Sicilian blood oranges, maybe the best oranges in the world according to David Karp from Saveur.com

As the golden morning light of winter washes over la fiera, the daily market in the eastern Sicilian city of Catania, shoppers bustle between stalls heaped with sheep’s milk ricotta, glistening fresh sardines, and fragrant fennel. Of all the delicacies displayed, however, nothing delights the Catanese more than the blood oranges, or arance rosse, piled high, some cut in half to reveal ruby or dark violet flesh that suggests the slightly sinister romance of Sicily. And they’re not just in the market. All over town, from the backs of three-wheeled trucks, weathered vendors cry ”Dolcissimi!” in praise of the sweetest blood orange of all, the tarocco. Long after midnight, crowds are still gathered at kiosks, sipping thick vermilion juice blended with mineral water.

On childhood trips to Italy, I came to love that juice. Back home in America, I fed my craving with juice squeezed from California-grown blood oranges. But they seemed to lack the tang of their Italian brethren. Were my memories mere romantic illusions? To find out, last winter I spent two weeks traveling around Sicily, the true home of the blood orange, visiting growers and shippers from the black slopes of Mount Etna to the terraced hillsides of Francofonte.

Blood oranges flourish in many western Mediterranean lands, but they reach perfection around Catania, far surpassing blander blond or ”orange” oranges in both flavor and popularity. Here, hot summers bring sweetness to the fruit, while cold winter nights, alternating with mild days, favor the development of anthocyanins, the red pigments that give blood oranges their distinctive berrylike taste and color. Connoisseurs insist that the Sicilian arancia rossa at its best, with its intense flavor, balance of acidity and sweetness, and complex aftertaste, is the world’s finest dessert orange.

By David Karp

Source: Saveur.com

La Festa di li Schietti in Terrasini, near Palermo

April 4, 2010
9:00 am	to	11:00 pm

A very popular celebration takes place in Terrasini (near Palermo) on Easter Day every year. It is called “La Festa di li Schietti” which means the celebration of the unmarried/singles. The main event of the “festa” is the tree-raising contest. The participants either single or married, must lift up an orange tree of more than 100 lbs. (about 50 Kg) and as tall as possible. It is not an easy task, in fact it takes strength and balance ability.

This tradition has very ancient origins, but  it has been celebrated only since 1966. The event actually starts the day before, with the cutting of the best orange tree in the area and its decorating with ribbons and little bell-like ornaments. The day goes on with a folklorist picnic to which everyone is welcomed with some real treats: grilled sardines, sausage, lamb, wine, music, dancing and much more.

On Easter morning the tree is taken around the town and young men raise it below their fiance’s balcony to give a demonstration of their strength. In the afternoon the contest takes place. The music band plays to encourage the participants to resist as long as possible. The person, either single or married, that keeps the tree up for the longest time, is the winner. The entertainment goes on until late at night with music concerts in the beautiful illuminated square of Terrasini and spectacular fireworks.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

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SicilyGuide welcomes Maria Lina Bommarito as a new contributor

The SicilyGuide team is happy to welcome Maria Lina Bommarito as a new contributor.

Maria Lina was born in Chicago. When she was fourteen years old, she  moved to Sicily – her parents’ homeland. Since then she has been living in Terrasini, a nice tourist town on the Mediterranean Sea in the Palermo province.

After taking a wine tasting course, she decided to widen her knowledge on Sicilian wines and started visiting wineries and reading publications. She is attends food and wine events that give her the opportunity to continuously rediscover Sicily and its traditions.

She keeps in contact with her friends and relatives in the States and is planning a coast-to-coast vacation to visit the U.S.

Palermo close to the Champions League

As Palermo reclaimed the fourth spot in the standings following this afternoon’s victory over Livorno, coach Delio Rossi refused to get caught in the wave of emotions as he looks to take things one week at a time in the race for Europe.

“We are still breathing the winter air,” he declared to SkySport after being probed on his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

“The city of Palermo must continue to reason in a serious manner, and it is important we don’t get too carried away.

“I am a rational person but am also instinctive. We missed the chance to go ahead early on but we were clever to take advantage when the timing was right.

“If we don’t take on these encounters with the right level of tension, then we simply cannot win them. After a long series of positive results, it is easy to start taking things for granted.”

“Being the side we are, however, we simply have to remain on the ground and start each game with the right mentality. If we do this, then we are a match for anyone,” he concluded.


Source: Goal.com

Diego Cortez, a fashion designer from Ragusa – Sicily

A unique event that combines the passion for golf with the charm of fashion. Opening Milano Moda Donna Fall Winter 2010-2011, in Milan, Tuesday 23 February, Diego Cortez presented his new collection “Golf Punk A / W 2010-2011″, dedicated to the punk world of golf. The evening was held in the name of fashion and between aperitif and dinner, the approximately 200 invited guests, journalists and buyers were able to admire the exclusive “Catwalk Diego Cortez.”
Frame of the appointment, the Castello di Tolcinasco Golf & Country Club, just minutes from downtown Milan. Partner of the event was Golf’us, the largest organization specialized in the sale of golf equipments with branches throughout Europe.

