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Lecce: Cucina Casereccia

via Col. Costadura, 19 , Phone: 0832.245178

Closing day: Sun evening & Monday

Reviewed by: Jonathan from UK, review #1161

When: 2004

One of Lecce's 2 entries in Slow Food's Osterie d'Italia. Genuine local food, excellent value.

Directions: Just north-east of the Giardini Pubblici; a 10-minute walk from the centre.

A lovely, homely place, almost entirely staffed by women: the boss (Anna Carmela Perrone) and about 3 other women, all of whom seem to share in the cooking (easily visible: the kitchen door is always open) and the serving. No printed menu: Anna comes to your table, and explains the possibilities. Philippa & I shared 3 antipasti: a ‘mixed salad’ with potatoes, capers, onions, olives, chilli (delicious); boiled cicorie dressed with oil (hot); cold grilled melanzane. Then an assaggio of 3 primi(from a choice of 5 or 6): purea di fave with cicorielle di campo, croutons and oil (we were shown how to mix each mouthful, anoint with oil, and eat while making a wish!); mussels & potatoes au gratin; orrechiette & fricelli with tomato sauce (simple but delicious). Then the secondi: polpetti di vitello (with a tiny bit of pecorino in the mix); cavallo al sugo (superbly tender, not unlike beef in texture, with a fabulous sauce). My first horse! I’d been seeing it on the menu for several days now, and reading lots of recommendations in the Puglia section of Osterie d’Italia; after seeing the maresciallo enjoying his at yesterday’s (Taranto) lunch, I thought it was time to take the plunge! No room for dolci, but P had an Alloro (there was Limoncello, Amaro & Alloro on offer). Served cold, like Limoncello: tasted a bit like a blend of cough mixture and shower gel… ½litre of decent house red, water: €42. Superb value.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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Lecce: Cucina Casereccia

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