Food Markets- Feast for your Eyes

Nice to know I am in good company!
Mimi sheratons article is a fabulous list
of where to see great markets.

Torino

I recall at the age of 20, being drawn to, and repulsed at the same time, to the market in Athens, the strong smells overwhelming my innocent American nose, heavily brined kalamata olives, strong sheeps cheese and raw meat.
Yet I was unable to resist going to the soup kitchen at the market late at night to join in elbow to elbow with locals at the counters digging in with relish to hot bowls of soup, coming from the huge steaming pots.
The roasted sheep’s heads and tripe were a little too much for my young American palate at the time, but try them I did.

The cinnamon rice pudding and the syrupy galaktobourika
I learned to make by sign language in the basement of the “milk shop” in the Plaka near the market are still imbedded in my food memory.

Little did I know back in 1973, that I would find myself in Florence 20 years later still drawn to the markets and eating at the market stands, now loving tripe sandwiches.

On a recent trip to Palermo, I am embarassed to say, we did not see any museums, but I am proud to say I did see all three markets! And I ate the street food set up in the piazza late at nightin the Vucceria. Incredible grilled meats.
If I had had more of an appetite, I would also have had some of the boiled octopus, a copper pot, a portable gas burner and a lovely serving dish.

I don’t really think they have permits,
but was some of the best food I had in Palermo.

Mullet

I will be going back to Sicily again soon to get more foto’s and do research for a foodie trip to Sicily for next October,
Palermo to Catania. I will arrange to see some museums this time.

Maialino- suckling pigs

Maybe.