Maria Grammatico tried to teach me the delicate art of making pastries. Beautiful masterpieces, with names like “Sighs and Desires” and “Almond Pillows” and the awkward “Nuns’ Breasts.” But she didn’t learn to make dolci (Italian for “sweets”) because she...
Magnificent Mosaics of Sicily’s Villa Romana del Casale
Once upon a time in Sicily, about 1700 years ago, a very rich Roman–maybe Emperor Maximian–built a very large home. He brought very skilled artists from Africa to cover all the floors in very colorful mosaics…nearly 38,000 square feet...
Naples Pizza: A UNESCO Cultural Treasure…and Treat
Pizza. It’s universal these days. But in Italy, where one of the world’s favorite foods was born, Naples pizza (pizza napoletana) is now officially recognized by UNESCO. Indeed, in December 2017, the pizzaiuoli–the skilled Neapolitans who spin and twirl...
How to Eat Pasta: Instructions from a Sicilian
How to eat pasta? You mean there are rules? Assolutamente! Absolutely! Tommaso Pante, native Sicilian, licensed tour guide, and owner of Sunway, is adamant on the proper way to eat the pasta that is lovingly cooked by sisters, wives, mothers,...
Sicily Markets: Beauty of Fresh Foods
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Sicily = Perfect produce! The markets of Sicily show the island’s bounty of fresh produce and fish at their freshest. Go early to see the vendors prepare for the day, bantering with each other...