‘I spent less than £5 at Italian market and was floored by amount of food I got’

Fernando Massana, who vlogs about his foodie hacks on TikTok to his 114,000 followers, ordered a huge feat when he was in Italy, and was left gobsmacked by how much it cost

Italy isn’t renowned for being budget-friendly, yet it remains a breathtaking destination for a holiday. That’s precisely why, when one bloke ordered a feast in a popular tourist destination and received his bill, he was absolutely stunned and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Fernando Massana, who regularly shares his culinary tips on TikTok with his 114,000 followers, revealed that he managed to devour an enormous amount of food for under £5, though he cautioned fellow travellers to watch out for warning signs that they might be getting fleeced. Fernando, who posts under @rockinkitchensicily on the platform, recently visited the Italian destination of Palermo in Sicily. There, he headed to a local market to discover how much – and what – he could consume for merely €1 (86p).

In a video, which racked up 3.8million views and more than 382,000 likes, he showcased the massive spread he tucked into for the bargain price of €5 (£4.30).

The 51-year-old started with a ball of fresh mozzarella before selecting a sfincione, a variety of focaccia-style pizza.

He tucked into a feast of food(Image: Jam Press/@rockinkitchensicily)

He also picked up a homemade arancini, which he accompanied with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

But there was still more to come.

For pudding, Fernando chose a generously filled cannoli.

In the comments section, viewers were astounded at the quantity of food available for such a modest sum.

“For €1 in Denmark, you get to stand 10 metres outside a bakery and take one deep sniff,” someone joked.

Another added: “For €1 in Dublin, you can light a candle and pray for food”. A TikTok user highlighted that in London, it would cost “£5+ per item,” rather than less than a fiver for the entire meal Fernando savoured.

“The rest of Europe could never,” someone else remarked, emphasising how costly things have become recently.

Fernando, who hails from Catania, Sicily, explains that the establishments he visited are quite particular, and discovering food at such bargain prices is fairly uncommon.

He explained: “It’s not a general thing to eat for €1. It’s easy to go to a tourist trap, especially in Ballarò market and Catania. Go with the flow.

“If you see pictures of the food everywhere, [it’s] not good. If you see guys pulling you into eating at that specific spot, be mindful.

He offered some advice about eating abroad (Image: Jam Press/@rockinkitchensicily)

“It’s not always bad, but possibly more expensive, and also even a tourist trap. It may still be a great meal, simply because Italian food in England [isn’t] as good”.

He explained that by wandering just a few minutes from the tourist hotspots, that’s where the real treasures can be discovered, advising visitors not to be “shy to ask how much something is before you order”.

Fernando continued: “Menus with prices aren’t a thing at the markets. And also ask for local wine to save [money]. It will come in a jug, not a glass bottle, but it will be very good”.