Sicily has long been one of my favorite places to work, but recently I found myself immersed in a moment that felt especially profound—where food, heritage, hospitality, and global connection all came together in one beautifully orchestrated evening.
On Friday, 24 October 2025, at Millesuoli in Palermo, I joined a dinner event titled “Quando il mondo si siede a tavola in Sicilia” (When the world sits at table in Sicily). The phrase captures the magic of the night: from Tokyo to Chicago, Martigny to Palermo—voices, studios, traditions, and cultures converged around one long table.
Gathering of Kindred Spirits
Around the table sat individuals whose work and story resonated deeply with me:
- From Chicago: Me, representing my family-heritage restaurant legacy and my destination-wedding planning work; alongside my husband Collin Pierson, renowned photographer, and our longtime creative collaborator Philippe Carvalho, founder of Mirar Media.
- From Tokyo: Aya Oguma, a master of kintsugi (the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold), and her partner Shigeo Takeshita, from the historic Utsuwa Omusubi ceramic house.
- From Switzerland: Cécille Giovanini, of Sicilian roots, joining as an artist contributing to the “Libro delle Radici” (Book of Roots) initiative.
Together, we were invited into a dialogue—one where Sicily didn’t simply host; Sicily welcomed, bridged, and connected. As the article describes: “La Sicilia non ha semplicemente ospitato: ha accolto.”
A Table Built of Stories
The menu itself was a manifestation of this ethos—crafted by chef Alessandro Gallo and hosted by Cristian Catalano—it wove together land and sea, Sicily and Japan, tradition and contemporary vision.
Highlights included:
- Polenta stick with Jerusalem-artichoke cream, vanilla and purple potato chips.
- Sesame wafer with lettuce, red tuna and green beans.
- Baccalà cube with squid-ink, ginger gel and Szechuan pepper.
- Chickpea “cannolo” with eggplant, almond, mint and tonburi (rare Japanese ingredient brought by Aya).
- Eggplant in oil with teriyaki sauce, pepper cream and toasted almonds.
- Spaghettoni with red-mullet ragù, black lentils and carrot in osmosis.
- Sole with square bread crust, stracchino, squid sauce, mussel cream, asparagus and lumpfish roe.
- Cassata with Bonajuto chocolate and seasonal candied fruit.
Each dish told a story—of Sicily’s terroir, its cultural embrace of the Mediterranean and beyond, and the art of gathering.
For Me? It Was More Than a Dinner
As someone who plans weddings in Italy, especially in places like Sicily, this evening resonated on multiple levels. It reminded me that behind every event—especially a destination wedding—there lies a deep layer of connection: to place, to people, to shared experiences.
- It underscored the power of heritage and legacy, whether in a family-owned restaurant in Chicago or an ancient ceramic house in Tokyo.
- It reaffirmed that luxury and detail (which I champion in my planning work) are amplified when rooted in authenticity and meaningful relationships.
- It reinforced why I love Sicily as a wedding destination: not just for its landscapes or architecture, but for how it invites the world in and turns each celebration into an exchange.
Turning the Table into a Bridge
Sicily demonstrated itself as a “trazzera”–a path, a table, a bridge—“una grande trazzera che si offre al mondo”. And to me, that is the essence of what I strive for in destination weddings: creating spaces where guests don’t just witness a celebration, but become part of its story.
Would you like to explore how Sicily can become the backdrop for your wedding? I’d love to chat about how we can bring heritage, elegance, and warmth together—around a table where your story is celebrated.
