Sicilian Gastronomic Itinerary

 

Join us on our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary! Traveling in Sicily can be likened to a kid in a candy store. You’re constantly bedazzled by it’s fragrances, colors, and flavors.

 

And then, there is the landscape, so many hidden gems.  I’m not sure if it was the rocky sea cliffs of Scopello’s Parco Dello Zingaro? Or the Bikini Girls of Villa Romana del Casale of Piazza Armerina in Enna (historical proof that women have been working out since the rise of the Roman Empire)? Perhaps it was the Baroque splendor of Noto, Ragusa, and Siracusa (entire cities forced to rebuild after a devastating earthquake in 1693).  Most noteworthy, this island leaves a lasting impression. Finally, Sicily draws you in, and keeps you there.

 

While on our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary we leave no stone unturned, and no city untouched. Our pilgrimage includes stops in Palermo, Erice, San Vito Lo Capo, Trapani, Marsala, Agrigento, Castelvetrano, Catania, Massina, and Cefalu’, to name a few. Every city has its own story, recounted by the churches, temples, and villas left behind by the invasion of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish.  Hence, Sicily is an island steep in diverse history, culture, and traditions.

 

 

Cannoli!!!!!!

Our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary begins with a cannoli. Yes, a cannoli, a heavenly pastry dessert filled with fresh, sweet Ricotta cheese.  Well, whether you  start the story with cannoli, couscous di peace, arancini, or sfincione, the point is, Sicily may as well be equated to gastronomic heaven.

 

Therefore, you can’t discuss this wonderful island without highlighting its gastronomic success and diversity. The gastronomy of Sicily boasts all of the regulars of Italian cuisine, such as fresh and local pasta, fruit, vegetables, and seafood.  And then, it brings it to another level with its local ingredients. I am not sure if it’s the volcanic soil, the dry summers, or the short wet winters, yet there is something about Sicilian gastronomy that sets it above the rest. It seems like the invasion of so many cultures introduced this island to its gastronomic diversity. Most of all, undertones of citrus, cumin, and saffron, accompanied by almonds and pistachios, can be found in most dishes.

 

 

Couscous di Pesce

Next, our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary takes you to San Vito Lo Capo.   You can’t leave without having a plate of Couscous di Pesce, preferably in September during the yearly festival that celebrates this culinary delight. This dish is brought together by the laborious and careful preparation of semola (which then becomes couscous), then combining a wide variety of local fish, mollusks, and crastacia. This dish is a most noteworthy culinary indulgence.

 

INGREDIENTS (though there are variations)

250 grams of pre-cooked couscous

1 kg of various kinds of fish broth (redfish, snapper, mullet, bream, shrimp, etc.).

Extra virgin olive oil

A knob of butter

2 carrots

1 clove garlic

2 stalks celery

A bunch of parsley

2 onions

A bay leaf

3-4 ripe peeled diced tomatoes (or peeled ready)

Saffron

50 grams of chopped almonds

Salt and Pepper To Taste

A pinch of paprika

Chili pepper if you like it hot!

 

 

Sicilian Street Food  

While In Palermo we head to Osteria Ballard’. Satiate your palate with Involuting di Pesce Spada, a plate incorporating swordfish, eggplant, pecorino, basilica, pinoli, and raisins, among other tantalizing ingredients. I also suggest another Sicilian culinary specialty, Polpette di Sarde; you won’t be disappointed. Palermo is also home to Sicilian Street Food, showcasing tasty delights such as Sfincione (don’t call it pizza or bread, Sicilians take offense to it), Panelle (savory chick pea pancakes), or Arancini (baseball sized balls of rice filled with every filling imaginable). But the list is endless; you have to try the eggplant caponata, pasta con le Sarde or alla Norma.  In conclusion, in Trapani I had an unforgettable plate of pasta with Pesto Trapans; we were sharing plates that night and I quickly regretted my decision – I wanted it all for myself.

