Cafe Sicilia

Sicily has a unique food culture different from the rest of Italy. It is an island and has been attacked & inhabited by Greeks, Arabs and other cultures. This has influenced their food, deeply.

And it is bloody hot in Sicily.

So mornings are ice cream time!

Sicilians are divided …over their preference for the two famous variants of granita - lemon or almond.

While lemon is the most traditional, almond seems to be more popular.

Both are served with brioche buns!!

Yes, they eat ice cream sandwich in the morning … for breakfast!

Later in the day, you can enjoy the same granita piped into a deep fried sweet cannoli…

How do I know so much?

Harish & I went on a long trip to Sicily in June 2018.

Who “is considered a pioneer among Italian chefs who draws inspiration from the grand tradition of Sicilian pasticceria and comes up with awe-inspiring new flavor combinations?”

Corrado Assenza. 

He was featured in the second episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Pastry series. Telecast in 2018. 

I am with Corrado Assenza in his famous Cafe Sicilia in Noto in the first photo!!

Now you know the reason for my big smile!

I ate his brioche, cannoli & granita!!

The brioche was like a pillow.

And I prefer Almond granita to lemon.