Eataly is showcasing vibrant Sicilian flavors at La Pizza and La Pasta from now until August 31.
Sicily, the home of the fictional Corleone family from The Godfather trilogy, has a distinct cuisine unlike mainland Italy. Greatly influenced by its proximity to Tunisia and Libya and blessed with fertile soil and sunshine, Sicily’s southern Mediterranean cuisine is rich and complex. Native cooks took humble ingredients such as eggplant, anchovies, citrus, and wheat, and combined them with the island’s bountiful seafood to create iconic dishes.
La Pizza and La Pasta showcase these ingredients in dishes such as Pasta Alla Norma, a dish found on nearly every menu in Sicily, which uses tomatoes, eggplant, and basil. Another ubiquitous Sicilian dish is Caponata, which is similar to ratatouille with eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and garlic, but with a sweet and sour flavor created with the addition of sugar and vinegar.
Couscous con Frutti de Mare PHOTO: Eataly
Eataly’s other Sicilian menu items include a couscous with seafood, almonds, citrus, and mint, a must-try item that is shareable as a first course. The full menu includes Sicilian-inspired pizzas, salads, pastas, drinks and starters. Oh, and don’t forget to order the Arancini, a stuffed risotto ball. Eataly’s Arancini are slightly larger than a golf ball, but in Sicily, you can find them the size of a baseball and they are ever present.
I was in Sicily earlier this summer and ate these dishes several times. Eataly’s versions compare very favorably to them, and enjoying these with a glass of Bianco wine from Mt. Etna brought me back (sort of) to Taormina.
La Pizza and La Pasta offers its regular menu as well. Reservations are a good idea and can be made online here. Eataly’s Sicilian food fest ends August 31.
Dining and Cooking