The strut - Passeggiata

Just a quickie blog about something we're still fascinated by – Passeggiata.

In our town of Aci trezza a Sunday mid- morning .. this is - Passeggiata

All over Italy they do it so well, while we sit back and watch and still sort of wonder why.

What is passeggiata ...

Here are the key elements to doing it –

1 – the walk – it must be done very slowly ; )

2 – see & be seen– the idea seems to be... you see and look at everything, their physique, their clothes, & even if the kids are well behaved

3 – when – best time Sunday afternoons, or whenever the sun is out

4 – where – piazza's, parks, for us its the Lungomare – the long stretch out the front of Aci Trezza

5 – touch – hands held, his hand on her back, intertwined .... crucial

6 – food – the only thing you see them eating is gelato or peanuts

Its the heels that amaze us, how the girls don't topple over more, this is a big part of the Nordstrom interest to be fair, at any given passegiata its how many will fall, and they do. 

We do it our way usually, with a rugby ball for passes and dressed tidy. Milan & Carlos are mindful of it now and they dont seem to mind, they both dress themselves with a little help. Their clothes that are back to front are never a major. Our girl is in her element as she loves accessorizing and shopping. We told her that if they look you up and down, its just because they like your shoes, lol. 

At least its an improvement from the looks we got in North Italy, as they are even sharper dressers. It was always classic going out in winter with Brig in shorts and jandals.

Here is our go at passegiata

In Villa Belini a stunning garden in central Catania,
Note: the family of four in the back getting their passegiata on

They totally love each other - there just so few places with soft grass

San Gregorio - Raggazi

Heres a favourite moment  - a tradition after team lunch the San Gregorio squad do Passeggiata in whatever suits them, which we love.

Our favourite FOOD

If you have plans to go on a diet, come to Sicily, THEN begin one & you'll have impressive results.

The food here is all good – buonissima, we naturally are into it all. Here are some of the Nordstrom families top picks.

Arancini - this is the meat pie of Sicily, it's a bite of rice heaven. An Arancini is beef ragu (bolognaise with peas) & gooey cheese wrapped in rice, breadcrumbed then deep fried. They are so good especially hot, the best part is they are all over Sicily shaped like a cone/ball. Whatever it is they taste great.

Arancini - like us the kids are total fans

We actually like to get them to go 'portavia' like a lot of our food, because they wrap them so amazingly, ribbon and all. Outside they've never lasted more than a few minutes though.

A moment on the lips ..a lifetime on the hips
ohh so worth it though 

Next

Dolce torta - I was spoilt around birthday time and received 3 cakes, yeeow !! one of which was ….  La Torta Settevelli!!!  or the seven veils cake. She's seven layers of different cakes, it takes its name after the dance of Salome to make Herod confused with want & lust. This cake definitely elicits want and lust.......for lots more of it.

The layers are Chocolate Glasse, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate disk, Hazelnut bavarian cream, Chocolate disk, Hazelnut bavarian cream, Cereal praline, Chocolate sponge cake. Naturally I remain a great customer more than a creator, no way would I try this. Imagine the shopping list & the stress it would cause.

Frutta del mare & Pesche – we live Acitrezza the fishing village and a town with a major fish market, I got up one morning at 5am to barter for an exquisite red snapper, but that was the first & last. I was the first female some fishermen may have seen in months .. it was'nt worth the one euro savings.

Acitrezza fish market at 6am - just leaving never to return ; )

 We now do the traditional central market, where there's a fixed price & it's still reasonable and fresh.

The Seafood 'frutta del mare' is a hit with Carlos.

In a meal the boys could have 5-10 small octopus each

We had a great fish Banquet at a friends birthday that included the famous spada or swordfish. I chose not to get the camera out though, to avoid the 'we hardly do this' novice look. Wish I did though, as fish is what they are famous for, and is prepared with great care & creativity. 

Cavallo - Horse, I know horse.., this meat is also a speciality in Catania and it actually tastes good, sweeter and  more tender than beef. The kids both love horses and their experiences with them. We didn't expect them to try it after we were honest and told them what was on the menu but they were up for the experience. 

Pranzo -lunch from a Trattoria, beef & horse burgers. When in Rome. . . or Catania 

This is our central market, love the colour of our Cauliflower, often this will get served with balsamic flash and an array of cheese's.

The rich flavours & colours found at the market - cool purple Cauliflower

Who knows if it's the super fertile volcanic soils here or the century old pearls that are passed down through the casalinge (housewife's). They do their food very well, and the proof is in the puku.