"This is friselle, a classic snack from the Puglia region of Italy. They are typically prepared by soaking them in water for a couple of seconds (or passed through running cold water for two or three seconds), adding fresh cherry tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, a touch of salt, pepper and oregano. They're a staple food, produced for their long conservation period and a valid alternative to bread, especially in those periods when flour was scarce. This image was shot for a book titled My Calabria: Rustic Family Cooking From Italy's Undiscovered South. It was such an eye opening experience on how to be frugal and resourceful with minimal ingredients."