Baby Dicecca — Restaurant in Cassano delle Murge

Nestled within the enchanting embrace of the Mercadante forest, the Cheese Bar delivers a truly unforgettable culinary escapade that marries the delights of fine cheese with the serenity of nature. My visit to this hidden gem was nothing short of magical, as I embarked on a sensory journey that left an indelible mark on my taste buds and heart.

From the moment I stepped foot into the rustic wooden kiosk, I was greeted by the warm smiles of Vito and Roberta, the heart and soul behind this exquisite cheese haven. Their passion for their craft is palpable, and it radiates through every aspect of this charming establishment. The absence of a traditional menu only adds to the allure, as it allows them to tailor a personalized tasting experience that resonates with each guest.

As I settled into the quaint surroundings, the symphony of the Mercadante forest provided the perfect backdrop to this gastronomic adventure. The juxtaposition of savoring a curated selection of cheeses – ranging from velvety fresh varieties to bold, mature creations – against the backdrop of 1300 hectares of wilderness was a sensory delight that is simply unparalleled.

But the Cheese Bar is more than just a place to indulge in delectable cheeses; it's a haven of authenticity and connection. The story of how this haven came to be, inspired by a simple wooden kiosk and the desire to create a haven for one's child, tugs at the heartstrings and adds an extra layer of warmth to the experience. As I observed families and friends gather around, laughter and joy filling the air, I couldn't help but feel that I was part of a larger, heartwarming narrative.

The pairing of local wines and traditional Apulian delicacies with the cheeses further elevated the tasting experience. Each bite was a harmonious symphony of flavors, a dance of textures that tantalized the palate and awakened the senses. Vito and Roberta's expertise in guiding us through this culinary journey was truly commendable – their knowledge and enthusiasm transformed every bite into an adventure.

A visit to the Cheese Bar in the forest is more than just a meal; it's an escape, a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's a celebration of life's simple pleasures, a reminder to savor every moment, and a testament to the power of nature's embrace. Whether you're a cheese aficionado or simply looking for a unique and heartwarming experience in Puglia, the Cheese Bar is an absolute must-visit. My heart is full, my taste buds are content, and my soul is rejuvenated – and I have Vito, Roberta, and the Mercadante forest to...

We visited Baby Dicecca on a family holiday in Puglia. I had read a lot of great reviews, and loved the idea of escaping from the heat in a wooded forest, tasting local cheese and accompanying wine. Having had a bit of conversation with the restaurant beforehand, I was told that the full experience was 75euro, if you did not want to have any wine it would be 38 euro and all children under 10 were free of charge.

It is a little tricky to find, as they have moved to a slightly larger cabin about 2 mins further along from the old location as on Google maps. It is beautifully set out with lovely spatterware ceramics and our children were delighted when they saw an adventure playground right beside, which is a fantastic set up if you visit as a family.

The service was attentive and friendly. The variety of cheeses and dishes was quite focused on goat's cheese, and also blue cheese. There was an incredible aged blue cheese in Primitivo with cherries, but mostly while everything was very pleasant, I didn't find anything that remarkable or standout. In terms of wine pairing, there was a white wine, a sparkling rose and then some grappa at the end. In my opinion, these were not really considered as a pairing with any particular dish or cheese board, more just showcasing some local wine. I did find it unusual that a red wine wasn't offered, particularly as there was a few strong and blue cheeses to taste. I didn't really believe the wine flight to be good value for nearly 40 euro.

In regards to children eating free, there was no table places set for them, and they were both offered some lemon goat milk yoghurt and a biscuit, and that was it. They both loved it though! The owner left a rather defensive response to my husband's review, saying that our children had broken their irrigation system - there was a hose switched on lying directly on the ground, around the side of property, a good 20m or so from the dining terrace. they basically moved it around a bit to watch where the water was flowing to. No one asked us to tell them to leave it alone, or that there was a problem so I don't think that warranted such a clipped reply.

Anyway, we spent a nice afternoon there, just were a little underwhelmed by the experience and did think it was a bit...

It's taken me awhile to write this due to frustration and anger and overall feeling of being scammed, but here it goes. We came to Italy for our elopement and honeymoon. My husband and I LOVE to cook. He is southern Italian and we cook Italian food a lot but have never made cheese from scratch. All we wanted was to learn how to make our favorite cheeses to add to our meals and that's what we thought we were signing up for with the "experience." This could not have been further from the truth.

We were told to arrive 15 minutes early for our 940am experience that was supposed to end at 240pm. Vito arrived close to 11am and we spent from 925-he arrived looking at the deer and talking to his wife and another man who worked there. The "class" consisted of watching him for about 10 minutes and getting to try it ourselves for about 5 minutes. We were not given instructions, recipes, or even the cheese we had made. We got a brief tour of the tiny kitchen and were offered wine. Soon, other guests came into the space and we realized it was full lunch service, but we were confused. That could not have been the whole experience, it was and it was over at 2. We knew the price of the meal was 80 euro per person and what we had paid for was 350 EURO PER PERSON. We thought, maybe it was 350 for the private lesson and we would not be charged anymore and we had misunderstood. But even 350 total seemed crazy for what we experienced.

Looking around, we were served the exact meal as every one else. And while we were served lots of wine, we didn't even look to see if others were as well. We didn't even want the wine- it was the middle of the day and we had to drive 40 minutes back to our apartment. We wanted to learn how to make cheese.

I have never felt so scammed in my life and only hope that no one ever signs up for "In Vito's Hands" because no one else should have to throw away as much money as we did. This was the "expensive and extravagant part" of our honeymoon and we spent the money because his marketing and website copy made it sound worth it. I have never been so disappointed. While the food was good, it wasn't even worth 80 euro per person compared to some of the other meals we...