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…

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…

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