By the time that most of you read this, I will be somewhere en route from Palermo to Houston, two cities that are rarely uttered in the same sentence. After my press trip concluded on Saturday night, I stayed a couple extra nights in Palermo, a city of just under one million people and the de facto capital of Sicily (although I am sure that more than a few people in Catania would object to that statement).
I last left you as we were spending our last night in the shadow of Mount Etna, the active volcano that dominates life and wine in the Eastern part of the Italian island.
I had to say goodbye to my comfortable room…
…and my breathtaking view.
Before driving west, we stopped at the Piante Faro nursery and garden. Bellissimo!
Our next stop was at Gorghi Tondi…
…where Wilma gave us a lesson on making couscous–a staple of Western Sicily due to the North African influence. I did not understand a word, but immediately adopted her as a great-aunt.
Sicilian couscous is typically made with seafood, which was both new to me and incredibly delicious.
The unforgettable meal was capped by the unique Grillodoro from Gorghi Tondi, an organic, hand-harvested (berry-by-berry), botrytized Grillo.
The following morning we headed back to Gorghi Tondi (Photo: gorghitondi.it)
There, we had a tasting of Grillo made four different ways (from left to right): No sulfur added (bottle 1), “standard organic” (bottles 2 & 3), the aforementioned botrytized (4), and sparkling brut (5).
Lunch followed the tasting with the incomparable Bartolommeo Marmoreo of Antico Borgo Marinaro, who prepared the first raw shrimp I ever consumed.
And Bartolommeo’s handmade pasta may have been the best of the trip.
After a relaxing afternoon by the pool (I slept in my room instead), it was off to dinner along the sea and octopus like I had never seen before (Pro tip: don’t eat the head)…
…a few mussels…
…some more pasta…
…and it was time to bid Gorghi Tondi arrivederchi.
Still more to come….
the drunken cyclist 
Beautiful photos! I just had lunch but am feeling hungry again….
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As you know, the food is sooooo good.
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Looks like a wonderful trip! Very curious about the Grillodoro, especially the pairing with the seafood couscous. Sounds oddly delicious!
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The Grillodoro might have been the wine of the week, but sadly a very small production (<3000 bottles).
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OMG I love Octopus! How could you leave? What a beautiful place!!!
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Might have been the most tender octopus I have had and served in a very spicy tomato sauce. I could not bring myself to try the head, though!
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I don’t think I would either…lol
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How on earth you are able to publish a post daily, is beyond me. You go Boy!
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Waking up everyday at 5:00 a.m. helps! Ever want to “do lunch” and collaborate on some posts?
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Sure do!
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Oh, that seafood. I must make it to Sicily. My real father was born there.
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It is an amazing place. So much passion….
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…and the bike? did you ride the etna?
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Extreme sad face. Noooooo.
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That Passito sounds incredible and the pasta looks DIVINE. I am curious about an octopus head….not sure if I’d try it either!
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