Literally flipping back to this post to remind myself what you wrote about the spleen sandwich, writing about my Palermo spleen sandwich. Interestingly, at the time of consumption my mother and I said to each other because of what was in it, how it was made and how much I loved the end product (one of the best things I ate in Sicily) it was literally one of the most Jewish non-kosher food-stuffs we'd ever seen!
Excited for part 2! We recently went to Albania and visited an Agroturismo there. It was such an amazing, local and intimate experience. I would recommend it to anyone. Excited to read about yours too. Just subscribed!
Thanks for your comment and for subscribing, Katharine! I haven’t forgotten about part two of this tale, coming soon after I can re-focus following a short road trip in the western U.S. After spending just part of a day at an agriturismo, I wish we had spent far more time there. I’ve heard a lot of good things from folks who have visited Albania and I’d love to go there someday.
Ruth, I so appreciate the time it takes for you to put these gorgeous pictures of your food trip together and the delicious commentary to go with it. Thank you so much!
What a wonderful round up. Over on the east coast (I'm from provincia fi Siracusa), we also eat the leaves of that long cucuzza plant. We call them tenneruma. They have a very unique flavour. We eat the leaves boiled or stewed with pasta. The cucuzza has the skin scraped off, not peeled, and then stewed with potatoes. It's the smell and taste of summer! And panelled panini, what a joy! I can't wait for Siracusa!
Thanks so much, Jo! Those dishes sound delicious! I would love to try them and learn more about other Sicilian foods I didn’t get a chance to sample. Good to hear more from one who knows. 🤗
This was so interesting Ruth. I love a good food tour, you learn so much and try things you probably wouldn’t otherwise (like spleen!), and all those arancine varieties. I’d be in heaven! And congratulations on reaching 1000 subscribers.
Thank you, Julia! I have to give my husband a lot of credit for signing us up for the food tour. I probably would have just bumbled about the markets and eateries looking for interesting stuff to write about--and really there is a lot you can see just from looking and tasting. But there are also many traditions, stories, local color and interesting foods I would have missed hearing about. And you can ask questions--which of course I did!
Thank you, Julie! If you’ve never been, places like Rome, Florence, and Venice will blow your mind with their beauty, history, traditions and food too. Sicily is just kind of like its own little country and a crossroads of SO many different cultures. And you don’t hear as many people talking about it. A good writer’s retreat too!🤗
I’ve never been to Italy at all but it sounds wonderful! I don’t hear about Sicily much so I really appreciated your post and good writer’s retreat…how amazing!
Sounds like a fascinating -- and delicious -- visit. I spent about a week in Acireale on the east coast. I regret not trying pasta alla Norma while I was there...but I definitely enjoyed arancini, and best olives I ever tasted!
Thank you for your comment. I did try some pasta alla Norma, but I don't think it was the best version. I am going to have to hunt down a good recipe and try to make it myself. The olives--and the olive oil--were delicious!
Congratulations on reaching that well-deserved milestone! I want to go to Sicily!! Such beautiful blue skies, gorgeous architecture, and interesting food. Thanks for sharing your trip and I look forward to recipes inspired by it.
Vicki, I do hope you go to Sicily. We visited one place that's an artist's paradise. You can stay even there, but unfortunately we didn't as we were booked elsewhere. I hope to write about it soon--if people aren't sick of hearing me rave on about Sicily!😜
I hope to try out several recipes and share them, assuming I have some success with them. It was inspiring to eat all that great food, but I may try to find a few dishes that aren't fried or carb on carb--my waistline will thank me!
Thanks, Crowden. It’s all relative. Considering how long I’ve been at this, I should probably have more—but I try not to become too invested in the numbers—though so many things remind you. Just do good work, I tell myself. You already do.
Literally flipping back to this post to remind myself what you wrote about the spleen sandwich, writing about my Palermo spleen sandwich. Interestingly, at the time of consumption my mother and I said to each other because of what was in it, how it was made and how much I loved the end product (one of the best things I ate in Sicily) it was literally one of the most Jewish non-kosher food-stuffs we'd ever seen!
Excited for part 2! We recently went to Albania and visited an Agroturismo there. It was such an amazing, local and intimate experience. I would recommend it to anyone. Excited to read about yours too. Just subscribed!
Thanks for your comment and for subscribing, Katharine! I haven’t forgotten about part two of this tale, coming soon after I can re-focus following a short road trip in the western U.S. After spending just part of a day at an agriturismo, I wish we had spent far more time there. I’ve heard a lot of good things from folks who have visited Albania and I’d love to go there someday.