 

 

Pass the Sicilian Wine, please! 

Finally, what’s a meal without a great glass of Sicilian wine. 300 days of sunshine, long harvests, bio diversity, and island winds help create some of the most sublime wine Sicily has to offer. I found their white wines particularly sweet, and their reds, strong and bold. While Nero d’Avola dominates the market, Sicily is also going organic, offering customers a wide variety of organic Sicilian wines. A cold, crisp glass of Carjcanti , accompanied by a Couscous di Pesce on a warm summer evening, is pure gastronomic bliss.

 

Most of all, to top off our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary, perhaps the most delightful experience you will have is the Sicilians themselves. They are, beyond a doubt, some of the most welcoming, warm, helpful, and jovial people I have ever encountered throughout my travel adventures of Southern Europe. Given the devastating impact of the Mafia after World War II, I wasn’t expecting to meet such an optimistic and trusting culture. Instead, I found myself immersed in a diverse and relentless society that refuses to surrender to the “pizza”, breathtaking temples and mosaics, and an inspiring gastronomic tour de force. Welcome to Sicily. Welcome to our Sicilian gastronomic itinerary. 

 

 

Sicilian gastronomic itinerary

Want to know more about our Sicilian Gastronomic itinerary? Planning on traveling to Europe?  What to know more about personalized guided tours on history, architecture, and design?  Or are you more about wine, sacred places, art, and gastronomy? Whether you’re looking for simple suggestions on where to eat, how to move around, and what to see, or if you need hour by hour organization of a 2 week guided trip throughout Europe and yearning to experience Europe like a local, we have the creativity, knowledge, and organizational skills to plan your every detail. In addition to being local, we speak multiple languages.  Mostly, we are enthusiastic, responsible, and responsive, and we have 15 years worth of experience in the tourism sector.

 

We offer customers solutions.  Take a look at just some of the reasons you should consider using South Europe Travel to plan your next European vacation:

 

Experience Europe like a local

• First of all, we create customer travel and event itineraries for people seeking to experience an authentic Europe.  To know a culture and to have a life changing experience includes typical tourist attractions. But, an “experience” is more than simply strolling down “Las Ramblas,” visiting the Eiffel Tower or the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We deliver optimum service because day to day, we live, breath and rediscover these countries.  Therefore, this allows us to share their true identity, splendor, and secrets with our clients.

 

Expect the unexpected

• Furthermore, we maximize European travel and event experiences and expectations. For example, plan on visiting Sicily and traveling throughout this cultural Mecca by car? If so, there are important details you should know.  Most of all, driving through Sicily means closed roads, velocity radars, and safety issues. Our attention to detail prepares you for these unexpected hurdles and relieves you of the stress involved in planning your event or vacation.  You should focus on your journey, not the road.

 

Time = $$$

• Most of all – time is money. It takes approximately 8 hours a day to create an organized vacation or event day that meets and surpasses your expectations. In conclusion, do you have the time, money, and expertise to do it on your own?

 

Get more for your $$$

• Poor choices during your journey costs money – sometimes more money than you would have spent on hiring a travel/event consultant! As a result, a taxi driver that takes the “scenic” route, choosing the wrong, overly expensive hotel, or dining at a tourist trap can easily cost you an extra 100 to 150 euro a day.  Mostly, you’ll be sorely disappointed with your experience!

 

Think outside the box

• Finally, while our goal is to cater to your European travel and event planning requests, we can also help you “think outside the box”. Utilize our knowledge, adaptability, and flexibility to create a travel or event itinerary that affords you new and unexpected experiences.  Let us help you create unforgettable memories to share with friends and family.

 

Please contact us at info@southeuropetravel.com should you have any questions regarding the above steps, our services, or your European travel and event plans.

 

Lastly, we are three women specializing in South Europe Travel. We love this region and all it has to offer and we would like to share its secrets with you.