I'd love to reproduce the scrumptious ravioli with pork, tomato and fennel sauce I enjoyed so much in Modica. It's a beautiful little place, … [Read more...]
Peperone (Capsico) Ripieni
Ripiene means, more or less, filled. You might call it stuffed. However, it's not a word I choose to pair with food, I always associate stuffed … [Read more...]
Panettone Christmas Pudding
The tradition of bestowing Panettone is very much like the The Great Christmas Pudding Swap of my childhood. Everywhere you go, you take one. Everyone … [Read more...]
Saffron, Spice of the Gods
Lo Zafferano So much that's delightful in Sicilian food derives from the days of Arab rule. They brought to Sicily such culinary wonders as … [Read more...]
Arancini
Arancini have been made in Sicily for 1,000 years and it's easy to see why these fried rice croquettes are so popular. They're a fine example of the … [Read more...]
Insalata all’Eoliana in Lipari
Stromboli After escaping from the Cyclops, Ulysses sailed away to the home of Aeolus, ruler of the winds. He would have passed Stromboli, an awesome … [Read more...]
Melanzane
Melenzane in Siracusa Market You can steam eggplants, or eat them fried, stir-fried, boiled, sauteed or cooked in the microwave. If you're feeling … [Read more...]
Caponata in Siracusa
In the piazza outside the cathedral in Siracusa, one of the little trattorie made a nifty Caponata. It was always a pleasant way to spend an hour or … [Read more...]
Farsumagru
I met Francesco and his daughter, Benedetta, in the market at Siracusa. Benedetta spoke to me first as, in halting Italian, I stumbled my way … [Read more...]
When Vulcan came to Sicily
Sicilians speak of Etna in the feminine, and as a good volcano. Very different from Campania, on the mainland, where Vesuvio was always masculine and … [Read more...]
How to Cross the Road in Sicily
Crossing the road is something you learn as a small child, right? Nothing too tricky here, especially when you learn the art of road-crossing in a … [Read more...]
Mangia at the Markets
A Sicilian Mercato isn't just a good spot to get yourself some food, it's an experience of extravagant proportions, a delight in itself. The market … [Read more...]
Sicilians love Nativity Scenes
I love the Nativity scenes too. Very different from the little displays of my childhood which contained the manger, the infant, Mary, Joseph and a … [Read more...]
Catania, Singed and Sooty
It's no wonder Catania has an overall scorched look, the seismic history can only be described as catastrophic. There have been several volcanic … [Read more...]
Taormina, Tourist Town
Etna making a show, from Taormina Over the last few years I'd heard a lot about Taormina. Time to have a look at this fabled town of unrivalled … [Read more...]
