Season 06- : Share Your Food diaries, Reviews, and Adventures!

A specific and highly recognizable food from Sicily, beloved by people from all walks of life - be it the less affluent, the middle class, or the wealthy - is the arancini.

These small, rice-based delights are so tasty and nourishing that they’re adored not only in Italy but worldwide! Arancini are little rice timbales, typically shaped into spheres or cones, with a delicious filling in the center, coated in breadcrumbs, and then fried to golden perfection. While I’m not usually a fan of fried food, arancini are an exception whenever I’m in Sicily or other parts of Italy (though you won’t find them everywhere).

They’re just that good! The hallmark of arancini is their crispy crust, which conceals a soft and flavorful interior. Their golden hue and orange-like shape give them their name - "arancini," meaning "little oranges" in Italian. The fillings vary greatly: spinach, ham, eggplant, bacon, and even pistachio -a nut that’s incredibly popular throughout Italy.

While in Catania, I visited two spots renowned for these rice treasures. One is Munnu Arancu, which has two locations - one right in the city center and another about a 10-minute walk away. Both offer dine-in and takeaway options, staying true to arancini’s street food roots. At Munnu Arancu, you can even choose baked arancini instead of fried, which is a fantastic option for those who prefer to avoid fried foods. My companions and I tried two varieties:

Pantescu, filled with tomato, potato, rosemary powder, onion, olives, and capers.

Baked Ragù, made with celery, carrots, onion, tomato, nutmeg, cheese, and beef.

The second place we visited was Savia, one of the oldest pastry shops in Catania, founded in 1897.

Alongside their famous cannoli and marzipan sweets, they also serve arancini.

At Savia, we tried arancini with spinach

and another with prosciutto.

Keep in mind that Savia often has long lines of customers! Fortunately, we arrived later in the evening and avoided the usual crowds.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pasticceria+Savia/@37.5108518,15.0830128,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x1313fcd35094266f:0x97dfceec62d4fc11!8m2!3d37.5108518!4d15.0855877!16s%2Fg%2F1tg57qh2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Munnu+Arancinu/@37.5007819,15.0870861,18z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x1313e32fa33ef3a9:0x3bc3eb69472e9441!4m6!3m5!1s0x1313e328a3a68909:0x692fe94c39c14819!8m2!3d37.5007819!4d15.0883736!16s%2Fg%2F11q4jw1lrj?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

At this location, they offer baked arancini, but it’s about a ten-minute walk from the city center.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Munnu+Arancinu/@37.5020746,15.0863741,18z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x1313e3004a9ee659:0x77138f740431927c!8m2!3d37.502158!4d15.086344!16s%2Fg%2F11w36__rml?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

This location is right in the city center.

Both locations are great, but if you’re on a tighter budget, Savia is the better option.
@artist1111 Enjoy

@charter @sacra97 @yonaiker Come on, folks, let’s go on a food adventure)))