644821 Sat Aug 15 02:57:22 -0700 2009 17 58 Italy 0 4948266 We're off to Sicily in early October and staying in the South East but also travelling around the island by car. Looking for restaurant suggestions but particularly the character ones where decor is not important but the food is! The ones used by the locals and not the tourists. I have already identified most of the Michelin Guide type ones for our "special" meals but now looking for quality, character and the real Sicily at affordable every day prices. Particularly anywhere around Comiso/ Vittoria/ Ragusa/ Modica/ Noto/ Syracuse etc but will travel for good food! Any help much appreciated! Sat Aug 15 02:57:23 -0700 2009 1101860 keithangus 1 4953485 Ciao there! In Modica there seems to be a tendency towards meats rather than fish. From the Slow Food guide to Italy I would say try: La Rusticana- a Trattoria, Viale Medaglie d'oro 34, lunch or dinner not Sundays Taverna Nicastro- a Trattoria, Via Sant' Antonio 28, only dinner, closed Sun. and Mon. In Siracusa I would suggest seafood from La Finanziera. For starters you will find boiled octopus salad (yummy and very Italian), fried squid, and omelette with Sicilian cheeses. For the main meal you can get linguini with mussels and clams, ravioli with scampi, or fettucini alla siracusana (olives, capers, anchovies, and eggplant). They have catches of the day and a variety of fish based main courses. Its located on Via Epicarmo 41 and open for lunch or dinner. Mon Aug 17 12:25:13 -0700 2009 4948266 1102371 coxlaur 2 4955044 Many thanks- much appreciated! if you get any other inspirations anywhere else in Sicily please let me know! thanks Keith Tue Aug 18 01:04:38 -0700 2009 4953485 1101860 keithangus 3 4957728 I had a wonderful meal in Modica at ristorante Fattoria delle Torre that was entirely centered around the local Aztec-originated chocalate -- but in addition I sampled an exquisite fava bean ravioli on my husband's plate. Sicilia is the land of great street food, including morning breakfast pasties. Try to get fresh-baked pastries stuffed with fresh ricotta, rolled in local almonds, etc. in caffes, and don't overlook the street vendors. While in Syracuse, slip over the bridge and visit Ortygia's morning market. Load up on olives, fresh fruits, etc. Tue Aug 18 19:04:06 -0700 2009 4955044 208466 summerUWS2008 4 4958225 Sounds great and thanks so much. Fattoria delle Torre was on my shortlist so maybe that has decided it! Can't wait! Wed Aug 19 02:05:30 -0700 2009 4957728 1101860 keithangus 1 4958228 My suggestion is to just go. We had unbelievably fresh and delicious fish dinners in many places in Sicily when we would just wander down to the docks and see which dock-side restaurants the locals were dining at. Wed Aug 19 02:20:14 -0700 2009 4948266 34558 roxlet 2 4985590 We were in Sicily in June and for the places to eat, we just asked around in the towns we visited (Trapani, Favignana Island and Lipari Island). Every single meal we had (whether planned, grabbed from the bakery, reccommended or something we stumbled upon) was absolutely brilliant. I second Roxlet's idea to just go and see what you find! I found Sicilian food unpretentious, simple, cooked with a few main ingredients which meant that everywhere we went something rather nice turned up, as all the seafood and ingredients were local and fresh. Most memorable experiences are: Amici del Mare in Favignana town, right on the harbour, and a workers' restaurant in Palermo. Foccaceria del Massimo, (Via Bara al Ollivela). So simple and cheap - we paid ten euros for mains, starters, drinks *and* a giant slice of watermelon. That was ten euros for two people. In Trapani, we stumbled accross Cantina Siciliana (via Giudecca), a slow food movement taverna. Al Solito Posto (via Orlandini) was another reccomended taverna but we couldn't get a table, as it was packed with locals. And the Colicchia pasticceria (just off the main promenade) serves the best granitas in all of Sicily! In nearby medieval Erice, we had cakes at Mama Grammatico's pasticceria (mindblowing cannolli and I don't even like sweets so much!). The trip to Erice was a terrifying cable car trip from Trapani but the cannoli was worth it! You can get there by car as well and I strongly reccommend a trip to the Western coast if you have time - the atmosphere is completely different and you see hardly any tourists in Trapani. Oh and in my experience, wherever we got a gelato or a vino bianco di casa - we were not disapointed! Even the most unassuming looking taverna had delicious and light wine. Fri Aug 28 08:39:33 -0700 2009 4958228 1104597 Lost Traveller 3 4986057 I have to second Cantina Siciliana in Trapani. We had a really delicious