Hi, I’m Sarah.

I am starting a new venture living in Sicily and helping connect travelers and adventures to all the things I love about my new home.

I am an 80’s California kid, lucky to have grown up in an outdoor playground with the sun, ocean, hiking, snowboarding, surfing etc. Farm-to-table food, our Napa wine culture, tech and entrepreneurship.

My family is an immigrant family from the island Pico in The Azores of Portugal and former Yugoslavia.

I moved to Italy the first time in 2004 when I was 18.

Back then Italians basically only spoke Italian. There were no smart phones, no Google Maps. Nobody even had a Facebook page. There were internet caffes to send an email to family and friends, when they decided to open.

Italians and their culture captivated me because of the passion and dedication to their rituals and to their families.

From Italy I moved to Greece, after Greece I began my studies at The Culinary Institute of America. This lead me to Thailand to cook and work at Six Senses Sustainable & Luxury Resort on the island Ko Samui.

When I came back to San Francisco I worked as a Professional Cheesemonger, in Wine as a Sommelier, as a Chef on private Yachts in the bay. And then by chance the world of Private Aviation found me.

I spent 7 years flying and cooking around the world, which was a bit of a dream life. And a wild one. It made me extremely detailed, organized, professional, focused but also flexible & adaptable.

In the midst of Covid when we were all forced to slow down, I found myself exhausted and wanting a calmer and healthier lifestyle.

Italy was always in the back of my mind since 2004, and so in 2021 I enrolled in The University of Gastronomic Sciences in the north of Italy and moved back.

In 2023 I made my way to Sicily because I (literally) got too cold in the north. When I arrived here I immediately felt the warmth and heat of not only the climate but the people. I fell in love with how passionate Sicilians and those who adopted Sicily as their home are. Along with the traditions and food of this island.

So now I am on a mission to use my skillset, being very organized, professional, precise etc to lift up and connect the people of this island, and all the special things they create to all of you.

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First calm morning in what feels like forever. Even the sea is calm again and not as many tourists today 💗 #wakinguptothis #travelsicily

I thought I didn’t like eggplant when I lived in the U.S. & then I moved to Sicily… Now I basically live off of it … and Mozzarella ☺️ Have you had Caponata? There are so many versions of it, I love trying it all over the island…

Jazz in Vigna / Jazz in the Vineyard at @murgowinery last night was 😍 Did you know Etna has quite a few Sparkling wines? Murgo is a great one to check out via doing a tasting at the vineyard, at the restaurant or come to one of these Jazz nights this summer.

As I lay here trying to beat the heat after my air conditioner broke (which I actually only use at night. #3 Embrace the Siesta, it’s not just for lunch or being lazy, it’s survival between 12 and 3.

1.) Catholic Processions down the Lungomare 2.) Fireworks (day and night ☺️) #travelsicily #catholic #giardininaxos

Am I just crazy or super dedicated and strong? 😆 I hike from the sea in the middle of Giardini Naxos up to Taormina at least 5 times a week. And a few of those times I go further to Castelmola. But when summer comes its better to go like at 6 or 7am. Because it’s insanely hot. But honestly getting up that early is not possible all the time ovvio lol. Today, in this video it’s 11am. There are a lot of nice trails and it’s really beautiful and a great workout. But don’t forget to take a bottle of water. Be careful, a lot of people have issues with the heat here in summer. It’s really strong, I don’t say that lightly. If you go in this way I went today, you find a little kiosk that will save your life with something cool to drink by the castle. #travelsicily #sicily #hikingsicily #taormina #castelmola #giardininaxos

Two of my favorite things in Taormina: 1. One of my closest friends here @lorena.rosina 💚 2. My favorite woman’s clothing Boutique in Taormina 💃🏼 I found this boutique a year ago only because it’s close to where you land when you hike up from Giardini Naxos. It’s a little off the main tourist areas, close to the park. The boutique was started by a French woman Celine, who has an eye for really beautiful summer friendly clothing, that are also at good prices. 💫 #travelsicily #taormina #womensboutiqueclothing

Hi I’m Sarah, a Californian living in Sicily. I wanted to say hi and make an intro video for those who don’t know me. But to be honest I find it difficult. Looking back at life gives me so many feels. On one hand, it’s not been an easy life. But then on the other hand, what came from the struggles created some kind of fire in me that lives to create this beautiful light and life around me. So I want to say cheers and thank you to every single thing I’ve encountered. To all the people, experiences and jobs. You all have carved a mark on a piece of me. For those who are new to meeting me: I’m from California (yes I can snowboard and surf a little) I moved out of my country the first time when I was 18 I grew up with 4 older brothers and a huge amazing family. Who are immigrants from Portugal (the island of Pico in The Azores) and from former Yugoslavia, now Croatia.) I studied at The Culinary Institute of America - at both the Hyde Park NY campus and the Napa CA campus. I also studied at the Slow Food University in Pollenzo in the north of Italy (The University of Gastronomic Sciences) I have lived in Italy, Greece, Thailand and the USA (At this point I think I’ve actually spent less time in my country than out of it. I was a chef on a private jet for 7 years. (This one is impossible to explain in a bullet point. This one we talk about over wine.) It is a very big piece of who I am. And I’ll always hold it close. I’ve also worked on private yachts, in Cheese, as a Sommelier and for sure I am forgetting something. Now I’m living in Sicily. And with my 20 years of experience in food and travel I am creating a new business venture doing two things: (Links in profile:) a) A Travel Consultant /Concierge - I want to help connect true Sicilians and Sicily and what makes them special to travelers. A little less top 10 tourist list and more local experiences. With a focus on using my expertise in VIP travel and as a chef. b) Content Creating & Storytelling - I like bringing to life how something felt or how you envision it to feel. To teach and to share these places, people or products. #travelsicily #californiagirl #sicily

