Vegania, Ragusa - Review

Recently opened Vegania in Ragusa has become a firm lunchtime favourite with my colleagues and I over the last month.

Now, I'm not a vegan, I stopped eating meat at the age of eight (my own decision), since I moved to Sicily, I reintroduced fish to my diet as vegetarianism here seemed a distant myth but things seem to be changing and I am seeing more and more places catering to vegetarian, vegan and even macrobiotic diets. Even if you don't want to become a full-time vegan or vegetarian, the health benefits to giving up meat even for just one day are immense, not to mention the massive positives to the environment and to animal welfare making this choice has. I really recommend taking a look at the Meat Free Monday website where you can read all about how one day a week can make an incredible difference and really impact on the world as a whole.

And even if you aren't interested in the benefits of the vegan lifestyle, the delicious offerings at Vegania have swayed the opinion of even the most dubious of my colleagues, not to mention my meat-loving Sicilian boyfriend!

My featured visit is from a few weeks ago, when I popped into Vegania with my fabulous colleague, Emily, for a lunchtime bite. We were seated in the bright, canteen-style lunchtime dining area which is slick, modern and allows a great view of the open kitchen area. There is a second dining area for evening visits, a more elegant setting, with softer lighting and more intimate seating arrangements.

We ordered a mixed plate, which meant a selection of all the days offerings. This included softly spiced rice with tofu, vegan lasagna, roasted vegetables and a slice of Ragusa province's speciality foccacia (a type of rolled pasta dish - a kind of lasagna/pasty hybrid, if you will). Each mouthful so fresh and full of flavour, not to mention being incredibly filling. This was all served with homemade cardamon bread - not that extra filling was required! Each time I have had the mixed plate, I have been completely satisfied.

A real treat is the juice options. I always go for Carrot, Orange and Ginger. With every mouthful, I can feel the inside of my body feeling cleansed.

Not to mention, after a visit here, there is a great feeling of energy and well-being for the rest of the day.

The coffee is also a real treat. Made from barley rather than regular coffee beans, such as arabica, so as to cut down on food miles and encourage a more sustainable way of sourcing what we eat, you get a much more delicate flavour. It's very aromatic and leaves a beautiful after-taste.

Pictured above is Emily with Vegania's incredibly welcoming and friendly owner. All of the staff are warm and helpful. It's a lovely atmosphere to be in.

The price is excellent. For all of the above, you can expect to pay just a little over €10 per head.

I really can't recommend this place highly enough. It's an absolute gem and I am so pleased that it has arrived just a short walk from my workplace. Ten out of ten, absolutely no complaints!


Vegania
Via Risorgimento, 12, Ragusa

7https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegania/782827725116641

Amici Miei, Modica - Review

Apologies to regular followers that I haven't posted for a little while. Christmas was spent restfully at home with Totó and January was a month filled with hospital visits, ill health and cold weather, we haven't been out much at all and when we have ventured out, it has been to our favourite places which I have already written about. Very much hoping February will bring better fortune and more opportunities to write about the wonderful places to eat and drink in and around Modica.

This weekend has been gloomy and rainy in Modica but yesterday evening we forced ourselves out of the house and decided to head over to Modica Sorda for aperitivo. We were a little early, seemingly too early, for a few places to accommodate us... it was 6pm but we were told in two cafés that we couldn't take aperitivo until 7pm. Eventually, we arrived at Amici Miei and were welcomed warmly by the bar's wonderfully friendly owner, Flavio.

Amici Miei was once a regular hang-out of mine, as I initially lived in Modica Sorda after moving to Sicily. It's a modern bar, elegantly decorated but it's premium asset is Flavio, who is always so accommodating. There is a great drinks selection, including some stunning wines and fabulous cocktails and food is served at lunchtimes, as well as on special dining evenings, as advertised within.

In the street just outside the bar, we bumped into an old colleague of mine so we invited her to join us for a drink. I took a gin and tonic, made with my favourite Tanqueray gin, Totó had an Americano - made exactly as he likes it and my tee-total former colleague had a freshly-made orange juice.

We were each served with a delightful fish appetiser, which included raw shrimp, a mussel and salt cod. Each mouthful was absolutely beautiful.

A lovely revisit and reminder of a great place. We will definitely be heading back soon for a full meal and more lovely drinks with Flavio.

Amici Miei
Via Resistenza Partigiana, Modica Sorda

https://www.facebook.com/amici.miei.7127?fref=ts

Delicatessen, Ragusa - Review

Thanks to my lovely friends living in Ragusa, I recently discovered this fabulous little gem of a place.

Half-deli, half-canteen style eatery, Delicatessen is a great place to stop for a bite to eat, day or night. You can enjoy one of the great freshly made sandwiches which offer plethora of fillings on a variety of breads or one of the homemade hot dishes from the kitchen, which includes pastas and soups with fresh, seasonal vegetables. There is a lot on offer here for vegetarians and vegans, with clear indications of which dishes are suitable, something which is still rather unusual in Sicily.

The decor is very modern and stylish, you could be forgiven for thinking this place might be better suited in one of Barcelona's fashionable districts or Manchester's Northern Quarter and so on.

Yesterday, my friend Emily and I popped in for a spot of lunch.

We both opted for sandwiches. Mine was mackerel with lettuce and black pepper while Emily went for prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and pesto. Both huge sandwiches arrived after a little while and we delved in with eager anticipation (and significant hunger). The mackerel was a delight, really fresh tasting and beautifully seasoned. Emily thoroughly enjoyed hers and despite us both having started to feel quite full before finishing, we both made sure to finish every last bit in acknowledgement of such extreme tastiness.

(Pictured is Emily with her sandwich)

We have both had different sandwiches from here before and due to the high quality and wide variety on offer, we have challenged ourselves to try a different one each time.

The café offers a great selection of fresh juices. On this visit I went for a large glass of orange, carrot, celery and ginger which was revitalising as well as incredibly tasty. Emily had her usual glass of apple and pineapple, a favourite that never disappoints her.

Also on offer is a good range of local wines, ideal for evening visits.

You can also visit the deli where local cheeses, meats and fresh vegetables, along with a variety of specialist local produce is on offer.

The staff are incredibly friendly, though the service is true to the slow-food philosophy, so it is best not to go when you are in a hurry, as I have previously learnt from experience.

Slow service aside, it really is a treasure of a find, great food, great atmosphere and great times.

Delicatessen
Via Archimede 32-34, Ragusa

https://www.facebook.com/DelicatessenRagusa