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The Lipari Islands, the archipelago of flavors
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| The Lipari Archipelago is composed of seven islands, seven precious gems formed by solidifying lava, seven different, yet harmonious notes that create a fascinating play of colors in terms of ever-changing land- and seascapes. Formerly called the Aeolian Islands, they are situated northeast of Sicily, and they can be toured by foot, bicycle or even on the back of a donkey, offering a spectacle of unique geological formations and evocative remnants of a rich historical past. |
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A SPECTACLE OF LIGHT AND FLAVORS |
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Each island offers an array of new discoveries in terms of local wines and foods. The volcanic rock hosts wild caper bushes and in Salina they also cultivate them in order to harvest their tasty little flower buds and conserve them in salt. The intensity of the flavor and fragrance is all unleashed when they are immersed in water, where, because of the particular type that is cultivated, the tiny buds plump up like fresh.
Formerly used as a natural remedy to treat inflammations, they have become a fundamental ingredient in the preparation of local dishes. Capers are used to flavor all the sauces that accompany the local fish dishes, such as grouper ravioli or baked louvar (Luvarus imperialis, commonly referred to as Pagello). Be sure not to miss the Caper Fair held each year on the island of Salina during June. |
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In this part of the world a glass of golden Malvasia delle Lipari wine plays a pivotal role at mealtime. The grape variety of the same name has always been grown in this area, especially in Salina. To make the wine, they utilize very ripe clusters of grapes which produce a dessert wine, featuring mellow notes of mature yellow fruit and an array of persistent, velvety fragrances.
It is perfect with the traditional almond pastries typical of Sicily and for accompanying the exquisite pastry achievements of the Lipari Islands. For people who enjoy traveling off-season, in November they hold a wine and homemade bread festival on the island of Lipari itself. Try not to miss it. |
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TREASURES TO BE DISCOVERED |
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For those of you who cannot resist temptation, we would like to renew our invitation to visit the Lipari Islands and try the local "nacatuli", the puff-pastries prepared with Malvasia wines, filled with almond paste and flavored with mandarin juice. Or try the paradise cakes that offer a felicitous marriage between the velvety sweetness of almonds and the sweet-and-sour zest of citron. And be sure to sample all the different sorts of biscuits and cookies, everything from the pane biscottato (a kind of melba toast), to the sesame cookies, not to forget, "spicchitedda", a sweet biscuit with a dark brown color, because it has been flavored with boiled wine.
There is no end to the imaginative variations on the theme of the lovely "cassatieddi", a pastry made from raisins, hazelnuts, almonds and sugar. And no pastry survey would be complete without mentioning "Gigi", simple little carnival baked treats that are covered with a glistening glaze of sugar, boiled wine and honey. Treasures to be discovered in the heart of the Mediterranean. |
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 Ristorante Filippino
Piazza Mazzini - 98055
Lipari - Lipari Islands (ME)
Tel. ++39 090 9811002 ++39 090 9813600
Fax ++39 090 9812878
closed Mondays during the winter and from 10 November to 26 December
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