Happy Easter a Visit to Sicily (Sicilia)!

Our Aunt Margaret Carrozza won many baking awards after she immigrated here from Sicily. She would make our favorite dessert during the Easter Season (Pasqua), commonly made in Italy as an Easter Bread. I am not sure if she adjusted the recipe just for us (her eight great nieces and nephews) but she created Pupo col’Uovo with cookie dough. (picture) Here is the closest recipe I can find.

Another great dessert that originated in Sicily is the cannoli, actually cannoli is the plural, one is cannolo and in Siciliancannulo. Cannoli have roots in the middle ages, the ninth century, and have been traced to the Arabs regime in Sicily. Cannoli were historically prepared as a treat duringCarnevale season. One legend assigns their origin to the women during the ancient times in Caltanissetta when it was an Arab Harem, or contrarily, another legend is the dessert was created in the convent there after these times. During our family visit to Sicily a fun endeavor was to locate the best cannoli in Sicily. This was their choice La Pasticceria del Ginnasio in Taormina not far from the Roman Theatre. For those of you thinking of visiting in Sicily here is a Sicilian Travel Map.

   

 
The arts of Sicily include the famous Sicilian Carts and the Ceramics of Caltagirone. Sicily is surrounded by the Ionian Sea, and there are some of the most beautiful beaches. If you visit Taormina you are near to Isola Bella, good for snorkeling along the rocky coast. Also near Taormina is the City of Naxos which dates back to 734 BC as a Greek Colony. Prior to the early 1970s, Giardini Naxos was a quiet fishing village. Now it is a tourist destination, its attractions includie beaches, the panoramic view of the bay and surrounding hills, and its small fishing port. Bring beach shoes, prepare to pay for beach chairs, towels, boats, and wear bathing suits only at the beach There are rocky beaches with pristine waters, a black sand beach and so much to explore:  Syracusa, Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, Messina, Catania, Trapani, and Palermo. To read more about the beaches, click here.
Visit our Festa Gioia and any time during March to enjoy Secondo Pezzo Mezzo Prezzo time, Second Piece Half Price time. Buona Pasqua, Happy Easter.
   

Calendar
 

March

SCU Catala Club Cinco de Marzo,
Raising funds for scholarships, Santa Clara University
Date: March 5 (Saturday)
Time: 6 pm to 10 pm
Place: Great America Pavilion
Reservations: Katy 650.279.0330

Los Gatos Art Docents at Gioia
Date: March 15 (Tuesday)
Time:11 am
Place: 16395 Roseleaf Court

FESTA GIOIA MARZO (March)
Lunch and Shopping Italian Style
Secondo Pezzo Mezzo Prezzo
Date: March 19 (Saturday)
Time: Noon to 6 p.m. and anytime by appointment
Location: Gioia 16395 Roseleaf Court Los Gatos
RSVP: 408.640.6628

April Coming Events!

Limoncello Class with Valentina at Gioia
Date: April 2, Saturday
Time: Noon to 4pm
Place: 16395 Roseleaf Court
Contact for reservations: 408.640.6628
What to Bring: Click here
Price $55, lunch included

Festa Gioia April
Lunch and Shopping Italian Style
Date: April 3 (Sunday)
Time: Noon to 6 pm
Location: 16395 Roseleaf Court
RSVP 408.640.6628

Baking with Valentina at Gioia
Making Semifreddo Tiramisu
Date: April 24, Sunday
Time: Noon to 4pm
Location: 16395 Roseleaf Court
RSVP: 408.640.6628
What to Bring: Click here.
Cost $55 per person, lunch included

GIOIA ITALIAN ART AND PRODUCTS always opened by appointment in Los Gatos. Call Kathy 408.640.6628 or Contactkathywinkelman@gioiacompany.com
And always at your disposal online atwww.gioiacompany.com. 

 

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES 2016!! Save the Dates!!

CAMPANIA

Thinking of staying in the Vietri sul Mare region? Here is a B & B owned by one of our friends in Italy, check it out.  
CASA IDA Historic House Rental & B&B Italy
Campania, near Vietri sul Mari, 
Cava Dei Tirreni, Campania, Italy
508-982-5622
Contact Facebook



SORRENTO
Sorrento Emotions and Dreams
Italian Specialist and Local Residents
Luxury Tailormade Vacations
Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri and all of Italy
Enjoy holidays, short breaks, weddings, honeymoon, dining, cooking, shopping, scuba diving, water activities, coastal excursions with personal crew.
Contact Signore Tonino Pepe, pepetonino@hotmail.it, and tell him Gioia Co. sent you.

PUGLIA

Puglia, Italy with Valentina
May 9 to May 19, 2016. (She takes groups at this time each year.)
Travel through the Puglia region
A step into real Puglia with Valentina, author, designer, artist and native
For more information, click here.

UMBRIA/TUSCANY-- Right on the border
Vacation at Le Selve, an Agriturismo!  Contactinfo@gioiacompany.com or 408.640.6628 for a special introduction to the owner. Sleeps six or 12. Two stories. Separate units. Beautiful view. Organic olive grove. Walking trails. Full kitchen. Swimming pool.


See you soon...