At Home with Dolci Siciliani in Mazara del Vallo
The tray of dolci siciliani is set seductively on the dinner table. Wearing nothing but a thin sheet of paper, it teases the eye with a hint of roundness that lays beneath.
“Take a photo of the name of the Pasticceria,” someone yells out from around the dinner table. I smile, pleased that my relatives who have a home in Mazara del Vallo‘s Kasbah no longer consider me odd for pointing a camera at food every time it is presented.
“Profitterol is the best in Mazara,” Cousin D affirms, slowly peeling the paper and watching my face for a reaction.
A feast of sugary goodness unravels before me. There are dolci I recognise, others pique my curiosity.
For a start, I choose a babà al rum. Napolitan in origin, this mushroom-shaped babà is soft, sweet and swimming in a pool of rum. Of all the babas I have eaten, including their French cousin, baba au rhum, this is the only one doused with enough alcohol to make me giddy. Not that I complain.
“Try the Bomba di Ricotta!”
Before I have a chance to protest that I am not a fan of ricotta cheese, a piece is thrust on my plate. I am assured this is “nothing like the ricotta you eat in Sydney”. E vero, I nod as all it takes is just one mouthful to convert me.
“E questa?” I ask, pointing to the temptation in green and white, wearing a pretty skirt topped with a candied cherry and fruit.
“Cassatina siciliana. Not the cassata ice cream you know,” Cousin D hastens to add.
I am in marzipan heaven.
Profitterol – Pasticceria Gelateria
Via Vittorio Veneto n.77v
91026 Mazara Del Vallo
Sicily – Italy
This article is posted on Gourmantic.com. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012
I think I’d pass on the green wiggly dessert but dive into the baba and bomba! And I love the paper hiding the desserts until it’s time.
The baba and bomba together make a lethally delicious combination!
So not fair to temp us like this. If only you could share more than the photos, but I’m not sure if you would. :-) Thanks for the post.
Prego! If only I could offer you the whole tray and more! In fact, I made myself so hungry while working on this post. The perils of writing about food! :)
Oh yum! Could eat that whole platter…well, the cassatina is a bit heavy, but I would try my hardest to fit it all in :) I’ve never had the Bomba di Ricotta, but looks like I’ve been missing out, lol..we’ve got our fair-share of pastries here of course, but something about the Italian presentation always gets me so excited…wonderful photos, thanks for sharing!
Actually, it’s not that rich, and I could have easily eaten a couple! The bomba is addictive. It should come with a warning!
Greetings Corinne.
I know that pastry shop, it is one of the best in town.
Hi Patrizia – my cousin who has a house in Mazara said the same thing. I still crave those sweets!