advertised on the Ponte Madonna della Stella, I knew we had to figure out a way to get there!

This dinner experience was EPIC and AMAZING!! It was a once in a lifetime, surreal experience that will be etched in our memories forever...

Cocktail hour in the vineyard - We started by boarding a bus that dropped us in a vineyard of the host vintner for cocktail hour. There were white tents set up in the vineyard where they were passing delicious appetizers (arancini, local cheeses, caprese,…) and serving drinks (wine, cocktails, and NA drinks). It was a beautiful setting – standing in the lush green vineyard with the city of Gravina in the distance!

After a lovely time in the vineyard, they bused us to the bridge for dinner.

As a special treat, they shipped the Outstanding in the Field bus from the US to Italy (which was quite the feat and so cool to have that iconic symbol of @out_inthefield at the event). It was parked in the vineyard when we arrived, and they moved it over near the bridge when we arrived there.

Dinner on the Ponte Madonna della Stella – What a stunning setting!! When we arrived, we walked through a field to the edge of the limestone cliffs where we could see the beautifully set, long table awaiting us on the ancient aqueduct. Talk about a sight to be seen!

We dined on the most wonderful food while making new friends from around the world. We had the host vinter from Italy on one side of us, a family from the Netherlands on the other side of us, and a mother/daughter duo from the US and Sweden across the table.

The views of the bridge and the surrounding cliffs and city of Gravina were breathtaking.

The food we ate was fresh, local, delicious and served family style. It was designed and prepared by the guest chefs Sergio Lasaponara from Osteria Radici (@osteradici) and Giovanni Cifarelli from Andriani (@giovannicifarelli).

The menu consisted of:

A salad course:

• La Cialledd – I Sapori di Bacco Bakery stale bread soaked and tossed with Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco vegetables, tomatoes and potatoes schlattmujer, peperoni cruschi (crushed peppers) with Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco cherry tomatoes, Frantoio Raguso extra virgin olive oil, salt & mint

• Composta Gravinese - traditional peasant-style vegetable conserve from Gravina made with Ortofrutta Frutelli Ficco long sweet peppers preserved in extra virgin olive oil

• Caseificio Tarantino – for di latte treccione (braided fresh mozzarella) with basil dressing & Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco zucchini alla poverella chips

A pasta course (with fresh pasta being made by a woman sitting at the end of the bridge):

• Orecchiette (local pasta) made with Antico Molino Calemma remilled durum wheat semolina, oven-roasted Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco cherry tomatoes & basil, Macelleria Colavito sausage & Azienda Agricola Micotec cardoncelli mushrooms

The first two courses were served with Gravina D.O.C. White wine from Botromagno.

An eggplant course:

• Murgian eggplant parmigiana with Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco eggplant & Caseificia Tarantino mozzarella

This was the best eggplant parmigiana I’ve ever had! And it was served with Gravina D.O.C Rosé wine from Botromagno.

A meat course:

• Tegame Murgiano with Macelleria Colavit pork sausage, lamb chops & sweetbreads with Ortofrutta Fratelli Ficco cherry tomatoes, swiss chards & wild greens

This course was served with 2024 “Le Anfore” Primativo Red I.G.P wine from Botromagno.

And dessert:

• Murgiamisu, Murgia style tiramisu with I Sapori di Bacco Bakery marzipan crumble & Royal Caffe coffee

The wine we drank was from local host vintner Beniamino D’Agostino and guest oenologist Emanuela Flore, both from Botromagno. Having Beniamino next to us at dinner to tell stories about growing up in Gravina and running the winery was such a pleasure. As lovers of wine, it was fun for us to try the local wines and, while they all were good, they really know how to make a yummy, beautifully colored rosé. It was gorgeous seeing the sun shining through the glasses of rosé on that long table.

This was an incredible event, and we feel so lucky to have been a part of it. It was an amazing experience that we will remember forever!!

(For more about Outstanding in the Field and the man behind it, watch this documentary – Man in the Field: The Life and Art of Jim Denevan - also available on Prime Video)

Gravina, the city where it was held – The dinner was held in Gravina in Puglia. This spectacular cliffside town is perched dramatically on the edge of a deep limestone canyon. It is a relatively small and not super touristy destination but features some highlights that are worth the visit, including the aqueduct bridge, underground city, gorge walls with ancient cave dwellings and churches carved right into the rock, narrow cobblestone alleys, and a quaint town square.

Where we stayed – We stayed at B&B Sul Ponte, the loveliest Bed & Breakfast in Gravina right by the bridge. We stayed in the 100 Scalini (100 steps) room. As I often say, the best things in Europe are at the top of the hill (or stairs in this case). We hiked up 100+ stairs to get to our room and from our room and our outdoor deck, we had the most amazing view of the bridge, bell tower, and the limestone canyon below.

100 Scalini was a large, cozy room with a fireplace, hot tub, sauna, and plenty of room to move around.

I’d highly recommend this B&B, this room, and this location.

Return to the Puglia overview blog: Puglia, Italy: What Dreams Are Made Of.