Street Food Tour in Palermo

Jan 23

Rocking the Streets with Fernando Massana of Rockin Kitchen Sicily

Stigghiole vendors shouting back and forth, quite a show!

Mark was not letting another trip to Sicily go by without tasting the real street food of Palermo. Last time, our plans changed at the last minute, and Palermo got cut from the itinerary. This year, we were determined: arancini, stigghiola, tuna tartare, pane ca’ meusa, sfincione, and (of course) cannoli were all calling our names.

Instagram’s algorithm clearly knows our cravings. After some late-night scrolling, we kept stumbling on videos from Fernando Massana, Rocking Kitchen Sicily. His energy, humor, and no-nonsense approach to food tours sealed the deal. We booked with him, and honestly? It was the highlight of our Palermo experience.

Here’s a little backstory: Fernando’s family is originally from Catania, but he was raised in Canada. After the pandemic, he made the bold decision to leave behind a corporate career in Canada for a simpler, better-balanced life in Sicily, where he truly felt his heart belonged. He’s built a fantastic business for himself as a social media marketer, influencer, and food tour guide. We really have to applaud his bravery and gumption for going back and going for it. It’s inspiring to watch him grow and thrive, doing something so many people wish they could do or had the courage to try.

Why Book a Tour with Fernando?

Speaks English and Italian fluently: No language barriers, just great conversation and even better food tips.
Knows the real food scene: Fernando takes you to the spots locals love, not the tourist traps.
Up-to-date recommendations: He’s always on the pulse of who’s doing the best food right now, not just places living off old media hype.
Personal, authentic experience: You’ll feel more like you’re hanging out with a friend than following a scripted tour.

Was it hot? Absolutely, 96 degrees, and John’s face said it all. But Fernando is like that friend who always knows the best spots, brings the party, and somehow sneaks in wine wherever he goes. When he pulled a plastic water bottle filled with wine out of his backpack and poured us each a cup, we knew we were in for a true Palermo experience.

Fill Your Bottle: The Vino Sfuso Experience

Here’s the thing about wine in Italy: you’ll find shops all over Sicily (and throughout Italy) called “cantinas” or enotecas that specialize in vino sfuso—“loose wine” straight from the barrel. It’s a popular and affordable way for locals to buy their house wine. You simply bring your own bottles (often large plastic ones), fill them up by the liter, and go home happy. If you’re wandering through a local town, keep an eye out for signs that say “Vino Sfuso,” “Vino alla Spina,” or “Riempi la tua bottiglia” (Fill your bottle). It’s one of those simple, authentic pleasures of Italian life, and the wines are almost always better than you’d expect for the price. Forget “two buck chuck”—this is the real deal, and it pairs perfectly with a Palermo street food adventure.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Palermo Sicily

We ate our way through the city, sampling:

Arancini: golden, crispy rice balls with savory fillings
Stigghiola: skewered and grilled lamb intestines, smoky and surprisingly delicious
Tuna tartare: fresh, bright, and a reminder that Sicily does seafood like nowhere else
Pane ca’ meusa: the famous spleen sandwich, rich and unforgettable
Frittola: slow-cooked veal scraps, spiced and piled into a soft roll—a rich, old-school Palermo classic.
Panelle: crispy chickpea fritters, a true Palermo classic
Crocchè: potato croquettes, crunchy on the outside and soft inside
Octopus salad: tender, tangy, and full of Mediterranean flavor
Caponata: sweet and sour eggplant with tomatoes, olives, and capers
Sfincione: Palermo’s answer to pizza, thick and topped with tomato, onions, and cheese
Cannoli: because no food tour in Sicily is complete without one (or three)

This wasn’t your standard history lesson tour. Fernando kept it all about the food, the people, and the joy of eating together. If you want an architecture lecture, there are other guides for that (he did share quite a bit of the city's history). If you want the best bites in Palermo and a truly good time, Rocking Kitchen Sicily is your guy.

The experience did not disappoint—every dish lived up to the hype, and the flavors of Palermo were every bit as vibrant and memorable as we’d hoped. From the first bite of arancini to the last crumb of cannoli, it was a street food adventure we’ll never forget. And while every stop was a hit, I have to admit, when it comes to sfincione, I still think mine is just a little bit better. There’s nothing like bringing a taste of Sicily home to your own kitchen!

How to Contact Fernando

Ready to eat your way through Palermo (or Catania) with Fernando Massana and Rocking Kitchen Sicily? Here’s how to reach him and follow his foodie adventures: