Each time I go to Sicily it seems more and more like coming home.
On my bucket list is to have a home in Sicily and retire there by the sea, so it is with extreme pleasure that I share my Sicily with my fellow lover’s of food and travel on our culinary expeditions.
off the beaten track in Palermo
I visit Sicily at least three times a year with small groups and each time it just gets better and better.
For me, food is culture and the people that grow the food and prepare the food are ambassadors for their countries.
We always go to markets, and visit a winery, artisans and friends. This trip was no exception. I hope when one goes home, they feel they not only have new recipes but also new friends!
our class with Angelo hand-rolling our own couscous
Sicily is an island filled with amazing food, wine and culture. We always visit the Selinute site, and this year had a fabulous cooking class near by with my friend Gabriella, who also arranges her friend, Vincenzo to come and do a cheese making demo for us. We then take our cheese back and use it for our recipes. This year we made a cassata with our ricotta.
angelo really does this on his own – the only real “demo” we do, rest is hand’s on
goodies at the Capo market in Palermo
Having studied art history in college, Sicily is total gratification! Baroque art, Greek Temples a mind blowing explosion of beauty in one place.
Monreale just outside Palermo
Selinunte, near Castelvetrano
our Primo sale cheese made with Vincenzo
one of the men hand harvesting the sand in Trapani salt flats
A favorite stop is always the salt flats just outside Trapani where the boats to to Mothya. We were lucky to actually see them harvesting the salt. The shop at the Ettore e Infersa has salt and lovely ceramics as well as a collection of jewelery made by Daniela Neri that are lovely.
This year we added a wonderful new event, a wine maker dinner with the lovely Marilena Barbera from Cantina Barbera in Menfi. It was a true pleasure.
Marlena and her Bambina- Rose from Nero D’avola
Another favorite stop on our trip is a visit with Pino Maggiore of the Cantina Siciliana.
Pino- our Trapani expert!
I have openings for my November program which is when the new oil comes out! Bring an extra suitcase to bring back a 5 liter tin!
I am going through my recipes of what we learned on this trip and will post soon. I think the favorite was our Pasta Timballo made with Angelo Pumilia at Planeta.
one of our favorite recipes this trip!
SiciliAmo— I love Sicily
I want to come!!!
Elizabeth– we need to do a road trip together!
Can I come?? 😉
@kim! please do!!!
Bucket List – adding this to it!! I will do a trip with you one day, Judy! Just have to take care of some things first. The timbale looks so delicious!! xo
I need to go back to Sicily!
Sicily has been on my ‘bucket’ list for a long time. This post gives me an urgent need to do it! Very inspiring…
A wonderful place – I did a bike tour through here a couple of years ago. Amazing seafood, great wines from around Mt. Etna, spectacular scenery. So many places like this – you need to plan multiple visits to Italy, you just can’t do it justice in one!
Hi Judy,
Thanks so much for sharing your pix. I have to comment that, as always, the camaraderie comes right through. And that is just one aspect of what is so appealing about you and your “Food Road Trips”, along with your very generous sharing of knowledge and your access to teh coolest of everything. I have viewed lots of companies and there photos, but there is just something so unique, so special, so infectious about the enjoyment your students exhibit. M’dear, you’ve got the gift!