Experience Sicily

Tag: salemi

  • Let’s Talk Cheese: Part 8

    So, my tips when visiting the caseificio/cheese maker/dairy farm is to arrive early (8:30? You’ll have to ask their schedule.) to watch the process. But most importantly, to taste the tuma and ricotta right off of the draining table, when it’s still warm. Go hungry, and bring with you a few rolls of freshly baked,…

  • Let’s Talk Cheese: Part 7

    Once the curds have formed and have begun to float to the top of the mixture in the cauldron, the cheese maker is on a schedule. Careful to not overcook the curds, he removes them from the heat and then methodically scoops the now ricotta cheese into a different set of plastic baskets that are…

  • Let’s Talk Cheese: Part 6

    If you’ll recall from Part 4 of this series, when the cheese maker pressed the curds in the baskets, from them whey drained into a bucket below the stainless steal, angled tub. Let’s talk about what happens with that liquid, which is sheep’s milk that has been heated and treated with a cocktail of good…

  • Let’s Talk Cheese: Part 2

    On sheep farms that are serious about producing Slow Food designated, Certified Organic, or DOP (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin) certified cheeses, they not only graze their sheep in regional fields that they know are safe for their animals, but they also serve their ladies grains and legumes that they grow on…

  • Sage Soul

    Signor Cucchiara, retired sheep farmer and cheese maker, Salemi, Sicily

  • Building Our Altar for San Giuseppe

    My heart is full of joy after spending the day with such wonderful new and old friends making loaves for San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph)! Thank you to Archestratus Books & Foods for being fabulous hosts! Viva San Giuseppe! ____ Join us next Sunday for la grande festa at Cacio e Vino with its outstanding Sicilian…

  • Prayer In Progress

    Working the dough! Be part of our community celebration! CELEBRATE ST. JOSEPH’S DAY Sunday, March 18, 2 p.m. Where: Cacio e Vino, 80 2nd Avenue, New York City Reserve your spot and more details at https://experiencesicily.com/saint-josephs-day-in-new-york-city/.

  • Thanking Saint Joseph

    CREATE RITUAL LOAVES IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH; Sunday, March 11, 11 a.m. at Archestratus Books & Food, Brooklyn; Reserve your spot and more details at https://experiencesicily.com/saint-josephs-day-in-new-york-city/. Why I Celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day Two years ago January, our New York City rent was raised 12%. It was a shock. My husband and I immediately began…

  • Salemi Welcomes Home Tony Scott

    This weekend, the town of Salemi, the rooftops of which are pictured here, is hosting “Welcome Back Tony Scott,” a festival recognizing one of the town’s famous grandsons, clarinetist Tony Scott (1921-2007). You may or may not know that I’m a clarinet player, so when a documentary film about this Sicilian-American jazz great was shown…