Lunch with Alice

April 16, 2013

Alice hosted a luncheon yesterday.

Lunch under the Olives in Sicily, copyright Jann Huizenga

A 4-legged critter with eyelashes long as dreams, Alice set quite a charming table in the middle of her grassy field, under twirling olive trees.

table

Her human, Antonio, threw steaks on the grill. Not just any old steaks, but those of Massimiliano Castro, named best butcher in Sicily.  We devoured them like a pack of wild animals while Alice, a vegetarian, kept right on chomping her grass. Once in a while her boyfriend would bray from across the valley, and Alice would holler right back. He haw he haw he haw! It’s spring, and love is in the air.

For dessert, Antonio made cuccia, the traditional dessert eaten in Siracusa for Santa Lucia feast day–a heart-stopping concoction of grain, ricotta, honey, orange rind, and orange flower water. Head chef at his Donnalucata restaurant, Consiglio di Sicilia, Antonio plans to add the dessert to his menu. Reason enough to get on a plane and fly here all the way from Kansas.

Antonio Cicero with his cuccia, copyright Jann Huizenga

Chef Antonio Cicero with his cuccia

Among the guests joining Alice was Sicilian-born, Melbourne-based Marisa Raniolo Wilkins, author of the fabulous Sicilian Seafood Cooking. A gorgeous book created with love for all things Sicilian. Complimenti, Marisa!

Marisa Raniolo Wilkins, copyright Jann Huizenga

Thank you, Alice, for a wonderful afternoon in your field. You’re welcome at my table anytime.

Antonio Cicero, copyright Jann Huizenga

Chef Antonio with Alice

***

If you are interested in having a similar lunch with Alice, either with cooking classes or a culinary tour (incuding a salami tasting with Massimiliano), drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with Antonio and his wife Roberta.

***

Massimiliano Castro, copyright Jann Huizenga

Massimiliano Castro, Sicily’s best butcher

Click to subscribe to BaroqueSicily.

Find me on Facebook.

My photography website.

Site Meter BlogItalia.it - La directory italiana dei blog