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| Special thanks to Cav. Charles Sant'Elia, President of the Comitati delle Due Sicilie USA, for organizing this year's Jurnata d''a Memoria |
Tuesday evening, I joined my friends at Norma Gastronomia Siciliana (438 3rd Ave.) in Kips Bay, Manhattan for a joint Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday) and Jurnata d''a Memoria (Remembrance Day) dinner. Looking to eat our fill before our Lenten fast, as well as honor the men and women who fought and died defending our ancestral homeland during the northern conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, we gathered at the cozy Sicilian eatery for a traditional Duosiciliano feast.
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| Some wine to get things started |
Warmly greeted, our party was quickly seated beneath a giant mural of an antique map of Sicily, where Norma’s crack wait staff took our sizable drink and dinner orders.
Boasting an impressive selection of Sicilian wines, we decided on an excellent bottle of Nero d’Avola Lagnusa (Feudo Montoni), Sicily’s famed varietal whose bold fruit flavors paired well with our sumptuous repast.
Before digging in, we began our meal by saying grace, then toasting the memory of our heroic ancestors and kings of yore.
For starters, we enjoyed two distinct and tasty takes on eggplant: timballo di melanzane alla parmigiana, a mouthwatering drum of tender eggplant with mozzarella, parmigiano, basil and tomato sauce; and caponata con mandorle e crostini, a sweet and sour medley of eggplant, celery, olives, cappers, onions, tomato and almonds with crusty bread. The aubergine masterpieces were an auspicious and welcome start to the meal.
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| Chef Fraterrigo shows his true colors |
I rarely pass up an opportunity to eat a rice ball, especially when I see a variation I haven’t tried yet. So when I spotted the arancine nero di seppia, a squid ink risotto stuffed with a spicy shrimp ragù; and the more conventional arancine al burro, made with saffron risotto, mozzarella, butter and ham over a light béchamel sauce; I knew we had to try them. Everything a rice ball should be—crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside—both were packed with lots of flavor and more than lived up to my high expectations.
For our entree we ordered three different pasta dishes. Passing the platters around, we each repeatedly sampled the Busiate al pesto Trapanese, imported Busiate pasta with fresh tomato, basil, Sicilian garlic, almonds and extra virgin olive oil; Anelletti al forno, a baked ring-shaped pasta with green peas, eggplant, ham, pecorino and beef ragù; and Pasta con le sarde a timballo, a breaded drum of spaghetti, fresh Portuguese sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts and saffron. They were all perfectly cooked and delicious, but in my humble opinion the Busiate with its fresh and clean flavors was the star of the evening.
After a short breather, and some café to pick us up, we capped off our meal with a little cannoli, cassatina and tiramisu. This was enjoyed with a delightful Malvasia delle Lipari, a sweet dessert wine aptly nicknamed the “nectar of the gods.”
To our delight, Executive Chef Salvatore Fraterrigo visited our table and spoke a bit about the food and history of his beloved island and the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. An all-around terrific dining experience, the maestro and his staff (Emanuela, Enzo, Mirco, et al.) have brought a corner of Sicily to New York City. More than just a place to eat, Norma embodies the warmth and hospitality one expects to find on the celebrated jewel of the Mediterranean. The food was fantastic, the service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was charming. I look forward to going back.
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| (Above & below) Due Sicilie pride on display at Norma |
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| Remembering the defenders of the Kingdom and the sacrifices they made. May they Rest in Peace and never be forgotten |
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| A giant map of Sicily adorns the restaurant's wall |
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Timballo di melanzane alla parmigiana
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Caponata con mandorle e crostini
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Arancine nero di seppia
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Arancine al burro
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Busiate al pesto Trapanese
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Anelletti al forno
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Pasta con le sarde a timballo
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Cassatina
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Cannoli
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Malvasia delle Lipari, "the nectar of the gods"
Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
438 3rd Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Tel 212.889.0600
