If It's Sunday it Must be Marsala and Menfi

A View from the Bus, heading West to Marsala

In order to see as much of Sicily as we can in 10 days, we are spending 2 nights in each place.  Today we traveled to Marsala, where they harvest salt and distill Marsala wine.  Our tour of the salt pans illuminates how precious this seasoning is.  At one time in the ancient world, salt was considered money.  During the middle ages, the rulers of Pisa cut off supplies of salt to central Italy.  In Tuscany and Umbria, the bakers decided to conserve their salt and not add it to bread.  Later, when the supply lines reopened, Pope Paul III, in order to raise money for the church demanded that Umbria purchase salt from the Pontificate, thereby tripling the price of the salt.   The Umbrians refused to knuckle under to the papal pressure, and continue to bake their bread without salt to this day.  Here in Marsala salt is still harvested by hand, and the process is like many other traditions here in Italy, it is handed down from generation to generation.  

The salt is harvested from the Mediterranean and the thin veil of salt that comes to the top of the salt pans is the Fiore di sale (flower of the salt)  This is the most prized salt, and if it is not gathered immediately, it will sink to the floor of the salt pan, and combine with the other salt.  The process is long and difficult, and worth every step to ensure that the result is a pure product.  

Tools for harvesting the salt

Salt tasting; pineapple on large salt crystals

Fleur de Sel

Tomatoes

After the salt tasting, we headed to the gift shop to purchase some salt and then we headed to a slow food restaurant a few miles up the road.  

Committed to serving the best the area has to offer we were in for a treat

We were served a variety of first courses, by that time I was full, but there was more to come.  (this is Sicily, if you can get up from the table, you aren't full!)

panelle

caponata

Arrancini, round stuffed with meat, triangular ones stuffed with eggplant

bruschetta

cheeses with jam

   

Pasta with eggplant

pasta with sausage

pasta with tuna

The dessert was fried dough encasing fresh sweetened ricotta cheese.  

We sampled the wines from the owner's vineyard, as well. We were so grateful to the owners for opening on Sunday just for us.  We had our own beautiful enclosed patio all to ourselves.

This was the perfect way to end our stay in Marsala.  

After thanking our hosts and our chef, we were off to our final stop of the day, La Forrestiere.

Next stop, Menfi and La Forrestiere.  

Ciao for now.

Sicily the Beautiful

View from the Hotel Ambassciatore Rooftop 

Although Sicily is a part of Italy, it is a world away; a melting pot of food and culture, it really is a crossroads of the Mediterranean.  I am hosting a wine and food tour with my friend Phillis Carey  If any of you know us, you know we are in this for the fun, sharing this incredible island with our students, family and friends.  We aren't wearing tiaras or crazy t-shirts, but we are eating and drinking some fabulous fare.  
Our group of 16 arrived on Friday into Palermo, the capital of Sicily.  It was rainy and cold, but that didn't stop our crew from getting the most out of walking tour of the city highlights. 

Our intrepid group took off and saw the major sites, including some beautiful churches.  There are many churches in Palermo, some with flooring that dates back to the Arabian conquest of the country.

Arabic influence in the church architecture

Ancient Arabic floor

Cathedral of St. Rosalia

The opera house; if you recognize this, it's because a death scene from Godfather 3 was filmed here

After about 3 miles, we were ready for dinner.  Our dinner was at a great place where pizza is a specialty, but other items on the menu are awesome.  Click here to find out more. 

Fried mozzarella with olive pesto and tomatoes

Classic street food, arrancini

My fave:  grilled zucchini stuffed with bread crumbs, cheese, tomato, pine nuts, and raisins, Mama Mia!

Pizza with artichokes, mushrooms and prosciutto

Bottom to top:  Ragusano cheese, eggplant parmigiana, caponata

What a great day, touring the city and ending with a great meal.  That is Sicily (and Italy)  so many foods to try and places to see.  Our tour continues on Sunday when we head to Marsala and the salt pans, ending up in Menfi at La Forrestiere.  Ciao for now.