The rationalization must commence with an appreciation of the reality that Sicily is the most significant island in the Mediterranean Sea. Although not so essential in present-day world of aviation, it was very significant to all the European and North African ships sailing in and all over the Mediterranean from the commencing of time.
Sicily, not then a component of mainland Italy, was a lengthy & quick-time halting place for nations like Spain, England, France, Greece, Tunisia, etc., who at times arrived to fall in for a visit or enterprise or conquering/ruling for as prolonged as they could.
As a end result, almost as several languages were being spoken in Sicily as are now spoken in New York City. Also like New York Metropolis, Sicily turned household to many distinctive people, languages, cultures and no a lot less the cuisines of people this sort of as Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Romans, Greeks, Spanish, even Germans and several other people. Significantly of this conglomeration was diluted in the 19th Heart when Sicily grew to become aspect of Italy and Italy’s latin-based mostly speech grew to become dominant.
Ergo, other than obtaining fertile soil and pleasant local climate, Sicily experienced/has a these types of a legacy of so a lot of recipes, cuisines and spices from all the other nations, browsing or conquering, that Sicily turned regarded as “God’s Kitchen”.
As time passed, there remained several unique dishes/recipes that have the DNA of all the nations over, but a normal, trademarked food plan rose to the surface and is what we now phone the Mediterranean Diet of primarily seafood with pretty fresh veggies, fruit and wine. It is the world’s most recommend wellness diet [which I understand might include a glass of wine – after all Sicily is Italy’s biggest wine producer].
To our good fortune, our aspect of our country has several a lot of places to eat that cherish and preserve this legacy these types of as the Del Arte Italian loved ones cafe in Orangeburg owned and operated by John Carollo, a native of Sicily with a enthusiasm for the richness, variety, virtually unique in some scenarios and constantly a taste treat to one’s palate of the reward of Sicilian food stuff. You may possibly not know how the food items is spiced with what, but you are going to love it.