About

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I’m Simon, an Englishman who’s been living in Sicily for over 30 years, and much of this time has been spent indulging my passion for food – shopping, cooking and, of course, eating. In my spare time I translate (preferably books on food and wine, you’ll be surprised to hear) and teach, activities which my wife and children are convinced are merely means to further finance my food expenditure…

Why “siccia”?

Siccia is the Sicilian dialect word for “cuttlefish” (seppia in Italian). One of Sicily’s iconic dishes is spaghetti served “cu nivuru di siccia”, i.e. with a black cuttlefish ink sauce. This dish is emblematic of the idea behind siccia.com, where we focus on authentic, traditional Sicilian food and wine, with their rich, vibrant flavours.

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What you’ll find here

I’m looking forward to sharing Sicily’s many gastronomic pleasures with you, from the producer to the plate. And that means markets, shops, wineries, restaurants, local specialities and traditions. And, of course, lots of recipes. Some of the ingredients may be difficult to source outside Sicily, but where possible I’ll provide alternatives. And if there are no alternatives, then all I can suggest is to come here yourself, taste the dishes in their natural habitat, and fall in love with the place and the people, just like I did. Because a love for food and a love for life have always gone hand in hand, but nowhere is this more true than in Sicily.