Messina

Although granita—frozen Sicilian dessert similar to sorbetto—is enjoyed throughout Sicily, the city of Messina is often dubbed as its spiritual home, and apart from typical flavors such as lemon, strawberry, chocolate, peach, mulberry, and pistachio, the most common specialty... Read more

Sciusceddu is a traditional Sicilian dish from the city of Messina, made with small meatballs simmered in broth, topped with a mixture of eggs, ricotta, and caciocavallo, then baked in the oven until golden brown. This rich, comforting dish is full of different textures and flavors, from the hot ... Read more

Braciole messinesi is a traditional Sicilian dish originating from Messina. The dish is usually made with a combination of beef, garlic, caciocavallo cheese, stale bread, Pecorino, parsley, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. The bread is grated and mixed with parsley, pecorino, garlic, and olive ... Read more

U' pituni or pidone is a traditional street food originating from Messina. The pidone (python) is made from a thin half-moon shaped dough consisting of flour, lard, water, and wine. The dough is stuffed with tuma cheese, anchovies, black pepper, tomatoes, and escarole, then fold... Read more

This variety of Italian focaccia originates from Messina. The focaccia dough is made with flour, semolina, yeast, lukewarm water, olive oil, salt, and sugar. The toppings are what differentiates this focaccia from all other varieties – it is topped with anchovies, tuma cheese, curly endive,... Read more

Pignolata is a traditional Sicilian sweet from the city of Messina, usually prepared during Christmas time. This festive treat consists of tiny balls of lemon-flavored pastry dough, fried or baked in the oven, then covered in dark chocolate and lemon glaze on both halves of the pastry. The name <... Read more

Vermicelli alla Siciliana is a traditional Sicilian pasta dish that's a specialty of Messina. It's made with vermicelli pasta, garlic, tomatoes, eggplants, sweet peppers, olives, capers, anchovies, and basil. The pasta is tossed with the sauce consisting of tomatoes, eggplants, roasted peppers, o... Read more

These decadent, crispy fried pastry tubes filled with luscious ricotta cheese cream are perhaps one of Sicily's best known desserts outside of Italy. Cannoli are believed to have originated around Palermo during the 9th century, while Sicily was under Arab rule. Legend has it that they were origi... Read more

This classic Sicilian semi-frozen dessert is just the thing to cool you down during the dog days of summer. It is served all across the island, and traditionally enjoyed for breakfast alongside an espresso and brioche. Granita is made with water, sugar, and fruit juice or various other flavorings... Read more

Arguably Sicily’s most famous dessert, this traditional cake consists of liqueur-drenched genoise sponge cake layered with sweetened ricotta and fruit preserves, decorated with a marzipan shell and colorful candied fruits. It is believed that cassata originated as a simple sugar, egg, and r... Read more