Best Wishes To Cantina Quattrocieli

Cantina Quattrocieli in Alcamo, Sicily, a winery I visited in September (pictured), reported that they tasted their novello (new wine) for San Martino, and they are happy with the results thus far. For the young wine makers, who are still growing their business and perfecting their craft, this is wonderful news! Bravi e auguri!

When Making Cannoli

Look at these beauties I came upon this evening in Acitrezza, Sicily at Eden Bar! “Holy cannoli” is right! As I get ready for our Experience Sicily hands-on cooking and wine tour, Stirring Sicily, (presented along with Zest Lititz, Penn. and Chef Antonino Elia) that starts tomorrow, a word of advice for when you make…

Gelato Dreams

What’s your favorite flavor? Because on this, a day scientists have cited as the most depressing day of the year, dreams of gelato in Sicily can cheer us all up. Here’s a selection available from one of my favorite spots: La Rotunda in Casteldaccia, Palermo Province.

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…

Hands-on Sicily

Visiting the vibrant markets of Sicily is a crash course in Sicilian cuisine, the natural world, and culture all at once. Here, I’m in Il Capo market in Palermo getting a lesson on spatola (or spatula aka silver scabbarfish or lepidopus caudatus) from the fish monger. Spatola is a beautiful silver, long fish found in…

Where Should We Eat?

You’ve just woke up after a nap you took to recover from your overnight, international flight. You are hungry. You only have so many dinners to enjoy in Sicily. Now, what? Planning an international trip can be daunting for many people. And Sicily specifically, is so rich with things to do–and food to eat!–and is…

You Can Too

These are the able hands of my husband, Joe, making the typical fresh pasta, busiate, from Trapani. Joe, along with our traveling companion, Fred, made a big beautiful bowl of busiate during our hands-on cooking class in Trapani’s historic center. (I contributed too, but my ringlets weren’t as well-formed around those darn reeds!). You too…