I feel lucky to find myself in these little experiences learning about Sicilians. I really enjoy watching them open up and share their world with me. So what makes Sicily special? What makes a Sicilian Sicilian? A common factor I’ve notice from the moment I arrived is Grit. And to make sure word is not confused, it means: courage, perseverance and strength of character. We can continue but basically that. There is something about watching Sicilians share how they made it…their passion, their world. Not to show off…but you see its kind of their inner light and strength. This is Saro, from Santa Maria di Licodia, a small outskirt town of Catania. It is to the base of Etna and has about 8,000 people. Saro started his focus in woodworking when he was 16 and over time became how they say a “Maestro.” He is a very typical traditional Sicilian, in a non touristy part of Sicily. And in just 20 minutes with Saro in his workshop - all the sudden a simple door shutter feels special. Now I want to talk him into doing a mini woodworking class ☺️✨ You know I will. #travelsicily #falegname #woodworker #carpenter #sicily #santamariadilicodia

The plan was to just go for a quick pizza before heading back to Giardini. ☺️ Sicilians can have this way of enjoying life so much that it sweeps you off your feet. One moment it’s 8pm and you’re supposed to head back for a quiet night. Next thing you know it’s 1am and you’ve made 10 new friends, had an incredible pizza and can’t stop laughing. Thank you Lucia, Salvo and Alessio 💛. For your hospitality, quality ingredients & techniques. And that energy 🥰 #travelsicily #sicilypizzaculture #pizza #sicily #santamariadilicodia #pizzeriadasalvo

The Sicilian Summer Granita 🍧 & Brioche Ritual -to cool you off- is sacred. If you’re in Giardini Naxos you need to come to Caffè Cavallaro. When you go in- find Fiore and tell him Sarah from California sent you. And ask Enzo about his cool sunglasses. 😎☺️ And if you’re a bit of a nerd like me, the history of Granita is also pretty cool. Especially because it involves Mt. Etna 🌋 So, during the Middle Ages, Sicilians would buy snow from the Nevarolu (the man that stores snow on Mt. Etna to keep it from melting.) It was then transported with Mules 🫏 and Carts down the mountain to its fate, helping Sicilians handle the heat in summer. ☀️ The particular texture of Granita comes from the system they created. First a large wooden container, then a zinc container was put inside. Inside the zinc container they put the fruit juice / flavor. Then in the space between the zinc container and the wooden one, they put the snow and salt to help freeze the fruit juice / flavored mixture. Over time they added manual blades to keep the mixture in motion, essentially to keep a consistent texture. Americans, think Seven Eleven slushy machine. But old school artisanal. Ha. There is of course debate in which area has the correct or best Granita. My friends from the West Coast / Palermo side refer to my side as having the “fancy granita.” Always makes me laugh. And then my people here on the East Coast, they always seem to be this debate between Messina and Catania. And they have a particular difference in texture and sugar content etc. Maybe we will dive into that on another time…tbc… #travelsicily #granitasiciliana #granita #siciliangranita #etna #caffècavallaro #giardininaxos

Arancino vs. Arancino. Lol Sicily. So I guess I should do a dedicated Reel to explaining the story from my chef non Sicilian point of view. ☺️ Wait for Part 2… #arancinovsarancina #arancino #travelsicily #sicilianfood #slowfood

‼️🦟 Pro Tip for my ladies coming to Sicily: Yes it’s crazy hot here in summer and we are beach-side, so we generally we wear very little clothing to be honest. HOWEVER, when the mosquitos 🦟 come for you, they come in packs and they come in hot. (Like they did with me last night.) You can be left covered in big red welts. For these moments I have some light long skirts to help hide them & help me feel a little more comfortable going out and still looking cute. Secondly, well actually Firstly I recommend stopping at the pharmacy (not the grocery store like we are used to in the U.S.) when you arrive to get spray, bracelets and the bandaids that help keep those little monsters away. Buona fortuna 🍀 Good luck #travelsicily #giardininaxos #traveltips #mosquitospray

Sicily feels like living in a dream… Just casually driving to dinner at sunset, overlooking the bay we live in, literally pointing to my apartment and watching Etna erupt a bit above. Pinch me. #locallifesicily #travelsicily

Mamma Mia Serafina

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