In 1950, my father Peter (Pietro), uncle Stefano, and grandmother Lorenzina traveled to Sicily from Brooklyn for a 3-month visit. The five cousins standing on this hill overlooking Porticello and Bagheria–Pietro, Stefano, Franco, Pietro, and Mimmo–bonded that summer. I’m fortunate to have met them all. What a gang! Have you met your relatives in the…
Tag: Bagheria
The Sea At Zafferano
“The sea at Zafferano flashes cross my mind… I come from a braver kind… I feel so alive, I feel so sure, with the sun on my path and the wind at my back…” Capo Zafferano, pictured, and my grandparents’ immigration from this area, inspired my song and performance, “Jump,” released ten years ago this…
The Red Carpet For You In Sicily
Yes, I will lay out the red carpet for you! Well, figuratively speaking, I will. When you join me, Allison Scola, for our 2019 Experience Sicily small-group, multi-sensory tours, my team and I take care of all of the details, so all you have to do is pack. We’ll meet you at the airport in…
Gelato Con Brioche in Sicily
When eating a gelato con brioche (a light, sweet, butter-infused roll (brioche) cut in half and stuffed with gelato), the question always is: Who will win: you or the brioche? I think I did pretty well here in Aspra with my pistachio. (Photo Credit: Filippo Buttitta)
Feels Good To Be Home
It feels good to be “home.” When I see Capo Zafferano, pictured, and swim in the sea below, I am in my land. These are the waters where my grandfather fished and swam more than 100 years ago before emigrating to the United States. It’s an amazing feeling to think of him and my grandmother…
The Sea, The Cape, And I
Looking forward to sitting here at Le Piscine, gazing at Capo Zafferano in a couple of weeks. I’ll probably take a swim too. One week until another adventure in Sicily begins!
Ricotta is Right
This beautiful plate of “pasta alla Norma” was my dinner back at the beginning of June in Bagheria, Sicily my grandmother’s hometown. It is the classic Sicilian pasta dish, made with maccheroni (in this case rigatoni) with a light tomato sauce, sautéed (or fried) eggplant, grated salted ricotta, and if available, fresh basil. Please take…
Pesto Control
Local trattorias, like one of my all-time favorites, Don Ciccio in Bagheria, usually offer seasonal specials that we covet because they only appear on menus annually, when the produce is fresh from the garden. For example, this bucatini pasta appears to be dressed with a familiar basil pesto; however, basil is not the base here,…
Saint Joseph, The Protector and Father
San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph, pictured in this altar from Sicily, is one of the most venerated saints south of Rome. The spouse of the Virgin Mary and the guardian-father of Jesus, he is regarded as the patron saint of fathers. In fact, in Italy, Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19, is also Father’s Day. Saint…
Sfincione for Christmas Eve in Sicily
Very different from our Italian-American tradition for Christmas Eve, which is to have a large, family meal often featuring fish, the tradition my cousins in Bagheria, Sicily follow for “La Vigilia,” is to have sfincione Bagherese along with pan-fried cardoon (artichoke thistle) and maybe a small serving of pasta. Pictured is my cousin Evelina’s favorite…