A Curious Absence of Chickens: A journal of life, food and recipes from Puglia

by 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

Genres: Food Writing, Italy

322 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 2023

About the author

Hester Sophia Frances Grigson is an English cookery writer and celebrity chef known as Sophie Grigson. She has followed the same path and career as her mother, Jane Grigson. Her father was the poet and writer Geoffrey Grigson.

She won the Guild of Food Writers Cookery Journalist Award 2001

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was following an interview with a fellow author called Russell Norman about his book Venice that made up Grigson’s mind. She would sell of give away anything that she couldn’t get into her purple car and move to Puglia in Italy. In May 2019 she arrived back there after an absence of 40 years.

Stopping in the town of Vieste she felt welcomed by a magnificent dinner and epic firework display to celebrate a saint. But this wasn’t the place for her, she wanted to go further south and ended up in Ceglie Messapica where she finds a place where she will make her home.

Whilst the food in Puglia is Italian, it is also very much not Italian as it doesn’t take long for her to notice the differences and discover the unique flavours and styles. Each chapter picks up on a food-centric theme about life there, from wood-fired ovens to the absence of cows in the landscape. Some of the dishes look wonderful and will be trying some out.

I liked this a lot, she paints a wonderful picture of life there. I have been to Sardinia and Sicily and Umbria but not this part of Italy as yet. There are more recipes than travel writing than I would have preferred, but Grigson is still an entertaining and informative writer and each recipe has an introduction or a potted history about the dish. If you like Italy and want to make yourself hungry whilst reading this is a good place to start.

[Diana Kitson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always love a cookbook full of stories and recipes. Full of lovely reminders of our trip to Puglia.

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this was such a comfort read. I knew Sophie had left Oxford (where I live) but had no idea about her move to Puglia.

I enjoyed her narrative about settling into small town southern Italy, the very local dishes, customs and way of living. This beautifully written story was packed with recipes described in her usual helpful manner which describes ingredients.

It was a lovely easy read for those who welcome a wallow in Italian life

[Matthew Ogborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though its scope has been hamstrung by the pandemic, there are still enough tasty recipes and local Puglian quirks to make it a diverting read. I didn’t know too much about Grigson’s stellar cooking career before reading this, something I am glad to rectify. I admire her bravery in immersing herself in a new country, especially our beloved Italia.

[Jamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read and some great recipes

[SJS Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with Sophie Grigson‘s Exploding Tomatoes book I was looking for more of the tales from the region, her experiences in Puglia, the characters she met and lives amongst and less of the recipes. Sophie Grigson has a fantastic writing style, I hope someday she writes an expanded version of her life in Puglia, it will be fascinating to read.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and admire the author for packing up and following her dream of moving to Italy. It is such a shame however that the cookbook although crammed with tasty recipes did not come with any photographs.

[Giordana · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, comforting read, full of Pugliese recipes (and a few English ones).

[Daron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Italian Meatloaf recipe is now a staple in the house of High Devine ;0). Great stories and recipes from a legend.

[Lin Tarrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, loved the Italian atmosphere that Sophie conveys in her writing. lots of ideas to try as well.