Ruth, I so appreciate the time it takes for you to put these gorgeous pictures of your food trip together and the delicious commentary to go with it. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Sally! It’s readers like you who make it all worthwhile!🥰
What a fun tour! I love your pictures, too.
Thanks, Clarice!🤗
What a wonderful round up. Over on the east coast (I'm from provincia fi Siracusa), we also eat the leaves of that long cucuzza plant. We call them tenneruma. They have a very unique flavour. We eat the leaves boiled or stewed with pasta. The cucuzza has the skin scraped off, not peeled, and then stewed with potatoes. It's the smell and taste of summer! And panelled panini, what a joy! I can't wait for Siracusa!
Thanks so much, Jo! Those dishes sound delicious! I would love to try them and learn more about other Sicilian foods I didn’t get a chance to sample. Good to hear more from one who knows. 🤗
Congrats on 1000 subscribers! Wonderful food tour and everything looked delicioso. Pretty sure I gained a few pounds just looking at it. :)
Ha, ha! No calories in reading--unless it triggers a carb-loading expedition to your kitchen! Thanks for your comment, Leslie!
This was so interesting Ruth. I love a good food tour, you learn so much and try things you probably wouldn’t otherwise (like spleen!), and all those arancine varieties. I’d be in heaven! And congratulations on reaching 1000 subscribers.
Thank you, Julia! I have to give my husband a lot of credit for signing us up for the food tour. I probably would have just bumbled about the markets and eateries looking for interesting stuff to write about--and really there is a lot you can see just from looking and tasting. But there are also many traditions, stories, local color and interesting foods I would have missed hearing about. And you can ask questions--which of course I did!
Congratulations! You never cease to impress me.
Oh, thank you, Amie! Funny—I feel the same about you!🥰
Congratulations on reaching the 1,000 mark, Ruth! What a delicious time in Palermo. I’m headed there in a few weeks. Looking forward to it.
Thanks, Domenica! We really loved it. I look forward to hearing about your visit.
Congratulations Ruth!! 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 onwards and upwards!
Thanks so much, Sinù! 🥰
I am dreaming of Sicily - what a beautiful place! This is definitely on our bucket list!
Thanks, Wendy! I hope you go!
This is so great to know! Sicily it is when we plan our trip to Italy. Thank you Ruth for sharing your stories. :)
Thank you, Julie! If you’ve never been, places like Rome, Florence, and Venice will blow your mind with their beauty, history, traditions and food too. Sicily is just kind of like its own little country and a crossroads of SO many different cultures. And you don’t hear as many people talking about it. A good writer’s retreat too!🤗
I’ve never been to Italy at all but it sounds wonderful! I don’t hear about Sicily much so I really appreciated your post and good writer’s retreat…how amazing!
Sounds like a fascinating -- and delicious -- visit. I spent about a week in Acireale on the east coast. I regret not trying pasta alla Norma while I was there...but I definitely enjoyed arancini, and best olives I ever tasted!
Thank you for your comment. I did try some pasta alla Norma, but I don't think it was the best version. I am going to have to hunt down a good recipe and try to make it myself. The olives--and the olive oil--were delicious!
Congratulations on reaching that well-deserved milestone! I want to go to Sicily!! Such beautiful blue skies, gorgeous architecture, and interesting food. Thanks for sharing your trip and I look forward to recipes inspired by it.
Vicki, I do hope you go to Sicily. We visited one place that's an artist's paradise. You can stay even there, but unfortunately we didn't as we were booked elsewhere. I hope to write about it soon--if people aren't sick of hearing me rave on about Sicily!😜
I hope to try out several recipes and share them, assuming I have some success with them. It was inspiring to eat all that great food, but I may try to find a few dishes that aren't fried or carb on carb--my waistline will thank me!
Congrats on the subscribers. Always look forward to your articles, and it seems others do too.
Thanks, Judy!🤗
Big congrats on the Substack growth, Ruth! That’s an order of magnitude larger than mine. Onward to 10,000!
Thanks, Crowden. It’s all relative. Considering how long I’ve been at this, I should probably have more—but I try not to become too invested in the numbers—though so many things remind you. Just do good work, I tell myself. You already do.
The biggest reason I write mine is for my wife. She loves to read it Saturday morning, and also she can pick out any typos.
Now that’s an act of true love!😆