"A NICE LITTLE FESTIVAL"

Modica's annual chocolate festival, ChocoModica, is what I think of as a "nice little festival."  It sort of evolved from the larger Eurochocolate festivals that used to be held in the town and I think this is one case where smaller is better:  the festival as it is these days is not too crowded, the atmosphere is friendly, you do not feel overwhelmed by stall after stall of the same thing and it is ours.

I am still at a loss to explain why a town which can organise this event so well - it's the only occasion in the year when there are reliable buses - cannot get its act together regarding so many other matters but it's Christmas so let us not be Scrooge.  Instead, won't you join me on a walk around the festival?

Last year we had angels; this year we have lanterns  It's always nice to see Modica lit up:

 There were, of course chocolate stalls and plenty of music:

You could watch chocolate being made and taste it. I liked the chocolate Santa in the middle picture here:

But what I liked best were the chocolate sculptures and it was at this exhibition that I spent most of my time:

Well done, Modica - when you decide to do something well, you're fabulous!

CHOCOLATE TOWN

Over the past few days, Modica has once again come into its own as the chocolate capital of Sicily with its ChocoModica festival. It's not as big or as international as the Eurochocolate or Chocobarocco festivals used to be, is well organised nonetheless and actually, I found it calmer and more enjoyable. Mind you, I left at 7:00 pm and, as the last shuttle bus to Modica Bassa is scheduled for 1:00  am., I imagine things are livening up down there about now!

There were several exhibitions about chocolate-making and its history to attend, and no end of chocolate objects to gaze at or purchase:

You could decorate your tree with chocolate objects. "What balls!" says the label and yes, the expression does have the same naughty meaning in Italian!

Or maybe you fancy a chocolate silhouette or cameo?

Take your pick from these ideas for presents:

I thought this was cute

but my favourites were the chocolate caffettiere:

There was also chocolate-flavoured pasta. [I've tried this and found it good:  the chocolate taste is not overwhelming.]

I just had to have orange and chilli-pepper chocolate ice cream! Well, wouldn't you?

And finally, nothing to do with chocolate, but I like these Xmas angels that have popped up all over Modica. I could do with an angel right now.

A pleasant festival for everybody.  Well done, Modica!

THE PURE STUFF

This is for my friend the Winchester Whisperer and all who missed seeing a photo of chocolate on my "Chocolate Festival" post: here are delightful, tiny "cakes" of chocolate in its purest form, displayed temptingly by Raffaele the hairdresser for his clients this morning.

DOPPIA FESTA!

Down to Modica Bassa this evening for the last part of our famous Eurochocolate festival: this celebrates pure, Modican chocolate and now attracts visitors from all over the world. I'm sure that some of my readers would think they were in heaven, as there is just stall after stall selling chocolate or chocolate products!

I must say that this event shows that the Sicilians can get themselves organised when they want to: there were shuttle buses from this district and from nearby towns and a ticket kiosk had been set up right by the stop. [There can be few visitors to Sicily or even Italy in general who have not tried to catch a bus somewhere, then discovered that the tickets have to be purchased at a location many metres away, and by the time you get one, you have , of course, missed your bus!]

The atmosphere was very jovial and it was nice to see the Corso pedestrianised [I think it should be all the time]. But I couldn't find any "chocolate statues" as I did last year, to photograph: maybe I would have had I been able to get down there earlier in the week.

However, I did find a display of sflilato - delicate, Sicilian drawn-thread embroidery- which I love and have mentioned before. I was allowed to take these photographs.

I found food items I hadn't seen before, too, in the form of these delicate "spreads " [one gel-like, one cream-like in texture] that can be used with cheese, meat and even ice cream. I was given a chart showing just which cheeses, etc., each one could be used with, so I am going to enjoy myself experimenting with them!

Things were only really getting going as I left at 7.30pm, so the Modicani will be enjoying themselves late into the night.

