In search of San Marzano tomatoes . . . . .
The covid pandemic certainly put a damper on travel. After a 2 year hiatus, we decided to venture out . . . the question was where. My wife is a foody – full stop – with half Italian blood flowing through her veins And where could one find the worlds greatest tomatoes (a staple of Italian food) . . . . on the slope of a volcano of course. Sicily has an active volcano, so off we headed. The fact that San Marzano tomatoes are found near Naples on Mt. Vesuvius not Mt Etna made no difference.
Our itinerary took us from the US West Coast to Palermo for a couple of days, then train to Catania for a week, and then back home via Amsterdam for a couple of days.
Our hotel was just off the Via Cali, a street with no vehicle traffic – just shops and outdoor restaurants. It was late October and the weather couldn’t have been better – warm sunny days and delightful evenings. Around the corner from our hotel was a plaza with restaurants with incredible epicurean delights.
Sicily is a hot dry arid country but there were as few parks including a spectacular Pony Tail Palm.
One of the few spectacular sights in Palermo, is the Teatro Massimo. It is the biggest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe after the Palais Carnier in Paris.
And speaking of eye candy, oh yes and after all, this was originally billed as a foody tour.
Most interesting was graffiti Palermo style . . . . . . . .
After a couple of days in Palermo, it was off to Catania via train along the coast of Sicily. Our hotel was reached through the typical huge doors leading into a courtyard. We had a balcony overlooking a small park, and an incredible ceiling. The breakfast room was adorned with the owners artful ceramics marketed under the name Ceramiche De Simone.
By the time we checked in and thought about dinner, its was getting dark and being on a Sunday night, we decided to wonder the neighborhood in search of a restaurant. And did we ever score – the gnocchi was the best ever full stop.
We took a cooking class . . . . . . . and the best part . . . . devouring the spoils.
It was late October, the days were warm and clear, we enjoyed eating on the street . . . .
The Catania Fish Market. The market is surrounded by restaurants, and other fresh food. Many of the streets are protected from the hot sun with hanging umbrellas.
Catania is hardly a major hub, necessitating picking one for the journey home. Amsterdam was a good choice because it allowed a day layover breaking the return trip, and it is a relatively small city with easy access from the airport.
