Battimandorlo, Noto

​A few km from Noto there is a small exclusive retreat, new to this summer 2019, the Battimandorlo.
Elegant, extremely well-groomed in every detail, quiet, nestled in 8 hectares of organic agricultural land (which produces olives, almonds and lemons), its 5 rooms and gourmet cuisine (managed by the Vicari Restaurant, one of Noto's most appreciated) will make you live a true Sicilian dream.

​I visited it in the evening for a dinner with a truly unforgettable atmosphere.
When the light goes down, after sunset, the lights come on and the tables set in the courtyard become the scene of a small fairy tale. There is also a Micio (name and fact! A lovely kitty) that, without being too intrusive, will keep you company during dinner.

​Among the appetizers I wanted to taste the arancino proposed in this case in a revisited version, that is with a heart of ricotta flavored with lemon: you will not believe what I'm going to tell you but, the lightness of the ricotta, the freshness of the lemon and the breading remained crispy and not anoded made it one of the lightest and tastiest arancini at the same time that I have ever tried!

​Among the first plates, a very good ‘pasta alla Norma’: a star of cupcasses stuffed with the itypical ngredients of the pasta alla Norma and passed in the oven to make a crust (very good tomato sauce!).
Saffron noodles with red shrimp  marinated with basil on zucchini cream I liked but I would have preferred a little more 'personality' (delicate flavors without a real predominant flavor) and above all a little more ‘al dente’ spaghetti.

​Between the seconds, a well prepared Beccafic Sarda with caponata.

​Despite some inaccuracies in the service and kitchen understandable given the very recent opening (out-of-date wine list, description of the dishes still to be broken and offer of the dolcì that evening reduced to a single tart), the kindness and sympathy of the staff, the beauty of the place and a pleasant cuisine that will give us an unforgettable evening.