4 delicious places you must try at Palermo

During my trips I always try to explore the typical cuisine and some particular places of the spot. of course I always try to go for the fit and healthy food as much as possible but also traditional food of the place I do love to try and share my experience. (Another good reason to workout and do cardio because it allows you to try some things that is not so ” clean” or “low on calories” as they should be, but what would be life without pleasure of exploring new tastes and pleasures? I always try to go with a 90/10 plan – 90% clean eating and 10% something that is out of my diet, therefore I am not torturing myself and it helps a lot to stick to the diet better as you know that there is a time you can treat yourself.) As I knew I will go to Sicily, which is world famous for its cuisine and especially sweets (even though not big fan of sweets, as prefer salty things) and I knew that won’t be able to work out for that weekend so I just had a pact with myself – do some extra hard dieting and workout routine 31 day before so I do not feel guilty of enjoying my time there. And I must say – it was a wonderful experience indeed. (The Palermo post you can read here).

As I had there just for a long weekend than I couldn’t explore too many places, but the ones I did, is definitely worth mentioning and a crime not to try the food there. 

The first place we went to was a restaurant- lounge bar called Moltivolti which was founded by several young people from different cultures and it offers traditional dishes for various countries. The atmosphere is friendly, easy going, minimal and welcoming and the food – real good. The place is in historical center and right around the corner of our apartment so had to try it.

When you come in the first thing you notice is several flyers that shows the activities organized by the community, Dj corner and lounge tables that indicates that this place is organizing also music events and are good for an apperetivo by a nice music.

The second thing I noticed was the wonderful wall painting that lovely matched to my outfit.

This fun was while waiting our lunch to be served as had to distract myself of the hunger after eating breakfast before sunrise that day. Needless to say – we were starving.

Finally my couscous arrived and could dig in. I will be completely honest, I believe this was one of the most delicious couscous dish I have ever tried and probably the biggest as well. Not even Morocco got that good one.

This was my boyfriends choice – one of traditional Sicilian dish – spaghetti with eggplant.

Satisfied and happy with our first meal we headed to explore the city and the rest of the famous food offerings.

The next place we stepped in was a lovely, tea lounge and sweets bar near the port called Ciocciolateria Lorenzo. An oasis to brunch and breakfast lovers or people who likes good afternoon beverage, like a healthy tea or nice sweet in a quite place away from the crowd.

Ciocciolatteria in English would be a chocolate place- a place where is made and you can get a chocolate. As Italians add this “-eria” ending to many places – like salumeria (where you buy cold cuts and meat), panetteria (where you buy bread, etc).  

This place was included in my to-do try list as they recessions was extremely good from the locals and city guests as well as i liked their small garden to chill, so had to see for myself and of course- try their teas. as I have a thing for teas.

My choice went for a nice cold tea with black cherries which was exactly I needed to refresh and regain strengths after all day walking.

When the afternoon tea has been taken and the legs rested it’s time to continue the adventure and than we come the the Sicilian dining experience. As were not feeling too hungry to go for an restaurant than we decided to go for a street food, which is also famous in Sicily.

Well, we did not go for a Corn but we did try the Sicilian takeaway food  – the famous arancini which is a rice balls filled with different kind of meat, vegetables, seafood and even sweet ones I saw.

Our discovery was a place called Ke Palle (which means What balls! and also an expression in Italian to shows the discontent of a person. Used often. especially if you ask an Italian to do something unpleasant or something he doesn’t want to – you will hear that often!) So this place offers deep fried rice balls for a take away or to eat on the spot. And this is exactly what we did.

Actually it’s a clever idea to make it in exhibition the different types of food to avoid the lines so once you get your turn you can make your order without hesitance.

The offer was truly wide (up to 30) and for all tastes (meet lovers, vegetarians and even vegans – Arancini with: spinach, radish, fried chicken and BBQ, speck and nuts, spinach and tofu,

Some with type of pasta, pistachio, sausage in wine, ragu of soia, American and Italian, Greek, traditional and much much more even sweet ones with Nuttella and chocolate I saw on their blackboard offer.

As they are pretty huge than I went only for 1 and half. but they were finger licking delicious. My choice was Italian one and I think it’s the absolute best one and all time my favorite. My boyfriend just went for a plain simple one with a meet and the one we split was a Greek one ( also delicious. Actually all of them was good).

More delicious pictures and how this Sicilian treat is made on their site – ke Palle unfortunately only in Italian, but pictures speaks for themselves.

If this original Sicilian street-food of arancini experience did not satisfy your belly fully and you get hungry around 22pm on a Saturday night than you must head to La Vucciria street market that in night turns into a hag out place with a cocktail or with a street food, like panini, hot dogs, cocktails, fish, even candies I saw there, neatly packed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The nice thing about the place it is even family friendly and does not make you uncomfortable at all.

The last on my 24 hours eating out experience in Sicily is concluding with breakfast – a Sicilian typical breakfast.

The typical breakfast experience in Sicily is a cornetto (this is how they call croissant at South of Italy as in North is brioche) with a cappuccino or coffee or a cold beverage like freshly squeezed orange juice (which is completely different than wherever you have tried it before – sweeter and have this particular Sicilian orange taste). Of course this is not the only choices you can try for breakfast as the Sicilian pastry is wast. One of the typical pastries you must try is Siciliana (Sicilian lady) bun filled with ricotta cheese.

We tried this first morning at a big, tourist oriented pastry place on the main street – Vittorio Emanuele near cathedral and I must say we did pay a lot therefore for the second breakfast, we went for a more local bar short walk away down the same street.

The place – Caffetteria dal Corso was truly a discovery, as at this tiny bar you got probably the most delicious home made granita (a slushy. Absolute must try in Sicily) with forest fruits and the best croissants and pastry for a breakfast meal ever served by the nice, blue eyed Sicilian gentlemen called Pino. He did make you feel like a dear and special friend and that made us return there also the next morning before hitting the airport.

 

This was right after waking up so still sleepy but so happy for my charming breakfast experience.

in the picture you can also see typical Sicilian sweet with ricotta – Cannolo (this is the smaller version so called Cannolino), it was my boyfriends celebration breakfast for his birthday. Absolutely delicious start of the day.

This was our sweet morning birthday breakfast party and I must say that this lovely bar with the warmest welcoming and best sweets is  what made our trip just perfect.

Last but not least – here is a map of Palermo and where to find these places.

 

Hope you enjoyed my delicious experience! This is for sure – that I definitely did! What about you? Have you ever tried Sicilian cuisine?