A Sicilian Recipe

Ingredients:
2 Jins (one big, one small)
1 maniacal heel-clicking goddess
1 Datuk's son (small)
1 red wine addict (with floppy cockatoo hair)
2 small girls (matured - from the surburbia of Kluang and Bentong respectively)


Method:

1. London --> Palermo

Run frantically to catch Ryanair plane (FR3918). Upon arrival in Palermo, find an Englishspeaking/Russianeducated/overlyhelpful Nigerian who will check you into your cosy little apartment and direct you to your first (and last) touristtrap restaurant.

2. Palermo

Interlaced between the mad Fiat Punto Drivers, infinite piles of dog poop and dysfunctional pedestrian crossings, look out for a pseudo-notsoquaint-European-Moorish-almostKualaLumpurlike town with a strange charm of its own. Cross from the perpendicular roads of the new town to the maze and destitute of old Palermo - a ghostly war-torn town in the afternoon siesta hours.

Soak up the buzz of seriouslygoodexpresso, the vibrance of the wet market produce, the confusion and clash of Moorish/Baroque/Norman/Medieval architectural styles, and how could we forget - seriously goodlooking tour guides.

Marvel at the similarity in street food culture to home - Makeral rolls, Battered artichoke and broccoli, porchetta (glorified roast pork).

Drown in the heavenly wine and Palermitan delights of L'incanto.

Palermo city

3. Palermo --> Cefalu --> Palermo.

A short train ride away from Palermo lies idyllic Cefalu with its beige-pink moorish buildings, cosy piazzas, sloping narrow alleys and towering volcanic surroundings - the set of Cinema Paradiso. The calm mediterranean waters and rocky reefs offer a great backdrop for Charlie-Chaplin heel clicking and a multitude of poserpics.

The famous Charlie Chaplin heel-click.

Seven in Sicily

On the rocks

After climbing all the way up the hundreds of steps of La Rocca to find the temple of gods closed, indulge in fresh coffee, tiramisu, and pistachio tarts as the sun sets over the cozy Piazza del Duomo. As you lull yourself away from the peace and contentment of this little seaside gem, marvel at Big Jin's induction into the Mafia family and how ageing women grow old together, slow dancing in the streets.
Cefalu

Back in the city, the haven of Kursaal Kalhesa gives a true flavour of the epitome of a classy Palermitan Saturday Night out. Its cocktails, open loft ceiling, eclectic library and velvety sofas provide the perfect setting for a maiden feeding grapes to a datuk's son. Uplift yourself with Sicilian wine and local favourites in the wild, gravelly, rainforest ambience of the restaurant above.

4. Mondello.

Something about the sea never fails to strike a chord with me.

Giuseppe sits picture-perfectly on the shore, stately as if she knew she would be the model for our countless photographs, yet serene and unassuming in her poise, the looming mountain range silhouetted against the background of a bluish, somewhat foggy sky. Giuseppe is one of many of her kind, yet unique in her own right. As I write this, I am reminded of The Little Prince and the rose he was in love with. "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important". You love something not because it is unique; it becomes unique because you love it. So it is with Giuseppe. I have not seen a more picturesque scene in all of the trip than that of Giuseppe reclining on the shore in the waning sunlight at dusk, detached from all the touristy buzz on the sidewalks behind her.

Important ingredients and method:
At least one girl with a sweet tooth, a crepe stall, a ginormous jar of Nutella.
Ice-cold Moretti beer.
Deep and profound discussions on life and vanity and
Mix, blend and whisk all of the above for the perfect chilled-out evening.

One posh restaurant, formerly awarded a Michelin star.
One ashtray medallion bling.
Half a dozen pompous maitre-D's.
One table full of boisterous wineglass-smashing fellow patrons, and an irate waiter.
Plenty of good wine to guzzle.
While waiting for the bus to arrive, stand everyone in a circle and repeat "haa haaa", one after another.

Mondello

5. Palermo --> London.

Musty, spookish catacombs with a fetid air, or was that just my imagination?
8000-odd clothed skeletons of every size, age and occupation.
Random comments like "This one looks handsome".

Cooking tips:
Drown the dish in great conversations, majestic company and MTV.

Memorable Garnishings:
"haaa haaaa"/"poinsettia"/"yum-meh"/"everybody's dancing! dancing!(tiu tiu tiu)"/"If I don't have some wine soon I am going to kill someone"/"HARDY BOOZE"/"to the left, to the left"/"I'm so happy"/"Xie zhe li mien de qie zhe!"

"Poinsettiahh."

Written by Guan Leong.
feat. May (=
photos courtesy of Sau Yin and Nits.