S.AGATA: TEN THINGS TO EAT

What to eat during St. Agatha feast? We offer you ten things to taste on the occasion of the feast of the Patron Saint of Catania. After all, Sant’Agata is a party that involves all the people of Catania and not, a great show as well as a religious celebration that involves every spiritual, social and cultural aspect of the city. And, of course, it can not ignore the dishes to be tasted. A lot of street food, many sweets offered by stalls and pastry shops, to be consumed on the street or to take with you, to preserve a memory of one of the most beautiful and engaging parties in the world.

DATES

Mix of Arabian influences, intertwined with those of Sicily, dates are a traditional party dessert. Dates are peeled, cut in half, filled with almond paste and wrapped in sugar. A strong and enveloping sweet taste.

OLIVETTE

They are a true must of the celebration. You can buy them in stalls or pastry shops and eat them on the street, waiting for the Santa’s passage. Or they are served in a small tray (the classic “tabarè”, as the older catanese call it) or packaged for take-away to their loved ones, to give them a sweet gift of the big party. The olivette recall the moment when Agata, pursued by Quinziano’s men and orami near the Praetorian Palace, stopped to put on a shoe and, nearby, an olive tree appeared where she could find refreshment.

ARANCINO

Loved all year, consumed even during the patron saint’s day. The real king of the tavola calda, next to pizzas, bombe, cartocciate, scacciate and cipolline, the arancino is a temptation to give up absolutely. To be enjoyed in a classic version, filled with meat sauce or to be chosen in a pistachio, standard or butter version. Bite to believe.

CALIA AND SIMENZA

What kind of party would it be without the famous calia? Chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, peanuts and all the good dried fruit, to be munched in the street, to share with friends, to be enjoyed in the atmosphere of great party that animates Catania. And why not, to photograph. The stalls of the calia e simenza, often close to the merchants of balloons and to those who sell candy candies or cotton candy, is a real blaze of colors and fragrances.

Salvo Puccio

HORSE MEAT

The most classic street food, the most loved and characteristic street food of the feast. The sandwich with horsemeat or meatballs is the most authentic tradition of the city, to be enjoyed right in front of one of the brazier accesses, in the classic via Plebiscito, in the area of ​​Castello Ursino and, however, in many central and peripheral corners of the city.

CASSATELLE OR MINNUZZE DI SANT’AITA

The minnuzze year in itself some of the most typical elements of Sicily: the white snow-capped Etna, the lava in the center represented by a small candied cherry. But more than anything, as legend tells, it seems to represent the breasts that, amputated, miraculously receive the Santa.

TORRONE WITH ALMONDS AND CARAMELED ALMONDS

The most classic of nougat, greedy and appreciated by young and old. Crispy, to be bitten carefully, is an explosion of taste: the almonds, whole, are perfectly combined with caramelized sugar. The smell of freshly made nougat and strips, is a memory that you will hardly forget.

TORRONE DI S.AGATA OR TORRONE OF S.AGATA WITH ICE CREAM

You either hate or love the nougat of St. Agatha: because of its extremely sweet flavor, not everyone will appreciate it. But in reality it condenses the essence and the most typical products of the party, rich in marzipan, candied and dried fruit. And there is also an alternative: the frozen nougat, triangular in shape, served in wedges. Made of real pasta, decorated, like the most classic stuffed nougat, it is filled with dried fruit, candied fruit and a lot of sugar. But this variant has more, inside: the creamy and fresh ice cream.

CEDAR WITH SALT

The street vendors will certainly propose it to you. Served in a plastic saucer, you will find three generous slices of cedar with the salt to be munched on the street. It will follow: thirst-quenching bottle of water.

GUMMED CANDIES

Let’s face it: once in a while it is permissible to give in to one of the sweetest childhood memories. That of gummy candies. A thousand flavors  and colors, more bizzare shapes, how not to give in to the purchase of a bag of colorful goodness?