About Al Fornello da Ricci
Al Fornello da Ricci is everything that Puglia's culinary tradition represents: a family-run kitchen in the countryside around Ceglie Messapica, sustained by three generations of the Ricci family, cooking the dishes of this region with a conviction and technical mastery that has earned a Michelin star without departing from the essential warmth of Puglian home cooking.
The menu at Al Fornello is grounded in the specific agricultural and culinary identity of the Valle d'Itria — the area bounded by Alberobello, Martina Franca, and Ostuni that represents the heart of Puglia's white hilltop town culture. Handmade orecchiette, gnumerieddi (the small Puglian lamb offal rolls cooked over charcoal), fave e cicoria, bombette from the neighbouring town of Cisternino — these are preparations that have been made in this valley for centuries, and the Ricci family cooks them with the authority of people who learned from the generation before them.
The outdoor terrace at Al Fornello, set within an olive grove that has been part of the estate for generations, is one of the most idyllic lunch settings in Puglia in the summer months. The dining room inside is rustic but not rough — the accumulated character of a family business maintained with care. The wine list favours the Puglian producers of the Valle d'Itria and Salento, with Primitivo and Negroamaro well represented alongside a limited selection of Italian bottles.
For understanding what Puglia's culinary tradition actually means — not as a concept but as a living practice maintained by people who care deeply about it — Al Fornello da Ricci is the essential destination.
Best Occasion Fit
For birthday celebrations, the combination of family warmth, Michelin recognition, and the olive grove terrace makes Al Fornello da Ricci a setting that feels celebratory without formality — genuine Puglian hospitality at its finest. For team dinners, the shared-plate format of traditional Puglian cooking creates an environment in which conversation and connection happen naturally.