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…
Tag: sfincione
Keeping It Simple for Christmas Eve
Very different than our Italian-American tradition for Christmas Eve, which is to have a large, family meal often with fish, my cousins in Bagheria, Sicily have a simple meal for “La Vigilia.” Their tradition is to have sfincione Bagherese (pictured), pan-fried cardoon (artichoke thistle), and maybe a small serving of pasta. They reserve their large,…
Sfincione Bagherese, A Different Kind of Ambrosia
Sfincione from Bagheria is a very special thing. And this particular sfincione, from Panificio Ragusa, which sports an antique wood-burning oven, heated by burning olive branches, makes a sfincione that is hard to forget. Fresh ricotta, anchovies, onions, and breadcrumbs are masterfully baked into a thick, spongy bread. Someone recently posted on Panificio Ragusa’s Facebook…
Chef Melissa Muller Leads Us through Sicily
In Italy, and definitely in Sicily, citizens are most patriotic to the traditions and cultural practices followed within the sound of the church bell that they can hear, a concept called campanilismo. As a result, contrary to popular belief, only a handful places ritually eat seven kinds of fish on Christmas Eve. For example, in…
Surprised Was I
My cousin Evelina surprised me today when I asked her about the famed “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” an Italian-American tradition I thought also was practiced in Sicily on Christmas Eve. She didn’t know what I was talking about (Neither did my friend Vittorio from Caserta, outside of Napoli, when I asked him if he…
Warm Sfincione
Warm sfincione, or “sfinciuni” in Sicilian, served directly from the street vendor is a real treat. Palermo-style (There are different recipes in each town.) is a flat bread with a sauce of tomatoes, anchovies, and Caciocavallo cheese baked into it with some oregono and breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. This one has a tomato slice baked…
Renato’s Sfincione-mobile
Palermo is world-famous for its street food. Last summer in the Kalsa district, my cousin Giulia and I ran into Renato and his “Sfincione-mobile.” Well, he didn’t call it that, but I do! From this box on wheels, Renato sells “Il meglio dello Sfincione; Specialità all’Antica; Pulizia e Serietà” … “The best of the Sfincione;…
Palermo’s Sfincione
Palermo’s street food is legendary, and a favorite, sfincione, or sfinciuni in Sicilian, looks like pizza, but is not! It’s a flat bread with a sauce of tomatoes, anchovies, and Caciocavallo cheese baked into it with some oregono and breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #sicily_tourism #palermo #italy #italia #sfincione #pizza #streetfood #lunch