– by Bianca Celano, Chef and consultant of Materia Spazio Cucina, restaurant of Habitat Boutique Hotel

 

The heterogeneous character of Catania – city of trade and crossroads of peoples and cultures, located between Etna, the sea and the fertile “Piana” – manifests itself in all its alchemical combination at the table, an irresistible space in which the agricultural tradition and seafaring meet in a fusion of unique colors, smells and flavors.

I imagined taking you on a journey to discover this rich and fascinating world, starting from the early hours of the morning. Breakfast in Sicily is a very special moment, an iconic ritual that is renewed following the seasons, offering a great variety of choices.

In Catania, breakfast is an experience.
Granita and Brioche is the evergreen dish to be tasted every month of the year, together with Iris, stuffed Panzerotti, Ricotta raviole or crunchy Graffe.
Not just sweet. In the city for breakfast you can also enjoy the famous Tavola Calda. Arancini and Pizzette, Cartocciate and Cipolline, are some of the “pieces” you must try.

Lunch at “A Piscaria”, the ancient fish market in Catania, is the soul of the city.
Colors, scents and words mix in a wonderful combination.
The vendors fascinate with their stories, with their proverbs and do not hesitate to dispense tips and recipes for the preparation of a meal.
In this place, the center of an ideal geography and a mixture of cultures, it seems to be inside a medina.
The vendors’ vanniate (the shouts to promote the products) recreate an extraordinary Arab souk.
Among its narrow streets there are several places for every palate, from Sicilian street food to restaurants with excellent food and wine offers.

For an easy but quality lunch, around the city armed with a backpack and a camera, I would gladly stop at the Cucina dei Colori table for their excellent vegetarian and vegan dishes. Or I could choose a dish of the day from the blackboard of the central Razmataz wine bar.

For an aperitif and dinner, many solutions.

From an excellent Sicilian menu with slow food ingredients at the Me Cumpari Turiddu restaurant, to local dishes and Uzeta Bistrò cocktails.

For a starred dinner, take a seat at the elegant tables of the Sàpìo restaurant.

With a walk along Via Santa Filomena and Via Gemmellaro you will discover many places where you can choose the cuisine that most intrigues you: Sicilian, Asian, international. Accompanying it all with excellent cocktails.

For a wine tasting entrusted to the staff of Vermut, for a glass of Champagne seated at the tables of Pamochã, for an excellent Sicilian street food sandwich do not miss FUD Bottega Sicula.

To finish with the dessert of Sant’Agata minnuzze and cannoli or the thirst-quenching digestive typical of Catania: seltz, lemon and salt from Chiosco Giammona.

If you decide to visit the surroundings of Catania, here are some addresses not to be missed:

  • Pasticceria Musumeci – Randazzo 
  • Vitis Vineria Bottega – Castiglione di Sicilia 
  • Cave Ox – Solicchiata 
  • Trattoria i 4 Archi – Milo