Puglia Spends Over €270 Million on Festive Food and Drinks
The prolonged feasting season, from Christmas Eve to New Year‘s Day, has seen Puglians indulge in gastronomic delights, spending over €270 million on food and drinks, according to Coldiretti Puglia. Around 90% of Puglians celebrated with family and friends at home, fueling the festive expenditure.
Seafood took center stage at the vigilia dinner,appearing on 7 out of 10 tables (71%). However, meat dishes dominated the Natale lunch, with a mix of meats, pasta, and homemade dolci. Preparing these feasts took an average of 3 hours in the kitchen.
The Santo Stefano lunch marked the end of the festive period, with traditional dishes like lasagna, pasta al forno, and local produce featuring prominently. Antispredco traditions also played a significant role in the meals.
Spumante graced 83% of tables, while local seasonal fruit was present on 88%. Panettone was the preferred dolce, chosen by 77% of diners, followed by pandoro at 55%. Moreover, 56% opted for local traditional sweets, and 47% dared to bake their own panettone or pandoro.
This festive season saw Puglians not only enjoy the culinary delights their region offers but also contribute significantly to the local economy.