GOLF PUNK COLLECTION A / W 2010-2011
As usual, Diego Cortez does not give up anything of himself. The creative and artistic roots firmly anchored to his native Sicily, his experience conquered while working with the absolute masters of fashion, the skills refined by years of hard work rewarded by the success of his creations, the transgressive and revolutionary spirit that always belongs to him, everything is condensed in the latest exciting collection designed and built by Diego Cortez, inspired by the phenomenon of punk underground and urban-style golf.
Developed in English-speaking world in the mid-nineties opposed to exclusiveness of traditional golf, golf punk follows two trends. The first one is to make free use of the best golf courses, of course without permission. The occupation of the green is on nights of full moon, after careful study of the maps to avoid surveillance and having a phosphorescent ball. The second subverts all charges, retaining only bats and balls. This behavior is common and practiced in the suburbs by social groups that would never be allowed under the traditional golf. The green is replaced by trajectories towns, including sidewalks, abandoned industrial buildings, parking lots and tunnels.
The traditional attire of golf followed by a similar ghange: polo shirts, skirts, trousers and simple classic cut cotton, are superseded by tissue torn, worn, frayed, cut extravagant typical punk and underground.
Here Cortez enacts the first offense: wrenches, studs, cuts, fabrics worn, all the distinctive look of the punk golfer are reinterpreted in key luxury, embellished with embroidery, silk and Swarowsky, that the artist combines with fur enhanced by a special tricot work.
Golf Punk, a transgression provocatively interpreted in the collection of Diego Cortez, who chose Tolcinasco Golf Club as setting/location, titled exclusive club on the outskirts of Milan.

ABOUT DIEGO CORTEZ
Diego Cortez was born in Ragusa, Sicily, in 1968, land that gave birth to great writers, actors, painters, scientists, designers. A land that is a source of inspiration and creativity for many artists who, like Diego, were able to grasp its essence and magic. Diego Cortez over the years has developed a unique sensibility in approaching the colors, creating shades and combinations of new and extraordinary, the creativity to literally grow stylistic connotations that reflect and interpret the remarkable personality.
Diego Cortez’s brand was born in 2004 with the first line wholly built and signed by him: from design to prototype, from production to the wearability of the items. A spectacular launch in Milan, mandatory choice for fashion-addicted, which made him a well known fashion designer in Italy and internationally. The eclecticism that characterizes him as a man and creative allowed him to present his shows, not only during orthodox occasions like Man-Woman Fashion Week in Milan, but also in worship places, sometimes as diverse as the ” Billionaire ” by Flavio Briatore in Porto Cervo, or” Jimmi’z ” in Montecarlo, expressly invited by Prince Albert of Monaco.

Tolcinasco Castle
Il Castello di Tolcinasco Golf & Country Club has an 36-hole court, with three championship courses and nine-hole executive, is one of the most prestigious clubs in Italy. Golf paths are spread around the imposing castle of the sixteenth century and its ancient courtyard, giving the club a unique mark. Designed by Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest players of all time, the 27-hole championship courses are leader for their modernity, accuracy, completeness and variety, favored by the four starting tee providing an interesting game with any disability. The Club was for many years the seat of the Italian Open. Tolcinasco complements the scene with a wide range of services, the beautiful pool, tennis courts, together with golf equipment, like three putting greens, bunker areas, pitch, and practice-fields with 30 covered and 15 uncovered positions.

Source: Fashion & Runway

The Garibaldi Tall Ships Regatta 2010

April 11, 2010 11:00 am

to

April 18, 2010 11:00 am

The Garibaldi Tall Ships Regatta 2010 takes place from April 11 to 19. The main protagonists of the event are the Tall Ships, the amazing “vessels with tall masts”, owned by the most important international Maritime Training Schools, navies, charities and organizations, which will be berthed in the host ports of Genova (April 8 to 11) and Trapani (April 16 to 19). The Tall Ships will be available for visits on board and will “entertain” the two cities with a variety of events and additional activities.

The event is promoted by Sail Training International (STI) and organized in our Country by Sail Training Association-Italia, a non-profit association founded in 1996 by the Italian Navy and the Italian Yacht Club.

Watch video (2:02 min)

Cerasuolo di Vittoria the only DOCG wine from Sicily

Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the only DOCG* Sicilian wine. The Sicilian winery Planeta produces one of the finest Cerasuolo di Vittoria in Acate (RG). This DOCG is made of 60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Frappato grapes. The color is ruby red with slight sour cherry glints. The aromas of small red fruits, strawberry, cherry, prickly pear, Etna dog rose conserves and fruit sweets and its delicate velvety tannins make this wine ideal to match with main dishes of fish and meat, boiled meats, white meat even if spicy and moderately matured cheeses. This wine is prices around $20 and can be easily found at your local wine store.

