Fast Foods……Sicilian Style!
2007 September 16
Pollo al Brace. Yum.
Ever hear of it?
Sure you have.
It is sold at every supermarket….roasted chicken.
Except in Sicily, it is 10,000 times better.
Just about every town in Sicily has one, two or three shops that sell pollo al brace. However, the preparation and the way it is cooked makes all the difference in the world.
First, the chickens are all farm raised. They are not fed genetically altered corn like they are in the states. They roam the farm and peck away. Free range chicken. As a result, they taste very different that those here.
Then, they are stuffed with flavorings before being put on the rotisserie. Cut up olives, sweet pepper,perhaps a bit of sausage,a few potatoes covered with rosemary…every shop has its own recipe.
Then they are cooked in wood fired hearths. The combination of the stuffing and the roasting method results in an outstanding take away dinner.
For about 6 euro (about $8.00), you can have your choice of any of these succulent birds.
For side dishes, I always select the “patate al furno”…roasted potatoes in olive oil and rosemary…or roasted peppers. Add in a mixed salad, and presto! you have a gourmet meal for under $15.00.
Another great take away dish is “pasta al forno”…..sold everywhere at noon time every day. It is what my mom calls “baked macaroni”. Sold in serving sized aluminum containers piping hot, this delight will satisfy even the most demanding take away eater.
Of course all the regular suspects…pizza, pannini, and rice balls are everywhere, but every once in a while, a nice dish of pasta al forno heals the soul, I think.
Unfortunately, in Aci Reale and also in Catania and Palermo MacDonald’s are now operating. They are popular spots for kids’ birthday parties…Happy Meals…..but the Big Macs, and everything else tastes much different that they do in the states. The only good thing about a Sicilian MacDonald’s is that you can buy a decent glass of wine there with a meal.
There you have it….a primer on fast foods in Sicily!
