Flavors of summer: the tradition of tomato sauce

My kitchen is truly the heart of the home — it's where my family gathers to celebrate everyday life, traditions, and special moments. It's a bright and welcoming space, filled with memories, books, handcrafted objects, and the scents of Sicily: aromatic herbs, vegetables from our garden, local wines, ceramics, and family photos. We welcome our guests with the flavors of tradition: homemade ricotta ravioli with meat and sausage sauce, sourdough bread made with ancient Sicilian grains, and Modica’s typical street food — such as scacce, scifiteddi, pastieri, and buccatedde — served with our own olives, fresh ricotta from nearby farms, classic arancini, and a special caponata. There’s also a personal touch: Bergamo-style polenta with Sicilian meat sauce — a flavorful mix that tells the story of our family’s journey away from and back to Sicily. Everything is made with local, seasonal, and genuine ingredients — many of which we grow or produce ourselves: stone-ground flours, olive oil from our trees, eggs from our hens, and fresh herbs and vegetables picked straight from our garden. And above all, there’s the love and passion passed down from my mother and grandmother.