Written by August Dao, Student, CET's Intensive Italian Language and Culture Studies in Catania
Before Italy, I had never been outside the U.S. Among my
scrupulous expectations of fine cuisine, cute girls, and long sandy beaches
divided by coral blue sea, I did not expect the summer sun to also bring out
the hearts of the Sicilian people. A cliché, I know. But if I’ve learned
anything aside from intensive Italian language and the illustrious cult of hair
styling, it’s that the Sicilian’s open culture of love is best expressed
through the culinary arts. And at Catania, developing a massive addiction to
balls — I mean arancini balls — means you’re a normal, mentally-functioning
human being (I’d like to think people who dislike arancini don’t really exist,
because they don’t)
Not that any written account will suffice in capturing the
essence of these marvels, but I’ll give a quick description: arancini balls are
golden, crispy, just simply made to be eaten. At the heart of this Sicilian
delicacy contains rice coupled with Mozzarella and the most savory meat sauce
(ragù) that will ever lay rest on your taste buds. Put down that
heart-disease filled burger, steak, bacon, all things American, and remind
yourself what actual food is supposed to taste like. Ok, I like over half those
things I listed, but the point is, arancini balls are ten times better, and the
reason why isn’t just the combination of culinary intellect, fresh
ingredients, or a craftsman’s hand.; it’s the Sicilian culture itself.
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| Freshly Made "Golden Arancini" |
The tenderness which quickly replaces the hard, golden surface
from initial bite is an extension of the hearts of the Sicilians. Whether
they’re locals, students, professors, bartenders, or restaurant owners, it is
without a doubt that Sicilians have one of the largest capacities for love; the
arancino is but just one expression of it. Once the savory taste settles, that
love of friendship, of laughter, of life endures until the very last piece. A
sense that’s priceless, warm, and golden to the core.
