For this pistachio nougat - or torrone in Italian - Chef Corrado Assenza uses only Bronte pistachios, prized the world over for their sweet, fruity flavor and stunning emerald color. Caffe’ Sicilia’s torrone is the perfect sweet for pistachio lovers, and an incredible example of the historic Sicilian torrone tradition. Unlike the torrone from northern Italy, which is very hard, Sicilian torrone is incredibly soft and creamy, and slices easily. But cut into a bar of Caffe’ Sicilia torrone and you’ll see that it is packed with pistachios. Caffe’ Sicilia torrone is a delicious sweet treat that has a deep, full flavor because it is sweetened mostly with honey from the Iblei mountains, which complements the fresh flavor of crunchy pistachios. ...read more
Torrone is an ancient tradition in Sicilia, brought there during the Arab domination in the medieval period. According to Corrado Assenza, this Arab influence persists in the use of honey rather than sugar as the principal sweetener in Sicilian torrone. Corrado Assenza uses the same tools his family has been using for more than a century, including the same marble worktable, which he says helps cool the torrone, and is one of the secrets to his exceptional production. He also insists on using the best ingredients he can find from local farms for his line of marmalades, nuts and sweets, all produced by hand in the shop’s kitchen.
