The intense heat makes for the perfect way to enjoy the end of the summer and squeeze every last drop out.. A summer Below Zero with an authentic granita. You can buy a granita in many flavors at almost any coffee bar in Italy. In Sicily, granita is really an art. Who can blame the Sicilians for coming up with a way to enjoy a coffee in summer where summer temperatures regularly reach the 100 degree mark.
Granita has somewhat of a cult following in Sicily, and you can tour the beautiful island and be sure that almost anywhere you go you can refresh with a chill granita. Here are some of my favorite stops, besides the beaches, art and ruins:
in Palermo get thee to Al Pinguino, via Ruggero Settimo, 86 where the granita is crystal like The granitas are seasonal, in summer best to try the black fig granita and in winter the blood orange granita.
In Taormina, the beaches are splendid , but the granita is heavenly. At Gelatomania, corso Umberto, 7, to satisfy the chocoholic in me- Granita alla Nutella and Granita with white chocolate and hazelnut are the ultimate. When you arrive on the charming island of Stromboli, stop at Ritrovo Ingrid in piazza San Vincenzo first to take a fig granita while discovering this retro stop-made famous by a black and white film with the iconic Ingrid Bergmann.
f you can’t get to Sicily, no worries, your kitchen will suffice for a substitute “staycation.” Make your own homemade granita. And although the only ingredients are espresso, water, and sugar, the real granita artisans will tell you that the outcome of your granita heavily depends on the quality of water and coffee used. So plain old tap water will just not do!
Homemade Coffee Granita
4 cups water
1 cup dark espresso coffee
2 cups granulated sugar
Stir together all ingredients in a large shallow pan. Place in freezer and cover with plastic wrap. After one hour, use a fork to break up any ice that has formed. Re-cover with plastic wrap. And then you need to repeat this four more times every hour. Serve topped with whipped cream
Join Me in Italy on my ALL INCLUSIVE culinary/ luxury cruise in May 2012. There are only a few spots left! We will be going to Rome, Venice, Amalfi, and the Mediterranean with visits to a vineyard in Sicily, culinary dinners and demos onboard. Everything, even your flight from a key city, is included. Email: events@Marialiberati.con for more info or call Rosenbluth Travel
