Buon giorno, well, I guess I dropped the ball again on my postcarding. I have been having a great summer! The day after I finished school, my girlfriend, Claire arrived in Palermo. We spent five days here just hanging around at the beach and then took a little South Western Sicilian road trip. While she was here, Alfio and I took her to lunch one day to a little agriturismo, Ponte Due Archi, in the hilltown of  Raccuja. We had a ball and the food was outstanding. It's a tiny place, I believe they have 8 rooms and you can stay there for 30 euro a night. If you want half board, it's 45 euro and full board will be 60 euro (per person).

Our lunch started off with what seemed like a never ending parade of antipasti. (All local. About 80% of what they serve is actually grown or raised right there, and the other 20% is from the area.) Next, you are served your first course. We had a sample of three of their pastas that day, local wild mushroom ravioli, macaroni in pork sauce, and my personal favorite, involtini di melanzane. (slices of fried eggplant that are rolled around homemade macaroni and ricotta. It's heavenly!)

After you've finished the pasta course, there's more! They bring out a platter full of grilled meat. Sausage, lamb chops, and involtini (rolled veal). We usually get this course with a salad. This time we had the most amazing tomato salad with red onions. The tomatoes all looked a bit sickly, but tasted so sweet and fresh. But, you could have a green salad or even french fried potatoes. All of this feast is washed down with their local red wine and if you want more of anything, they will happily bring it to you.

Azienda Agrituristica Ponte due Archi

c/da Grida` Raccuja Messina

tel:(39) 3287182465 / (39) 3886160316

info@ponteduearchi.it

www.pontedurearchi.it

Until next time, wish you were here!