And today our San Giorgio has had his official outing, having been carried around the streets since 5 pm. [The second picture is of firecrackers being let off in his honour at that hour.] I felt very emotional to learn, on TV just now, that earlier his procession had stopped at the house of that most beloved of Modican citizens, Nino Baglieri. I think that shows a fine sense of propriety: the saint does homage to one of his most devoted followers. There was no sadness here, just the saint's carriers applauding and shouting "Nino" , and Nino's family seeming so happy to see them all. What a fine way to celebrate a life and a saint.

CHOCK-A-BLOCK

The weather has been unkind to our Eurochocolate Festival this year. There were many visitors last weekend but a friend who runs a B&B here has had nothing but cancellations all week. This morning, at least, it wasn't raining, so I decided to venture down to Modica Bassa to see what could be seen and it seems that everyone else had the same idea!

There was so much chocolate fare on display - from our famous pure, Modican chocolate in all its glory and flavours to chocolate liqueurs, pastries decorated with chocolate, chocolate-dipped pieces of candied orange peel, to Easter eggs, chocolate pastes and chocolate from other lands - that you felt your mind and taste buds to be boggling!

Exhibitions of hand-made ceramics, lace and other typical products were also dotted about, music was playing and the atmosphere was, indeed, very jolly. If I have a criticism it would be that more tastings should be on offer, more obviously. You could have tasted virtually anything upon request, but a non-Italian tourist might not realise this or know how to ask. And there should definitely be more places to sit and pause in your meanderings, along with more indoor events at which the audience could be seated. But I'm carping for I truly had a very pleasant morning....

What I liked best were the chocolate sculptures: the one in the first picture is on display at the stalls - a pity it was deemed necessary to accompany it by a rather strident notice instructing you not to touch! - and the others are on show at a separate venue. I particularly love the "band" - they did cheer me up!

But at 12.30 pm Modica Bassa's real show began, as the elegantissima Eleanora [whom I have mentioned here] made her magnificent progress along the Corso. This 70-something [let us be kind] lady was resplendent in a knee-length Shirley Bassey style mink coat, black tights and high, maroon [the colour of her hair] stiletto-heeled boots, with bag and umbrella to match. Everyone turned to watch as she strolled along and you have to hand it to her for distracting their attention from the stalls! I can't approve of the real fur, but otherwise well done, Eleanora! The tourist board should pay her.

In the last photo you may behold the goodies I brought back from the festival: Chocolate liqueur with chilli pepper has a sensational taste and can be drunk as it is, chilled and / or with ice. You can pour some into your coffee or glass of almond milk and it can be drizzled over desserts and ice cream. I've also got my little cazzuola [trowel], the symbol of this year's festival, filled with cinnamon-flavoured chocolate. A bar of vanilla chocolate came free with my 5€ chococard [which you can use to get discounts at the stalls and in the shops and bars] and I bought a marjoram flavoured bar as I had not tried this type before. Now to the fun stuff! I have some wonderfully scented chocolate bubble bath, soap and samples of face and hand cream. Imagine, reader, the relaxing bath I am going to have after writing this post: I shall play Mexican music, pour in the bubble bath and massage myself lazily with the chocolate soap. I shall lie back in the tub and sip a shot of the chocolate and chilli liqueur. Afterwards, I shall use the creams, then stretch out on the sofa with my dog and watch the film, Chocolat again, intermittently nibbling at squares of cinnamon, vanilla or marjoram chocolate. For decadence, reader, is a state to be enjoyed in style!

MODICA GETS PREPARED

From Saturday, for just over one week, our little town will be very important in Sicily, as, for the third time, Modica hosts the Eurochocolate Festival. So there was much bustle and activity in Modica Bassa when I was down there yesterday morning. During this festival the town really comes into its own and shows how well it can organise and stage events when it tries: there will be tastings, exhibitions, lectures, films and even a beauty parlour featuring products made with chocolate! Free transport from this district to Modica Bassa is provided and everyone is happy and proud of their town. The theme this year is chocolate and films because someone has had the bright idea that a bar of chocolate, divided into sections, resembles a roll of film. Personally, I think that is quite brilliant and innovative. I have written about Modica's most famous chocolate maker here and there is some more information in Italian about the festival here and , in English, here.