Sorry for all the back and forth, but there were two additional places in Ragusa for very worth snacks’
First was CANTUNERA IBLA, just a 5 minute walk from the Piazza del Duomo to just adjacent to the public gardens. Please forgive is I’ve already mentioned this, but locals told that this was THE place for arrancini in Ibla. Open s about 12:30 and shuts by about 3pm. I’ve never had a fried thing that brought me so much pleasure; I ordered the version with speck, asiago and apple but there are many options. I think my version cost 3.50euro but there some less expensive. The way that crust shattered–I will remember this always. And it is HUGE…one is enough for a person for a lunch; I also had one of those bottles of soda in the cedro flavor.
Other snack place, besides the memorable Giumarra, is the very small supermarket in the Piazza del Duomo in Ibla. Face the Duomo steps and this little market is just on your left, near the steps and gates. The usual fast-foodish junky stuff but, also, some nice Ragusa cheeses and salumi in the back, and the BEST find:
There is a treat made in Modica called m’panittiggi (spellings differ) This small super has them and no doubt they are very easy to find in Modica but we did not go there except to park and take in the view. SO: Thin about how the Spanish brought pork to the New World, and took back chocolate to Europe and beyond. Thin about Mole.
M’panittiggi is a little tri-corned-shaped pastry (pretty sure the pastry has lardo inside, like those in Sevilla). I noticed it on a plate on the top of the cold case in this shop and asked about it. Looked to be like a tasty triangular desserts stuffed with dark chocolate…once the shop owner began explaining, I knew I would have to buy some to sample!
Fantastic…even think of the name…can you understand the linguistic similarities between that word and the word “empanada??” And then there is MOLE…all this cross cultural nautical trade resulted in so many interesting dishes and I wonder how many will endure???
I’m so flummoxed with the posting problems so I will post this and hoipefull come back soon and post some relevant photos…
