School is not over yet.
Much to my chagrin and contrary to habit, the only way I will survive the next four days is to live by a list. Accounting for each moment, accomplishing each task, receiving some satisfaction in crossing off each obligation.
To ease the pain, here’s a mouth-watering list I’m eager to live by—and will in two weeks’ time, on vacation in Italy!
1. Pane con la Milza—Spleen sandwich, baby!
2. Frutta di Martorana—According to my guidebook, an “artistic triumph” in Sicily. These delicacies are bits of marzipan sculpted into shapes of fruit. Thank God for those Byzantine Greeks and Arabs who helped the Sicilians develop their sweet tooth.
3. Pasta con le sarde—Found around Palermo, this is pasta with not just sardines but fennel, raisins and nuts.
4. Pasta alla Norma—More typical of the Catania region, this dish is comprised mostly of eggplants. Or as my guidebook calls them: “aubergines.”
5. Pesce spada—Swordfish, an expected part of any main meal, any il secundo.
And one list begets another. Look at the breakfast options:
1. Cornetto—a jam or custard-filled croissant
2. Iris—a ball of pastry stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese
3. Arancino—a deep-fried ball of rice filled with either meat (russo) or butter and cheese (bianco)
4. And of course, Cannoli
And another list for lunch:
1. Wood-fired pizza is a given, but there’s also…
2. Pane cunzati—a crusty roll filled with rotating combinations of tuna, capers, tomato and anchovy
3. Tramezzini—ready-made white bread sandwiches with mixed fillings
4. Toste—A general term for toasted sandwiches typically made with cheese and ham
Looking at all of these options, I can see the light. But of course, once I’m actually there, the last thing I’ll want to do is use a list—I’ll just want to wander around, eating as I go.
