ELEONORA CONSOLI

Eleonora Consoli, a noted authority on Italian and Sicilian gastronomy, lives and teaches in her lovingly restored “ Antica casa Siciliana “ in Viagrande, on the slopes of Mt. Etna near Catania. Here, surrounded by orange groves and vineyards which flourish in Mt. Etna’s fertile soil, the sensual pleasure of Sicilian cuisine comes alive. For 30^th years she worked in promoting tourism for the Provincial Tourist Board of Catania, organizing exhibitions of Sicilian gastronomy and products throughout Europe, as well as in the U.S., Japan, Thailand, Egypt and Brazil.

She is the author of the book in 2 volumes, Sicilia – La Cucina del Sole, a collection of 486 Sicilian recipes, with quotations from authors associated in some way with the cuisine of the island. Other books published include Cucina del Sole – La Buona Tradizione Siciliana, Autunno – Cucina delle stagioni, Inverno – Cucina delle Stagioni “ Autumn and Winter “, the first two books of a series dedicated to seasonal recipes. Agrumi ( citrus fruit ) , Le Olive ( the Olives ) and Cucina Casalinga Siciliana, published in Japanese.

She has received many awards, incuding the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and a Medallion of merit from Sicilian Chefs Association. She is an Honorary member of the Italian Academy of Cuisine and a past President of the Catania Chapter. She has appeared on television in Japan, