Živjo! Long time no see, coming back after a while with a new adventure feels incredibly exciting :)

In this post, I want to share my Palermo work trip with my mentor Manca, a journey that felt like a full immersion into Sicilian cuisine, culture and warmth. As soon as we set foot in Sicily, Manca surprised me with my birthday gift: a food tour in Palermo. Since exploring different cuisines is something I genuinely love, I can honestly say this might be one of the best birthday gifts I’ve ever received. We started the tour in front of the magnificent opera house in Palermo ¨the breathtaking Teatro Massimo ¨ where we stood completely amazed by its beauty before diving into our first culinary stop.

Our journey began at one of Palermo’s famous markets, the vibrant Ballarò Market. Everything around us looked unbelievably fresh and colorful, piles of citrus fruits, tomatoes, herbs, and the scent of the sea everywhere. The market was also full of iconic Sicilian street food and seafood specialties like sarde a beccafico (stuffed sardines), panelle (chickpea fritters), crocchè di patate (potato croquettes), and fresh frutti di mare like mussels and clams. It felt like walking through a living, breathing kitchen of Sicily.

One of our first tastings , which surprisingly became one of our absolute favorites, was a frozen cappuccino. It was so good that we even ended up ordering it again on our way back through Trieste later on. A perfect blend of coffee, cream, and ice that somehow felt like summer in a cup. After that refreshing start, we moved on to something crispy and comforting: crocchè di patate, a fried potato croquette. Our guide added a Sicilian twist by squeezing fresh lemon juice over it, and that small detail completely elevated the flavor. It was such a simple but unforgettable start. Then came something similar to fried dough squares, golden, soft, and incredibly delicious, known locally as sfincione fritto in some variations . After these starters, we reached one of my personal highlights of Sicilian cuisine: caponata. This dish is a beautiful mix of eggplant, olives, capers, celery, and a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce. Just like locals do, we enjoyed it by dipping bread into it, simple, rustic, and absolutely perfect.While walking through the market streets, we were also completely amazed by the abundance of seafood and the freshness of everything around us. To cool down under the Sicilian sun, we tried fresh local juices, which felt incredibly refreshing while exploring the lively streets of Palermo.

Later, we visited the stunning Cappella Palatina inside the Palazzo dei Normanni, a place that reflects a unique blend of Arab, Norman, and Byzantine influences. The golden mosaics inside felt almost unreal, and standing there felt like stepping into another time. In front of the chapel, we also witnessed a young opera singer performing live, which made the atmosphere even more magical.

At this point in the tour, we tried one of Sicily’s most iconic foods: arancini, crispy rice balls. We shared two different types with Manca: one filled with spinach and ricotta and the other with beef and peas (ragù e piselli). They were hot, comforting, and absolutely delicious, the perfect Sicilian street food experience.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice throughout the tour was the generous portion sizes, very similar to Turkish cuisine. It’s something I deeply appreciated, food here is meant to be shared, enjoyed and remembered. After all of this, we arrived at one of Palermo’s most iconic landmarks: Quattro Canti. This stunning baroque square represents the four seasons, each symbolized by elegant statues of goddesses. Standing in the middle of this perfectly symmetrical square felt almost theatrical like being inside an open-air stage surrounded by history, architecture. We ended our food tour with one of Sicily’s most famous desserts: cannoli. Crispy pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta cream, often topped with pistachios or chocolate chips. Everything we tasted throughout the tour felt incredibly fresh, carefully prepared, and full of character.

In the following days, we explored more of Palermo and even visited a well-known local pizza restaurant, where we tried some of the best Italian pizzas I’ve ever had. On our last day, we bought souvenirs for our loved ones and slowly said goodbye to the city.

I came back from this short trip completely amazed by the warmth, generosity, and hospitality of the people of Palermo. It wasn’t just about the food, it was about the feeling of being welcomed everywhere we went.

~
Zeynep