Eats: Catania, Sicily, Catania, Italy (B)

No matter how near or far you are from home, a recommendation for a good restaurant or bar is always nice to have. EATS is a collection of places that I’ve enjoyed during my travels.

The food in Sicily is nothing short of amazing, and some of our most memorable meals were those we ate in Catania. Me Cumpari Turiddu was our first introduction to Sicilian cuisine and was one of those places I kept reading about when planning my trip. It’s the least casual of the 3 Catania restaurants I’ve outlined here (each with a different style but equally as enjoyable), but even so was relaxing and inviting. As we stepped inside it felt more like an antique shop than a restaurant, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, curio cabinets filled with ceramics and mismatched chairs and tables topped with lace doilies as placemats.

While its aim is to harken back to Sicilian roots, Me Cumpari Turiddu’s approach to food is anything but old. Rather, it’s a fusion of traditional and new-style cuisine that’s grounded in seasonality. Think grandma’s cooking but with a modern twist. We started with a bottle of Etna red wine, which was accompanied by a plate of small breads to taste with olives and sun dried tomatoes. Next we ordered pasta alla Norma – the city’s trademark dish made with eggplant, tomatoes and dry ricotta salata that is named after local composer Vincenzo Bellini’s opera Norma – and a pesto pasta dish, both which were cooked to al dente perfection with flavors that were pronounced but not overpowering. Talk about making a great first impression. It’s worthwhile to note that Mi Cumpari Turiddu also serves breakfast and has an accompanying bistro with smaller street food-like items and a tea room with sweets for mid-day breaks. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).