Sogni di Sicilia

I didn't get much sleep, which never bodes well for me (or anyone around me), but I'm in Sicily, and the coffee game is strong here. We ventured back to Bar Colombo, planning to return to Telesys for the restocked charging cable afterwards. Wonderfully crunchy cornetti today. And Caffè Mondiale. Wow. Joe had a cappuccino, but I had mine straight up, so I really tasted the flavor. I loved it so much, I asked one of the brothers (owners?) if I could buy it in a store. No, Signora , it's just to the trade. Do you want a kilo, or how much? I realized he was going to get some for me, but with no room in my suitcase, I politely declined. Maybe I shouldn't have. It was really good. Since our freezer here, about the size of an ice cube tray, isn't freezing the contents of the ice cube tray, I asked the man Joe's question to me earlier today: Where might I buy a small bag of ice? Pescheria  He said, the pescheria . The fish shop. (Yes; I'll certainly bet they have ic...

Happy Sunday! Joe and I walked to take a caffè at Bar Cristal for a change of pace. It's sweet that Piera greets us warmly whenever we step in. I bought some mignon to either bring to Mariella's if we're lunching there, or to eat for breakfast for a week! Cannoli, sfogliatelle, choux di vario tipo; all mouthwatering at an unbelievable price. We took a walk through neighborhoods closer to the belvedere, passing by Alessandro's Barber shop and his favorite pizza place. I noticed a restaurant we hadn't yet tried, and made note of it. Belvedere  Restaurant to try Evangelical church in a garage? I think something got lost in translation  Once home, I put the mignon in the fridge and attempted to make cookies that came close to Christmas spritz. I don't have a spritz maker, so I had the idea to use a piping tip, a pastry bag, and some creativity. It turns out this thick dough will not go through a decorative piping tip, so I used only the tip holder and made little ...

Today, a day of simple pleasures. A sunny walk to Scandura, where one can reach Cornetto nirvana. Light as air, big as a toddler football; flaky, soft, and buttery on the inside, and the perfect croccante on the outside. I may have fainted for a sec. The cappucci are smooth caffeinated perfection. I marvel every day at the treasure we have here with Scandura.The only thing that could kill this place is if you moved it to the Midwest. Scandura has extra-large cappuccini cups, so you can imagine the actual size of those cornetti. We picked up a couple of Arancini to have later, if we're so inclined. Joe logged in again to do some work, and I went through our road trip itinerary, sure to book the first and last stays. We invariably stay near the airport the night before heading back to the States. I need to contact my friends Stacy and Ron in Molise, to see if they're up for a visit, and also my friends Steven and Silva in Portugal, as we will not be going there after all. And t...

Laundry this morning, and breakfast, before we were to meet the Leprechaun (Salvatore?) at 11:00.  I brought the large items (sheets) to Elena's big (for here) washing machine. She informed me that I must be at Mariella's at 10:30; it was very important she had her friends there. I ran up to tell Joe that he and the leprechaun are flying solo. At 10:27, I headed to the lift, going to Mariella's. Fina met me on the landing; she was just coming to get me. A couple I've never met greeted me in the kitchen. You are relatives? I asked. Mariella said, they're here to talk about the padella, as she pointed to her 40-year-old frying pan. Was this some sort of ritual? A blessing of the pots, perhaps? No. It was Imco. Think of Tupperware. Pampered Chef. Mary Kay. Amway. But for frying pans. Women filtered in. Fina, of course. Giovanna, Pina (Maria Teresa's Mom), and for a brief moment, Elena. The saleswoman, also named Pina, was a well-scripted and high-pressure sales wom...

The usual morning routine, then, for a change of pace, caffè at Bar Stissi. Their cornetti are as big as a baby's head, and look delicious. But we stuck to caffè. Then to ortofrutta Fratelli Stissi to buy potatoes and the pale green zucchine so prevalent in Sicily. I remembered Giovanna telling me how to prepare a recipe last spring, zucchine with potatoes, and I loved it. They also had funghi di Ferla , and I couldn't resist. I got a small bag for a small fortune, and a recipe from a Stissi brother, which was basically a sauté barely held together with a couple of eggs. Next time, however, I'll prepare them as you would sea scallops, as that is their flavor. Reading about this particular mushroom is interesting. You almost don't need any other food. They're a good dose of protein, amongst other essentials. Speaking of Giovanna, there she is on the sidewalk in front of Aqua & Sapone, calling to us as we walked by, her words tripping over each other. It often see...

After a morning of trying to find my B12 injection medicine and a little bit of organizing my belongings in the process, Joe and I decided to go to Etnapolis. The car is available, and he wants to get a new sweater. There's a lot of gray today, with just a 15-minute drizzle, but it was enough to keep me from the Wednesday market. I'd better get there next week. Off to Paternò for some shopping.  Etnapolis, anchored by the Home Depot equivalent, Leroy Merlin, and Conforama, a place to outfit your home with sofas, beds, electronics, and more, is a serene mall with beautiful stores and kiosks offering good things to eat. Joe's favorite store, Bucolo, is a men's clothing store. They have beautiful, high-quality items and, if you time it right, as we did today, great prices. I think Joe assumes I'm getting a kickback, since I try to upsell. It's true; I like seeing nice things on him! So his one sweater turned into two sweaters and a dress shirt. Sicilians, especiall...

We spent most of our day mapping out Thailand's substitute; a road trip through mainland Italy. Should be a good time. I also spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out this "mountain semi-formal," and I just don't think I can do it, apparel-wise. Go watch the old series, Barney Miller, and focus on the Ron Harris character. This will give you a glimpse into my conundrum. Later, I walked to Aqua e Sapone to try and replace my lost hair clip. On the way, I passed my favorite pharmacy, and peeked in to see if they have my favorite seasonal air freshener yet. It so happened that my favorite pharmacist was stocking it on the shelves! I love the diffuser, but wanted the misty spray. She didn't have it. So I paid for a few things, then she held up a tiny bottle, saying, " Un regalo per te ," a gift for you. It was the fragrance I wanted, but in perfume form. I was shocked and delighted! Back home, there was little time to exhale, as Ettore and scr...