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If you like white sandy beaches, delicious food, and off-the-beaten path travel experiences, stop in Scoglitti the next time you’re in Sicily. 

Carmel Ruggeri, the Italian-Australian who founded Sicilian Food Tours, lives in this fishing village part time. Her parents emigrated from here to Sydney before she was born and she grew up enjoying the best of both worlds. 

“I love it in May and June. The town hasn't filled up yet, but you can still have an appreciation for all the great bars and the restaurants and the beach,” Carmel says. The town of 2,000 swells to 70,000 in the summer months, most visitors coming from Sicily or other parts of Italy, according to Carmel.

“Just that lifestyle of waking up in the morning…getting your brioche and granita and gelato for breakfast and then getting to the beach and then coming back and having your pasta. Siesta in the afternoon then back to the bar for té freddo. This is the stuff that I love about Scoglitti. It's that real experience of a seaside holiday.”

Carmel joined me on the LIVE Without Borders podcast to talk about her favorite places to eat in her family’s hometown, and all over Sicily. Plus, you’ll learn where you should spend your time if you’ve got 7-10 days to drive around the island.

Foods to try in Sicily

Ricotta cassateddi (ricotta crescents)

Arancini

Scacce Ragusane (street food that looks like a lasagna/stromboli)

Paccheri eggplant, pangrattato & pistacchio 

Sfincione (Sicilian pizza)

Cannoli

Restaurants and cafes mentioned in the episode

Thank you, Carmel, for these recommendations:

• Cannoli at Saint Caterina convent in Palermo or at Antica Bonajuto in Modica

• Best gelato in Sicily at Bar Riviera

• Shop that sells street food by the kilo (scacce, arancini, cassateddi) is called Morreale 

• Best panini can be found at Dolcidea Bar. “Their cocktails are to die for. They free pour so it’s true value for money in a buzzing atmosphere.” 

• More great panini can be found at Fratelli Burgio, the deli in Ortigia Market in Siracusa.

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