Sun-kissed Sicily

Toarmina and the Strait of Messina

On the map, Sicilia or Sicily is that island just off the toe of Italy’s ‘boot’. This part of Italy was made famous by the Sicilian Mafia which received further attention from the book and movie, The Godfather. Well apart from this, there is so much more that the island has to enjoy and explore.

In history, Sicily was ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans and others. The strategic location in the center of the Mediterranean has made it a crossroad of history and a melting pot of several ethnic groups whose merchants were attracted by its shores.

Just back from a family vacation on the east coast of this mysterious island, I was fascinated by all that it has to offer and a part of me has stayed behind, waiting to go back for more next summer! There are plenty of flights from all European destinations into Catania, the main city in eastern Sicily. Rent a car from the airport and lose yourself in any direction you want!

Mount Etna smoking

Starting with the north, we headed to the hilltop town of Taormina which overlooks the sea and sits in the shadow of the majestic Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe. This is very active and gives off regular clouds of smoke and periodic bursts of lava. You can go up to a point by car and then further up by cable car or trek with a guide. I had only read about craters, lava rocks and volcanic soil in my geography books in school but to actually experience it was surreal.

Talking of volcanic soil, this is an ash rich soil which favours grape cultivation resulting in some of the best wines in the world. Throughout the trip, we indulged in Sicilian wines and each one was better than the other. There are several wineries in the Etna region who open their doors to visitors to taste and buy their wines.

The views from Taormina are breath taking. You can see mainland Italy, the region of Calabria on the other side of the strait of Messina. We stayed in a lovely Air B and B apartment for 4 days with a beautiful view from the pool and balcony. . For those of you not familiar with Air B&B, I highly recommend trying them if you with kids or in a large group and want to stay put in one place for more than 3 days.

Enjoy the town, with little streets, boutiques and stepped alley ways. Very similar to the towns on the Amalfi coast and Greek islands. If you want to relax on the beach, Giardino Naxos down below, is a 10 min drive and more relaxed. You can blend into local life here with less tourist trap.

We then spent five days in the south with a base in the beautiful town of Noto. Being a family with young kids, once again, we opted for an Air B& B house right on the beach and it worked out very well.

Sicilian cannoli

The charming baroque town of Noto is famous for its almonds which have even been recommended by Massimo Bottura in his book “ Never trust a skinny Italian chef”. The region is also known for its pistachios which have a flavour and colour completely different from what we in India are familiar with. Pastry shops are filled with sweets made with these glorious nuts along with the popular Sicilian sweet, cannoli. Traditionally, cannoli is filled with a creamy ricotta and pistachio but today, you have shops which specialize in cannoli in all sorts of flavours. For me, every coffee stop was accompanied with a mini cannolo while the kids indulged in fresh fruit granitas.

There are plenty of “agriturismo” and “masseria” in the countryside which have been converted into boutique hotels with modern facilities while maintaining their rustic charm. La Corte del Sole around Noto, is one such gorgeous farmhouse hotel in the middle of olive groves and orange orchards. An ideal place for couples to stay and enjoy the romantic ambience. We had a fabulous dinner at their restaurant with a gorgeous view and a beautiful sunset.

Drive up and down the coast and enjoy the white sand beaches at Avola, San Lorenzo, Fontana Bianca or just stop at a deserted spot you fancy and enjoy mother nature which has been untouched. The crystal clear water with calm waves and little friendly fish for company, are a pleasure to swim in and I often felt like I was in those travel shows on TV where everything looks too good to be true! If you like jumping off cliffs into the ocean, you can join the local kids who do this all summer. The Natural Reserve of Vendicari is famous for its rocky shores, virgin beaches, hiking, snorkeling and bird watching. This is a protected zone and a ‘must do’ for the adventurous and sporty lot.

Due to its unique location, Sicily is a bridge between Europe and Northern Africa and the Middle East. You see this in the vegetation where date palms and cacti line the roads. Red sandstone is widely used in the construction and coupled with the scorching summer sun, you would forget you were in Italy. I see a significant Arabic influence in the designs of ceramics and furniture as well as the cuisine where dates, dry fruits, saffron and spices.

People watching at the central piazza at Siracusa

We spent one day in the port town of Siracusa but you could also make that your base if you prefer a more vibrant scene. The charming piazzas are bustling with people and the streets lined with posh restaurants and bars while street food vendors sell hot arancini and fried seafood. If your keen on a sailing trip or a half day boat ride, Siracusa is the place to do so. Do some people watching while dining at one of the seafood restaurants by the promenade . Did I mention that the seafood in Sicily is so fresh it literally tastes of the sea?!

Fish that still smells of the sea.

I really enjoyed visiting the morning farmers market which was overflowing with the freshest seafood just brought in by the boats, over a hundred types of tomatoes, sun kissed oranges and lemons, spices, varieties of olives and eggplants I had never seen before and so much more. The colourful ambience filled with positive energy and enthusiasm of both the vendors and the customers was intoxicating.

Sicilian olive oil has a particular sweetness which is different from that produced in other parts of the country. I was told that the generous amount of sunshine which the region is blessed with, contributes to this unique flavour in the olives. Not surprising that I came back with several little bottles as gifts.

Tomato varieties at a farmers’ market

Marzamemmi, is a quaint fishing village famous for its tuna and swordfish. The picturesque alleys are an instagrammer’s delight with a strong influence of the Greek islands. We had a memorable meal by the seaside indulging in the local cuisine. “Involtini di pesce spade” or Swordfish rolls filled with pistachio and breadcrumbs, Ravioli stuffed with swordfish in an orange sauce and pistachio crumble, Calamari (squid) stuffed with raisins, almonds and herbs in a delicious tomato and onion sauce. These are typical Sicilian seafood dishes which have inspired me so stay tuned for the recipes!

Italy is a vegetarian’s paradise compared to a lot of other European countries and Sicily has a lot to offer. “Melanzane” or the humble eggplant is the star vegetable in Sicilian kitchens. Pasta alla Norma and caponata have won me over and are sure to convert those who dislike “baingan”!

The pasta with pistachio pesto had me licking my spoon every time. Make your own pistachio pesto made by blending pistachio, parmesan,2-3 basil leaves and good quality olive oil. Add some lemon zest to brighten it up. Here the pistachio is the hero and you just toss pasta into it or add some seafood, ham or cherry tomatoes.

Talking of cooking simple vibrant Mediterranean flavours, come cook with me at my two workshops in Kolkata this week. Through the dishes, I’ll be discussing cooking techniques, meal planning, using leftovers and tips on kitchen efficiency for our busy lifestyles. Learn to cook quick flavourful meals using local ingredients with minimal fuss. Please see the details in the box below.

A presto, Kolkata!

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