GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 9 | Page 119

Chicago, USA Home to Grant Achatz’s Alinea and Curtis Duffy’s Grace, both Michelin three star restaurants, the general Chicago food scene is an amalgamation of fusion cuisine and pimped-up favorites. Here, the humble hot dog is steamed and given the royal treatment of toppings. Sandwiches rate highly, with Vietnamese bahn mi, dipped Italian meat rolls and burgers in dizzying options. If it can be dipped in jus or sauce all the better. The city’s tacos, carnitas and fried chicken claim loyalty points, and the deep-pan pizza and its spin-off: the pizza pot pie, are reasons to visit. Perhaps the best indication of the food scene can be found in the small-scale heirloom produce at the markets, and the communal tables of hugely popular Fat Rice that served Euro-Asian comfort food. 8. 7. 7. Classic Chicago deep dish pizza, a must try if you find yourself in the “windy city”. 8. There’s nothing “fishy” about the Italian seafood markets.Fresh fish such as these are staples in Sicilian cuisine. Palermo, Sicily The food of Sicily is deeply traditional and while not unknown, it’s time for a revisit. Cannolis, arancini (fried rice balls with assorted fillings) and granita are comfortable on menus worldwide, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. At the core, it’s about simplicity. Take the chickpea fritter rolls (pane e pannelle), hearty fava bean maccu soup or grilled lamb’s intestines filled with onions, cheese and parsley (stigghiola). The climate renders fresh seafood, eggplant, tomatoes, olives, citrus and grapes, in abundance. Do not miss the markets for piles of oranges in dazzling varieties: try La Vucciria market. For elegant traditional food, visit Restaurant Cin Cin.