Caffè Sicilia
Gelato for breakfast
What struck me the most about Noto, Sicily was how early in the morning you could find a gelato shop open. I was lucky enough to be sent to Sicily for work on three or four different occasions, and I was up by sunrise on all of my trips. Noto, suprisingly, has a lot to offer by 7am. Just outside my hotel door there was a cappuccino-colored gelato stand open for a breakfast scoop.
I learned it is custom here to have a bowl of granita di mandorle (almond granita) paired with warm brioche first thing in the morning. Granita is a refreshing, icy dessert — sort of like a sorbet, but more delicate and much soupier. Caffè Sicilia was the place to try this. Caffè Sicilia is the sort of establishment that has many layers (architecture, furnishings, waiters, playlist, menu) that just work. Even better than the granita di mandorle was the shot of almond milk I tried as a recommendation from our waiter. Their almond milk is housemade and very sweet. Tastes of pure almonds, that’s it. Below are a few of the impressions of Caffé Sicilia I had while visiting Noto.
Caffè Sicilia, Noto, Sicily
8am — first meeting of the day
Warm brioche and almond granita
7:30am — tasting with client the next day
My first and only (to date) “one of each”
6pm — different trip, an afternoon snack
Pistachio gelato
Around 8:30pm — final trip
Nightcap biscotti
Notes on Caffè Sicilia
