Gaetano Basiricò: Potrait of a Sicilian Chef

I first meet Gaetano many years ago at his country house in Paceco near Trapani, Western Sicily. I was invited by his sister Rosaria. I also met the entire Basiricò family including the mother and father.

Since then, each time I’m in Sicily for holidays, I spend a day or two in their country house in Porticalazzo surrounded by olive trees and other plantations.

The reason of such affection for this genuine Sicilian family? because they are a very gentle and honest family with a great sense of hospitality.

Then because I like their beautiful Sicilian-style country house with this enormous old style kitchen with an owen wood where they cook hand made bread, pizza, sweaties and prepare, best of all, my favorite couscous flavoured with seafood soup!

Gaetano, in this family environment, has matured his passion for good food and cooking. Thanks to the availabilty of freshes fish and other ingredients (as his own olive oil and organic vegetables from his father’s farm) Gaetano has developed a great sense for taste and genuinity that we can fund in his recipes that skillfully combine tradition and innovation.

Today, Gaetano is a chef. His resturant, The Holiker Cafè, is located in Paceco. (click here for a slideshow presentation of his dishes)

I met him this summer in Pantelleria where he’s temporany the Main Chef at the Zubebi’s resort restaurant. I spent 4 days in Pantelleria and dined every night at Gaetano’s.

We all enjoyed fresh fish finely cooked in order to preserve its natural salty taste. We loved his deserts created with delicious creams at the flavour of zibibbo’s sweat wine and with cruncy almonds.

I truly believe Gaetano needs the opportunity to cook for a restaurant in a big city where he can find the deserved attention and appreciation from the public and critics.

Meanwhile this opportunity arises you can try his cuisine in Pantelleria until October or reserve a table at the Holiker café once his back in town.

iPhone: nothing compares 2 u

The iPhone will soon be released in Germany, France and UK.

T-Mobile, Orange and O2 will respectivily sell the iPhone in the above mentioned countries.

For those, as me, based in Italy the iPhone is still the object of our dreams. But for me this dream, just for an afternoon, has become a reality!

Yesterday, infact, I had the chance to play with an iPhone borrowed by my friend Carlo: so, what is my first impression?

Well, I guess everything, from a technical and functional point of view, has been said by more qualified bloggers and experts.

I would like to simply say that nothing invented before compares to it. It’s just like a piece of alien technology felt on earth.

Pantelleria

As promises in a previous post here are a few impressions on my summer trip to Pantelleria.

This is my second visit to Pantelleria. I felt in love with this island for the first time during summer 2002. Since then it was my vivid desire to return and visit it with my wife because Pantelleria can be indeed a very romantic place with its incredible african sunsets and blue skyies.

But mind that it can be, as well, uneasy for its african temperature during August where the rocky vulcanic soil burns and tortures your feet if you don’t wear a proper pair of footwears when you go trekking or diving.

Even though extreme Pantelleria can deserve great and intense moments for those who love sailing and comtempling the blue sea from your veranda.

Housing

Dammusi, Pantelleria’s famous houses, made of stones, are a great place where to find shelter from the hot of the season, resting and dining with your family or friends.

Personally I’ve spent most of my afternoons under the porch drinking a beer or a glass or two of great white Sicilian Wine (Grillo, Inzolia, Greganico, etc…)

I have to admit that with a great sightview as the one offered by our dammuso it was a crime to concentate on something else.

Food

And then food!!! What a joy is the cuisine here…based on primary resources as fresh fish and vegetables, food here preserves its inner taste and aroma. We had the opportunity to eat almost every dinner at the Zubebi resort where a great chef (Gaetano Basiricò) has delighted us with his cuisine.

(Sunset and appetizer on the roof of the Zubebi resort…).

iPhone: a sneak preview

As Europeans we’re all waiting for an official announcement from Apple regarding the release date for the iPhone in Europe, expected soon in UK, France and Germany (an Apple UK Special Event on September 18th 2007 is infact on the way…).

But as Italian I am afraid that the introduction of the iPhone in this country is going to be delayed to the next year. I might be wrong…but in the meantime I have managed to put my fingers on a device!.

Yes, finally, after 77 days from the USA release of the iPhone on June 29 2007 (an important date for mankind as July 20 1969….) I am going to spend time with an iPhone.

Ok, it is just borrowed from a dear friend…but who cares? Envy? can’t wait? It is only a matter of time and soon you will own one too…

Just kidding…In my next post I will fulfill your curiosity and thirst of knowledge.

Stay tuned.

Jerry

Back from summer holidays

After 2 weeks of summer vacations I’m back at work.

This year, differently from last year trip when me and my wife went to Africa (for our honeymoon), we’ve decided for a low budget trip to Sicily. Our main destination were Pantelleria and Val di Noto. It is my intention in the next days to publish a couple of posts on this intense and beautiful Sicilian experience.