A Farm Experience in Trapani Italy
- Sal Schmidt
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Our visit to the Sicilian town of Trapani spanned a few delightful days where we reunited with friends. It was a heartwarming experience to reconvene just a month after we travelled in Spain, exploring Trapani over shared meals and laughter. As enthusiasts of good food, we relished every culinary encounter together.
Highlighting our stay was an authentic farm experience with Caliafarm in Salemi-Posillesi, our friends discovered approximately 40 minutes from Trapani. We spent an enchanting evening with a local family on their farm, where we tried our hands at cooking and indulged in wine tasting—a task Mama graciously managed while involving us to enhance our engagement. The evening was magical, one we would do again in a heartbeat!
Do you know how we all dream of dining under the terraced vines and enjoying a home-cooked Italian meal at a table full of family and friends in the Italian countryside? Well, our dream became a reality in Sicily.
It all started with a drive through the Sicilian countryside, dotted with rolling hills and rows and rows of vines, olive groves, and dilapidated stone structures bordering the roadside, to then arrive at a quaint and traditional Italian village, where we stopped in for an aperitif before embarking on our farm dinner experience. We all felt apprehensive, not knowing what the night would bring, but we were ready and excited for a fun adventure. All we knew was we were going to a farm to enjoy some wine tasting while we prepared our evening meal, unsure if we were to partake in the meal prep, thinking this might not end well, or we would be onlookers and enjoy the fruits of the expert's labours.
Our hosts for the evening arrived, and we followed them to their home, a quintessential Italian farm five minutes from the village. The sun was beginning to set for the day, so first on the agenda was a stroll through the vegetable garden with the gorgeous Franca and Franco, whom we soon were calling Mama and Papa and the darling Irene, who had stolen the heart of their son Nico who is responsible for designing this authentic Italian farm experience.
We wandered through their garden, a treasure trove of fresh produce to retrieve the freshest ingredients for dinner, whilst Franca would have us all sample almonds from the trees as we walked through the garden.
As we approached the terrace with baskets of goodies, Alessandra, our lovely sommelier for the evening, greeted us with a sparkling white wine to kickstart our wine tasting experience.
Later, aboard a vintage blue combi van it even had a bed and kitchen sink in the back, we sipped our glasses en route to the Tenute Mokarta a nearby winery, where Franco also provides his grapes for wine production where we enjoyed a spectacular sunset that bathed the vineyard in pastel hues, providing a perfect backdrop for photographs. The sunset was a pure gift.
The wine tasting continued as we relaxed back in the lounges on the grassy landings with beautiful views over the countryside of Sicily, getting lost in conversation and laughter.
Following the mesmerising sunset, we were back on the fun farm bus bound for the farm for our next experience segment, preparing pasta and enjoying a beautifully home-cooked meal.
First up was pasta making. Mama kicked it off by rolling and cutting the pasta sheets. We all had a few
attempts to design the local pasta shape and were a little concerned about the quality, but fortunately, Mama had a stash she had prepared earlier for the main event!
Following pasta making, we watched over Mama as she prepared our local Sicilian dessert, the Cannoli shells; with the help of Papa eagerly waiting to add the white wine to blend the ingredients, we all looked on with an affectionate admiration of the beautiful couple, knowing well who was boss in the marriage - go, Mama!! Although Papa was so precious, the language barrier between us all did not slow any of us down. The evening continued to be filled with laughter, acknowledgement and a pure understanding of how we all felt about sharing this experience.
The food started to roll out, and we were all in heaven, trying all the local dishes and wines over the next few hours; you did not go hungry. After the antipasti, the delicious pasta was served, followed by Polpette (delicious meatballs) and the final event, the Cannoli. Now that the dough had rested, it was time to roll, cut, shape, and immerse it in hot oil. Once the shells were cooled, they were filled with the ricotta spread dipped in Pistachios, which we all found some extra space in our bellies to enjoy and devour the best and freshest Cannoli we have had the pleasure to experience.
Coffee and nightcaps were delivered, and it was time to close the evening. We all felt incredibly grateful for fulfilling a lifelong dream, an evening around the table beneath the vines, full of laughter, stories shared, authentic Italian cuisine, vino and most importantly, friends. We were all now saddened to leave each other's company. Hugs and kisses to our new family and friends, and our trusty driver delivered us home safely. Our friends continue to outdo themselves as professional memory makers; this will remain one of the most magical and heartfelt evenings of a lifetime.
Trapani is positioned on Sicily's crescent-shaped western coast and is home to about 70,000 residents. Trapani captivates with its charming old city filled with stunning architecture, tempting one to pause frequently in awe as they meander through its streets. This town also serves as the gateway to the exquisite Egadi Islands.
Our Airbnb in Trapani 'Gonia Residence Appartment Formica' offered the perfect blend of modern luxury and authentic Sicilian charm, situated in a picturesque setting at the heart of local life. The welcoming entrance, adorned with bright flowers and cozy seating, set the tone for our stay.
Adjacent to our Airbnb, Gennaio Bistrot 30 provided an outstanding dining experience with an impressive wine selection, compelling us to visit twice during our stay.
Its prime location allowed convenient access to breathtaking seaside sunsets and the vibrant city centre, with its array of restaurants and bars, making our time in Trapani truly unforgettable.
Date visited: 11 September 2023
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