One afternoon, in a hole-in-the-wall in one of those tiny streets of Trapani, I had a lovely lunch of Busiate alla Trapanese. The 'Busiate' pasta … [Read more...]
Caponata
I've fallen a little in love with eggplants. And maybe a little in love with Inspector Montalbano too. The books and TV episodes aren't just smart and … [Read more...]
Sugo di pomodoro
Tomato sauce should be simple. Look on it as a base ingredient. Nothing fancy, just garlic, tomatoes, a little basil, pepper and salt. Don't … [Read more...]
Pasta alla Norma
Who is Norma and why does she have a recipe named for her? Bellini's Opera, Norma, first produced in 1831, was considered to be so brilliant that his … [Read more...]
Mafalda pasta and the sad story of a Princess
It's hard to follow medical orders at the best of times, but for once in my life I've done it. I've kept to my tiresome (faticoso) meat-free diet all … [Read more...]
Simple Salad, a Steep Climb and Artemis
Cefalu is a tiny city, an ancient fishing village, crouched between a towering headland and a little sheltered harbour. From the train window … [Read more...]
The Cyclops, some Rocks and a Swordfish
After Ulysses and his crew, hanging onto the bellies of sheep, escaped from the Cyclop's cave, the angry giant hurled rocks after their boat. You can … [Read more...]
Bikinis and Some Frocia
From just about anywhere in Sicily, you can take a bus to the delightful medieval town of Piazza Armerina, a somewhat bewildering maze of narrow, … [Read more...]
A Fish, a Feud and a Flan
View from my B&B There are so many beautiful places in Sicily that it's hard to know where to start when singing praises for them all, but I … [Read more...]
Polpette di Cavolfiore
I went to Trapani to find Homer. Or rather, to walk along the lungomare where the Odyssey was written. With Samuel Butler's The Authoress of the … [Read more...]
Pesto, Prawns and Linguine
Catania Market Under the shadow of Mount Etna, “A Muntagna”, lies Catania, a monument to survival and resilience. Sicilians, a tough bunch, know … [Read more...]
Cannoli
Cannoli Pastries are a speciality of Sicily and I'd love to tell you of some gorgeous little pasticceria in a tiny hamlet somewhere on the island but … [Read more...]
Green Gold of Bronte
Back in the mythic past, a Cyclops named Bronte, The Thunderer, lived here, an assistant to the blacksmith god, Vulcan, in his forge. They were … [Read more...]
Funghi Misti Trifolati
I found tasty dishes of mushrooms all over Sicily but I remember especially an unexpected early breakfast of rustico bread with roasted … [Read more...]
Arance al Marsala
I wanted to make something simple today. Simple and sweet. Something with the unmistakable taste of Sicily, so I went for oranges soaked in the … [Read more...]
