A Zoom Sicilian Christmas with Villa Britannia Taormina

December 05, 2020

We are living in strange times at the moment and this year many of us have been separated from our loved ones and friends all around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We decided to be responsible people and keep safe and stay home in the UK. We had to make the heart breaking decision to cancel both our spring and autumn road trips home to Sicily with our dog Daisy and then sadly all my summer flights were cancelled, so we have been trying to keep Sicily in our hearts in many ways and our lovely friends Louisa and Marco at Villa Britannia in Taormina have been keeping spirits high with their amazing Zoom Cookery Classes.

Just to remind you how we met ...

Louisa and Marco own the gorgeous Villa Britannia in central Taormina set in a peaceful and tranquil location. Villa Britannia is a small and exclusive boutique B&B with two gorgeous suites. Our English friend Teresa who lives in our town introduced us to Louisa and Marco. Teresa's son is best friends with Marco and they have known each other since school days and played football together in local teams.

We never need an excuse to pop into Villa Britannia and as soon as we start walking up the steps through the villa's lush gardens you feel as if you are being welcomed home with a warm Sicilian hug.

Louisa and Marco are the perfect hosts.

Aside from being a B&B Villa Britannia is also home to one of the best cooking class experiences in Taormina because that is exactly what you are doing, cooking in a home.

We have also enjoyed amazing wine tasting evenings at the villa with Marco being the perfect knowledgeable certified sommelier. Our dog Daisy loves Marco.

This year Zoom has been an incredible social portal to bring friends and family together, With that in mind Louisa created amazing online cooking classes with Chef Elvira bringing people together from all over the world to create Sicilian delicacies such as caponata, arancini, cannoli, traditional pasta and vegetable dishes plus much more. The classes have been a real hit especially with some of my followers.

In this festive season Louisa and Marco are offering a unique and unusual gift for you and your friends and family. They are bringing a little piece of Sicily to the world with private Zoom classes to bring everyone closer together for Christmas.

Family and friends mean EVERYTHING in Sicily.

You can have two hours of fun and shared memories without having to move from your favourite chair whilst sipping a festive cocktail, which they will show you how to make, and they will take you step by step through the creation of a Sicilian Festive Feast.

You can either cook along or just sit and watch and enjoy and share your experience with your loved ones online.

Alongside cooking there is wine pairing recommendations and chats about Sicilian traditions at Christmas and I can guarantee you that there will be a lot of fun and laughter.

Villa Britannia will send all participants the ingredients list before the cooking class so that on the day, if you want to, you can join in with the cooking.

The Zoom Festive Cooking classes are private and the villa can manage to do around 10 screens and they can create a festive menu for you with normally 2 dishes plus 1 cocktail.

During your class you will learn how to make a Sicilian cocktail and as I have been missing Sicily so much and also trying to get into the festive spirit, this week Louisa shared a special recipe for a Sicilian cocktail so that I can now share it with you.

Here is the recipe for "The Sicilian Mule".

The recipe is from the renowned Sicilian barman Andrea Giordano.

It is easy to prepare at home, bursting with delicious Sicilian citrusy flavours and it is guaranteed to lift your spirits and can be enjoyed anytime.

Sicilian Mule Cocktail

20/25ml Vodka

25ml Campari

25ml Aperol

10ml Lemon Juice

25/30ml Mandarin or Orange Juice

Top with Ginger Beer

Mix with Ice and Garnish with Mint or Rosemary

🎅🎅🎅

Cheers from Louisa !!!!!!