Anna Maggio was born in a small village in the Puglia region of southern Italy. Her early childhood memories are an essential part of her life, and the simple and traditional recipes inherited from her mother sparkle with love and flavor.

Under the Olive Tree is a celebration of the culture and cuisine of Puglia. Using fifty authentic, traditional Puglianese recipes as a vehicle for memory and identity, Maggio takes readers on a journey through a fascinating and magical part of southern Italy.

Puglia is known for the quality of its olives, vegetables, and fruit, and its cuisine relies on these ingredients, cooked simply and deliciously. Each season is different, and the recipes passed from generation to generation celebrate, rather than disguise, the intense flavors and colors of the raw ingredients of the region. Many of the recipes in this book were passed down through families by demonstration and are recorded here on paper for the first time.

More than just a cookbook, Under the Olive Tree is the story of the spirit of a people and a place. Enhanced by beautiful illustrations in pencil and ink, it’s as much a pleasure to look at as it is to read and cook from.