La Scuderia – Exquisite Dining in Palermo

Traditional Sicilian cuisine is an oxymoron. Not that Sicily does not have marvelous antique recipes or culture simply that traditional Sicilian cuisine would mean that the recipes developed over time in a rather uniform way across the Island. This is not Sicily’s history. Sicily has been conquered and dominated by every major power over the annals of time. Sicily sits out in the Mediterranean, right in the middle of shipping lanes, it is difficult to protect because it is separated from the Italian peninsula and it close to Africa, Greece, Italy and Portugal.

Although a desired prize among conquerors it also has proved extremely difficult to dominate. Those who arrived in Messina, Catania, Ragusa, Enna or Siracusa most often never made it across the mountains, plains or treacherous inland areas to be able to control the island. As the conquerors came and left a bit of their culture and their food remained being integrated over time into local customs. You could say that Sicilian cooking is the only true International Novel Cuisine.

Palermo is home to one of our favorite restaurants, la Scuderia, and they specialize in Sicilian, International Cuisine. The basics of Italian cooking with fresh vegetables, fish, meats and cheeses, combined with a flair of cumin, curry or some other international spice. This is not contemporary cuisine, the recipes are several hundred years old. The menu’ will change over the year and even during the week. The chefs choose the menu’ based on what is good and fresh at the local market, the ingredients are always top shelf.

The menu will usually include grilled vegetables, eggplant wraps, risotto with fish, veal, and swordfish. They also serve a local version of the cheese caciocavalo di Palermo, known as cascacavallu di Godrano. The desserts of Palermo are heavenly and La Scuderia presents a formidable selection worthy of a meal in their own right. The staff is neatly dressed and polite with true Sicilian manners. They are knowledgeable about their foods and their wines. This is a more expensive restaurant but worth the extra expense. Call ahead for reservations, you will need them.

La Scuderia
Viale del Fante, 9
Palermo
Tel. 091/520323


Tags: Gourmet Foods
Italian Restaurants Palermo Sicily Food and Wine Travel Italy