Between ice cream and sorbet: what granita really is Fresh, tasty and naturally icy, sometimes a dessert, sometimes an afternoon snack or why not, even a full lunch paired with a soft brioche: yes, we’re talking about granita, the Sicilian…
Food is interaction and conviviality. It is a social and cultural act, capable of organising relationships, roles, and forms of belonging. Easter lunch in Sicily is perhaps one of the most emblematic expressions of this: a moment in which food…
During WWII Palermo was stuck between Italian and German troops pestering the streets, while British and American planes bombed its centre from the sky. Like many other islands, Sicily was used as granary to grow crops and feed the troops.…
There is an Italian community in Cork, Ireland. A small, young but rapidly growing community. Over the last couple of years, many Italians have found their dimension along the banks of the River Lee. “The Italians of the River…
In Sicily, when we talk about the products of the earth, besides being unique and sometimes unobtainable in other parts of the world, they also have very particular names and that obviously vary even within Sicily itself. When it comes…
There’s an old saying in Palermo: “Se, quannu i balati ra Vucciria s’asciucano”. It loosely translates into: “Sure, let’s touch base again once the Vucciria’s walls are dry”. This saying indicates something that will hardly ever happen. Here’s why and…
It’s Fig Season! What is this fascination Sicilians have with fig trees? I ask this question because I, like most Sicilians, have grown up with the presence of a fig tree sometime during our lives. I have read where many…
Recently, my mom came to my home for a 10-day visit. At 95 years old, my mother is strong-willed, stubborn, has a mouthpiece that will put any long shoreman to shame and has a memory that is still sharp. Her…
The secret to a delicious frittata is to start off with fresh large eggs. Anywhere from 6-12 eggs can be used depending on the size of your frying pan (I use a 13-inch oven-proof non-stick pan.) I typically use 8…