Until few years ago, Cerasuolo di Vittoria was the only DOC wine produced in the Sicilian province of Ragusa. The province was created in 1926 through the administrative unification of several communes that had been included in the province of Syracuse. Cerasuolo di Vittoria received its Denominazione di Origine Controllata in 1973 and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita in 2005. The output is sufficient to confirm the ancient enological reputation of the area. (Italianmade.com)

*Denominazione di origine controllata (“Controlled origin denomination”) is an Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines (an appellation). It is modeled after the French AOC. It was instituted in 1963 and overhauled in 1992 for compliance with the equivalent EU law on Protected Designation of Origin, which came into effect that year. [...] The need for a DOCG identification arose when the DOC denomination was, in the view of many Italian food industries, given too liberally to different products. A new, more restrictive identification was then created, as similar as possible to the previous one so that buyers could still recognize it, but qualitatively different. A notable difference for wines is that DOCG labeled wines are analyzed and tasted by government–licensed personnel before being bottled. To prevent later manipulation, DOCG wine bottles then are sealed with a numbered governmental seal across the cap or cork. (Wikipedia.com)

Palermo coach Delio Rossi hardly slept after the victory over Juventus in Turin

Palermo coach Delio Rossi is proud of his side’s 2-0 win over Juventus, so much so that he hardly slept following the game.

“I only slept an hour because I started to respond to all these messages, but I am not good with technology, so it took forever,” Rossi told Telegiornale di Sicilia referring to messages of congratulations after the win in Turin.

Goals from Fabrizio Miccoli and Igor Budan sent Palermo into fourth, and Rossi acknowledged improvement compared to recent games.

“When we played in Milan were went on the pitch unaware, but it was different against Juventus as we played for something against an important team,” he concluded.

Source: Goal.com

Trapani chosen as Italian venue for 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe circuit

Trapani in Sicily has been chosen as the penultimate venue for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe circuit. The ancient harbor will be filled with cutting-edge technology as up to ten international Extreme 40 teams battle it out for the 2010 title. Up to six events will be held this year in iconic locations across Europe with future venue announcements in the coming weeks.

Sicily, tailoring and tradition according to Dolce & Gabbana

I came across this interview where Domenico Dolce e Stefano Gabbana, the designers behind Dolce & Gabbana, talk about the inspiration that Sicily gave them in the creation of their most recent collection. Domenico Dolce is from Polizzi Generosa in Sicily and is always outspoken on the influence that Sicily has on Dolce & Gabbana’s DNA. The fashion powerhouse recorded an annual turnover of about $2.12 billion in 2008.

What are your earliest memories of fashion?  How do those memories inform your work now?

Domenico Dolce: I was born in Polizzi Generosa, a small town in Sicily. My father was a tailor and my mother had a shop where she sold clothing, fabrics and curtains; it was like an emporium. Since she was very busy with her job, she brought my cradle to my father’s tailoring studio. So I grew up among needles and threads. I didn’t play with soldiers and car toys, but with clothes. I made my first pair of trousers when I was only seven years old.

Stefano Gabbana: I didn’t study fashion and my family was involved in something completely different. I started my career studying graphic design. I got my degree and after six months of work I understood that graphic design wasn’t what I wanted. On the contrary, I loved fashion, even if I wasn’t very familiar with it.

Many fashion designers have tried to grasp the blogosphere, but few have embraced it the way you have. What prompted you to seat bloggers in your front row last season and were you surprised by the reaction?

SG: We decided to open up our front row to bloggers because we wanted to communicate a strong message and if you believe in something you have to move forward with it even if this means breaking the rules. We had good feedback, even though we were expecting these strong kinds of reactions. We were also surprised by the amount of people who watched the pre-show diaries on our website.

DD: The Internet and the blogs represent a new way of communicating that we need and want to take into consideration for our work.

What are your favourite websites?

SG: … For my gossip fix I go to Perez Hilton…
DD: …and the fashion blogs of course. We love BryanBoy, The Sartorialist, Garance Doré and Tommy Ton’s pictures on his blog, Jack & Jil.

Does the Internet influence the way you work at all?

SG: The Internet doesn’t influence our way of working, but our way of communi­cating. It’s so fast and quick, handy and immediate. In the Internet, you can find everything, it is a perfect way to do research, but when we design we still use paper and pencils.

Your last women’s collection and your most recent men’s collection seemed to return to your roots, would you agree?

DD: Sometimes to under­stand yourself … you need to experi­ment and follow different ways. But with this collection we wanted to go back to the Dolce & Gabbana DNA. Both the men’s and women’s collections, can be summed up in three words: Sicily, tailoring and tradition.

Source: www.metronews.ca

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