fish couscous there. Simple but very good. The next time we ordered fish couscous (in Siracusa) it came as a huge, overblown concoction which was impressive but seemed to miss the point. We loved Trapani altogether. There's a very small market near at the end of the main drag that has wonderful stuff - salted capers, bottarga, canned tuna - I loaded my luggage with edibles from there. Fri Aug 28 10:41:42 -0700 2009 4985590 12383 Nyleve 4 4986578 will try hard to get to Trapani- sounds very tempting! Thanks Fri Aug 28 13:02:42 -0700 2009 4986057 1101860 keithangus 5 4987801 Trapani was one of the few places in Sicily I found cassateddi -- which is a pastry my dad, whose parents came from Sicily, used to make. Essentially, it is a cannoli ravioli -- a turnover that is filled with cannoli cream, fried and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Just one of the most delicious things you can imagine... Fri Aug 28 22:26:30 -0700 2009 4986578 34558 roxlet 5 4988142 Do try! It is lovely and quiet there and the only things to do are to eat, drink and look at the sea which for me was just perfect. :) And the Egadi islands are a 20 min hydrofoil away, and another world entirely. There are lovely places to stay there too, we stayed at Ai Lumi B & B and in Chiavi di San Francesco. (They both have websites). I found that some of the places we stayed in, such as these two, actually made our trip, as the places were so well integrated with the city and the lovely design made them seem like a crucial part of the visit, not just somewhere to sleep! Enjoy! I wish I was going to Sicily in October. Sat Aug 29 07:23:07 -0700 2009 4986578 1104597 Lost Traveller 6 4988555 We stayed at Ai Lumi also! It was charming and their lunch buffet was a great bargain. It was early afternoon and we'd been driving all morning. Had no energy to go and find somewhere to eat. The buffet was great. Can't recall the price but it was definitely worthwhile. Sat Aug 29 11:21:15 -0700 2009 4988142 12383 Nyleve 3 4986572 Thanks so much- my stomach is starting to get very excited! Fri Aug 28 13:01:41 -0700 2009 4985590 1101860 keithangus 1 4997437 i would second the recommendation for La Finanziera; exccellent place with extreme high quality fish and pasta. we spent 9 days or so in February a year ago driving counter-clockwise from Palermo to Taromina; the slow food osterie d'Italia never let us down; not once; get the old one in english or buy a new one in italian when you arrive. Tue Sep 01 17:33:43 -0700 2009 4948266 10413 kirk in NY 1 5002454 Be sure to read the wonderous book "Salt" and learn about the anchovy industry in Trapani, where you should be able to find some really good authentic dining specializing in this amazing anchovy liquor for its dishes. Thu Sep 03 11:01:19 -0700 2009 4948266 12522 glbtrtr 1 5002467 Be sure to read the wonderous book "Salt" and learn about the anchovy industry in Trapani, where you will able to find some really good authentic dining specializing in this amazing anchovy liquor for its dishes. Agree with all the suggestions for Trapani. The storefronts full of gorgeous marzipan creations make Sicily a worthy foodie destination if for no other reason. Thu Sep 03 11:04:39 -0700 2009 4948266 12522 glbtrtr 1 5042366 My husband and I are also traveling to Sicily in October. What have you come up with for your "special" meals? I've been doing some research and I'd love to hear what you came up with. We are staying in Ortigia and doing day trips in southeastern Sicily. The other replies to your post were helpful too. Sat Sep 19 13:23:55 -0700 2009 4948266 1110492 ellen23 2 5112699 Sorry probably too late as we're just back from Sicily. Generally meals were all excellent but one real highlight- Da Angelo in Sinagra. Tucked away in stunning mountains and not exactly easy to find ( ask when you get to Sinagra) it's a real experience not to be missed! Not for the faint hearted or anyone looking to cut down on the quantities this is not for lovers of nouvelle cuisine! The spectacular anti pasti for two was enough to feed a family of four, the wonderful pasta, great grilled meat including suino nero, lemon ice cream, a plateful of local cheeses and a bottle of wine all for 30 euros a head- oh and then a complimentary hazlenut liqueur. Needless to say we didn't eat the next day but lived on the memory for the next few days. Just leave the choice to the boss and enjoy! The other highlight was Spizzulio in Agrigento. A great wine shop/ wine bar. Simple local food , great wine and above all a really friendly owner passionate and knowledgeable about his local wine and produce. You will not be disappointed! Sun Oct 18 14:16:33 -0700 2009 5042366 1101860 keithangus