Plan Your Trip Eat & Drink Like a Local - Sicily - page 74

How to Eat & Drink
When to Eat
Sicilians love to eat at virtually any time of day. The three set meals are interspersed with
breaks for coffee, street snacks and early evening aperitivi .
» Colazione (breakfast) - Many Sicilians eat the standard Italian breakfast of coffee with cornetti (croissants filled with
cream or marmalade), brioche or fette bicottate (packaged dry toast), but they also enjoy a couple of sweet alternatives in
summertime: brioche e gelato (a sweet roll filled with ice cream) and granita con panna (flavoured crushed ice, often
topped with whipped cream).
» Pranzo (lunch) - Traditionally the biggest meal of the day, especially on Sundays. A full pranzo typically lasts at least
two hours, with antipasti, a first course, second course, side dishes, fruit, wine, water and dessert. Standard restaurant
hours are from noon to 2.30pm, though most Sicilians eat after 1pm.
» Aperitivo - Sicilians enjoy post-work drinks between 5pm and 8pm, often at outdoor tables when weather permits. At
many places, the price of your drink includes an offering of snacks.
» Cena (dinner) - The courses available at dinnertime are the same as at lunch, though you'll be hard pressed to finish
two meals of this size in a single day. In restaurants it's always perfectly permissible to order just a primo or secondo .
Another less substantial alternative is pizza, which is widely served in the evenings throughout Sicily. Standard restaurant
hours are from 7.30pm to 11pm, though locals don't arrive in earnest until 9pm or later.
Where to Eat
Sicilian eateries range from the humblest of street-side stalls to top-of-the-line gourmet res-
taurants, with plenty of options in between. Here's a breakdown of the most common
places to eat. Menus for most places are posted by the door.
» Trattoria - Often family-run, this is a less formal restaurant serving regional specialities, with a focus on traditional
pasta, fish and meat dishes. Many of Sicily's best eateries fall into this category.
» Ristorante (restaurant) - Can be anything from a conservative hotel-based establishment with crisp white linen and
formal service to a trendy up-and-coming eatery. Restaurants tend to serve a wider selection of dishes and charge higher
prices than trattorias.
» Osteria - Historically a tavern focused on wine, the modern version is usually an intimate, relaxed trattoria or wine bar
offering a handful of dishes from a verbal menu.
» Pizzeria - A top place for a cheap feed, cold beer and a buzzing, convivial vibe. Many open only at night.
» Enoteca (wine bar) - Wines are the clear focus, but most places also serve a limited menu of deli-style snacks or simple
meals.
» Agriturismo - In rural areas, this is an eatery on a country estate or working farm where much of the produce is cultiv-
ated on-site.