Product Description

At the age of twenty-six Matthew Fort first visited the island of Sicily. He and his brother arrived in 1973 expecting sun, sea and good food, but they were totally unprepared for the lifelong effect of this most extraordinary of islands. Thirty years later, older and a bit wiser - but no less greedy - Matthew finally returns. Travelling around the island on his scooter, Monica, he samples almond ice cream on the spectacular coast and intoxicating mouthfuls of sausage stew in olive groves, and goes fishing for anchovies beneath a star-scattered sky. Matthew is drawn once again to the intensity of life in Sicily, its dramatic landscape and traditions, and discovers how the island's vibrant food culture is intertwined with its often turbulent past.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11081 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

About the Author
Matthew Fort has worked on the food pages of the Guardian for more than ten years. He also writes for the Observer, Esquire, Country Living, Decanter and Waitrose Food Illustrated and appears as a judge on BBC2's Great British Menu. One of Matthew's greatest passions is Italy, which he visits every year. Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons is his fifth book.

Customer Reviews

Perfect indulgence
Many people will have seen Matthew Fort on Great British Menu or read his Guardian columns over the years. His passion for food is totally infectious. And behind his affable demeanour is a sharp mind, wonderful eye for detail and delightfully involving use of language. On this journey around Sicily he also shows an awful lot of himself. It is a very personal journey. It shows not only a sense of the history of the places he visits, it also tells a lot about his own self; his family relationships, his strength of character, his willingness to engage anyone and everyone in his quest. You sense how hard such a journey is; the loneliness of several weeks on a scooter, the uncertainty of what you will find. This is a rare book as it is readable for so many reasons: as a foodie, as a travel journal, as a social document and most of all as a good read. You can be interested in any of these or none to enjoy this.

Round Sicily on a tour bus
I read most of this book beside a pool in Sicily on a sad singleton's holiday and it was nigh on the best company and travel guide for the trip. It would have conjured the warmth, beauty and passion of the island on a cold winter day in Dorset but the poolside was good. If anyone is thinking of travelling to Sicily you must read this gem. So much useful and witty information.
I immediately fell for Matthew, we are of an age, and his descriptions of trials and tribulations on the way touched my heart.This is an honest, funny, laugh out loud joy of a book. The recipes are spot on too and you could and should eat your way around the island. Suddenly you realise how bad our ingredients are and how we have lost our way with food on a day to day basis, this will get you into the kitchen and off those ready meals in a trice. For the heat of Etna in the depths of winter there is little better than this.
I gave my copy to the tour guide so I have to buy it again, this book is like good food, you want to share it.

An upto date description of Sicily
Searching for a book that truly depicts Sicily as it actually is today, seemed impossible until this book was published. It is the only one that matched what we discovered whilst travelling there for a month. This and Midnight in Sicily are to be recommended as travelling companions.