Food & Drink in Catania
The gastronomy of Catania, nestled at the foot of Mount Etna, bursts with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean. The city’s culinary offerings are a testament to the rich volcanic soil and the bountiful Ionian Sea, providing the freshest of ingredients that create a symphony of taste in every dish. In the bustling streets and markets, the air is redolent with the aromas of local delicacies, each telling a story of Sicilian tradition and innovation.
From the cracks of dawn, the sound of sizzling pans accompanies the sunrise as the city awakes to prepare 'arancini', golden orbs of saffron-infused rice with a heart of ragù or cheese, encapsulating the very essence of local comfort food. As the day unfolds, the allure of 'pasta alla norma', named in honor of Bellini's opera, tempts the palate with its harmonious blend of tomatoes, aubergines, basil, and salty ricotta salata.
As the sun sets, the streets come alive with trattorias serving 'pesce spada' (swordfish) specialties, a nod to the city’s historical ties to the sea. Sweet endings are never too far, with 'cannoli', crisp pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta, and 'granita', a semi-frozen dessert typically enjoyed with a brioche, providing a perfect finale to any meal. Indeed, Catania’s food scene is an intricate dance of flavors, deeply rooted in the soil and sea, celebrating the simplicity and abundance of Sicilian cuisine.
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Cavallo - Eat it!
Food & DrinkEat this first, love it, then come back here and finish reading the description. ;) . . . . . There are many different ways to eat this meat, but its impossible to beat the traditional grill method. The meat is sliced thin, lined with tasty fat, and seasoned only with salt and the flavors of mother nature. Take a bite and enjoy! Also, you just ate horse!!! 😉 Horse meat is a long-held tradition in Sicily, especially Catania, and they love it! Try this part of local cuisine; it's something truly special, and, dare I say, delicious!
Cannoli (its called heaven)
Food & DrinkThis is heaven! This is from Sicily! Don't even tell anyone you visited Sicily if you didn't have one of these! This is ricotta happiness and encased in a crunchy flavorful pastry crust blanket. It's not too sweet and it will make you happy! If you get a good one, the entire thing shouldn't crumble when you bite into it. Sometimes there's pistachio on the outside edges and sometimes its filled with pistachio cream. Location in Catania: Pasticceria Savia
Try a Seafood Dish at the Fish Market
Food & DrinkThe fish market has enough raw fish to feed a cat convention. It also has many small cooked dishes, raw fish and ceviche dishes, locals chowing down on scary looking food, and so much more. Explore this area and try something!
Aranchino - World Record for Calories
Food & DrinkThe aranchino is from Sicily and it is one calorie-packed fried ball of happiness! Its a rice ball with everything from pistachio to ragu inside and then deep fried. The version here is Ragu and its filled with rice, cheese, pasta sauce, and meat. It's your entire meal in one go! There are many flavors, choose wisely! Pictured: Ragu (my favorite)
Granita & Brioche - Sweet Sicilian Duo
Food & DrinkDive into a scrumptious, frosty treat paired with a warm, fluffy brioche that's pure bliss on a sunny Catania morning. Imagine the cool, crystalline textures of granita providing a sweet escape from the Sicilian heat, while the brioche acts as your edible spoon – it's a combo you can't miss!