Puglia at its Best A great evening of Apulian food and wines presented in the beautiful setting of Queen's Tennis Club, London. Organised by Food & Wine Promotions, Accademia Apulia UK and Meridaunia consortium, the event presented fine food and wine products from the ‘Monti Dauni’' - an area of Puglia little known, but not for much longer. [ photo -Tommaso Bruccoleri.]

At the event were Journalists, food experts, sommeliers and, most importantly, buyers. Also present were the Accademia Apulia’s creative pool representatives.

Musicians, writers and artists of all kinds joined the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Alain Economides and the Consul General of Italy, Uberto Vanni d'Archirafi in complimenting the Monti Dauni food and wine producers for their delicious products. Guests also had an opportunity to taste homemade breads accompanied by fine extra virgin olive oils, bagels and biscuits made Senatore Cappelli’s wheat (it is named in honor of Senator Raffaele Cappelli, who introduced the first agrarian reform in 1900).

During the event specialised Masterclasses were presented to restaurant owners and more buyers still.

The Masterclasses revealed to participants not only the organoleptic qualities of products under scrutiny, but also the history and rural tradition linked to each product.

Lucia di Domenico, a most simpatico chef and owner of the Inn Post Guevara (a renowned educational farm in Puglia) introduced the Masterclasses. “We only use locally produced seasonal ingredients, prepared according to ancient traditions, stated the chef.' Puglia at its Best at the Queen's Tennis Club saw the participation of 300 visitors who also had the opportunity to taste and buy very special wines (Bombino Nero di Troia, Tuccanese, Falanghina and Negramaro (from the Fujanera estate).

In short, the event was a demonstration of quality and success for the producers from the Monti Dauni "an experience to be repeated as soon as possible," said Antonio Tomassini, the event organiser, saying good-bye to his guests at the touch of midnight. The Negroamaro had finished.