Ah, Palermo!

What a full day! We can recommend Streaty Street Food Tours! Salvo led us through the Capo Market with finesse and introduced foods I’ve not experienced before.

The market is the oldest in Palermo, with many generationally operated food establishments. I’ll probably forget something, but the food was interesting, spectacular or both! Salvo had two significant messages about street food. It was the working man’s food and each conquerors culture and imports affected their foods, customs and traditions. They can lay claim to “melting pot” in ways and ages we cannot.

First up, my favorite for the day I think. Panelle – a simple fried chick pea treat with seasonings. Made in homes as well, it’s flattened and fried and served with lemon spritzed on top. Excellent! (A restaurant version later didn’t quite match up.)

Moving along, our next treat was a mangia a bevi, after walking thru the textile market section.

Beth selected her second beer of the day while I chose a local lemon soda called Partaninna.

The next is a step outside my box – that’s what we’re in Sicily for!

Our reward for the tour! Gelato. The Sicilian version is that a Sicilian chef added milk to the local granite (also their creation) and went on to spread the famous dessert to Italy/Tuscany and eventually Paris. The Sicilian version is served in a brioche and as the ice cream is eaten is folded into an ice cream sandwich. No complaints here!!

A quiet afternoon for food recovery, before we headed out for the evening. We chose the breeze and ambience of the harbor, found a table and never made it beyond our drinks and appetizers. Bruschetta, panelle and French fries for Mary that we heartily devoured.