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Ruth Stroud's avatar

This is terrific and very timely as we are going to Sicily next month for almost 2 weeks. Your piece was a great intro. We will definitely check out the arancina at Ke Palle and will endeavor to keep our gendered food references correct!

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

Hi Ruth! Wonderful choice to go to Sicily before the heat and crowds of summer. If you’re on the western side, I highly recommend the beach at San Vito Lo Capo. And definitely try Ke Palle. Thank you so much for reading!

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Thanks, Anna! I will check out that beach.

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Marco & Sabrina's avatar

You will love it, Ruth. Here’s our experience in Palermo which we would visit again in a heartbeat:

https://marcoandsabrina.substack.com/p/palermo-sicily-spring-2022

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Wendy Trollip's avatar

Really interesting! I have just started reading Delizia by John Dickie, the second chapter is about Palermo's food history, I hadn't realised that the Arabs had such a big influence on the food culture there. Definitely putting Sicily on the foodie travel list!

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

Me neither until I went there! There’s also some architectural influences from that period as well. Definitely go if you get the chance. Sicily is a real treat. Everything is so delicious!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

So good!

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Carrington Epperson's avatar

I laughed at the arancina in a pink hat admittedly. This is inspiring me to make a vegan version at home! Will let you know how it goes 🫡 great article per usual!

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

I know – it’s a very creative poster! Definitely try alla Norma, it’s vegetarian and so so tasty (even as a pasta sauce.) Forming the rice balls by hand can be a bit tricky but there are little plastic arancine molds you can get that makes it a lot easier. Do let me know how it goes!

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Lala's avatar

These flavor combinations are so interesting. I would have never thought of topping the mortadella with pistachios.

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

The mortadella they use has pistachios inside so it’s not totally random. Adds a really nice crunch!

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Monia's avatar

Very much enjoyed this. Being half Tunisian and a quarter Italian, I love Sicilian food and all its influences. Arancine (or arancini 😜) is one of my favorites and I’m putting Ke Palle on my list for next time I’m in Palermo. I have a nice memory of taking the bus from Catania across Sicily and my mom and I stopped at a simple stall before the journey for some arancini to snack on. Thanks for the fun read!

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

Aww what a wonderful memory! Sicilian food and culture (and people) have a special magic to them. Definitely try Ke Palle when you go! Thank you so much for reading ☺️

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Jenny Eden Berk, MSEd's avatar

Love arancini balls!

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Brianna Plaza's avatar

Those rice balls look so good!

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

They are so delicious and two of them make a whole meal. Perfect in every way 😌

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Lana-Emerald Mary Astin's avatar

Hey, nice to connect. Nice post. And really cool assignment for eater. I'll be in Florence this summer and I've already saved a long list of tripe sarnie spots x

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

Nice to connect with you too! Thanks. Yes, definitely try the tripe in Florence – can’t say it was my favorite but it’s definitely a local thing!

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Liam Collens's avatar

Street food tells you so much about the culture and heart of a place. The absence of it also speaks volumes to me.

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Izzy's avatar

Love this! I was in Catania this past summer. I loved the food, but it was late July so very, very hot!

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Isha Jain's avatar

And now we need to make pasta at home because this post just made us hungry

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Kristen Luiso's avatar

We were going to go to Sicily as a family this summer but flights were outrageous! Definitely using this as a guide, someday! Beautiful post.

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Anna Muckerman's avatar

Ah bummer – don’t give up on it though! In fact, if you can go in spring or fall, it’s less crowded and the weather’s still great for swimming! Thanks so much for reading!

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Kristen Luiso's avatar

You are so right. Technically we were trying for spring! (June). And I’d much rather visit in the fall!! My eldest starts kindergarten this year which is excellent in the no longer paying childcare tuition but puts a hinder on fall trips to Europe!!

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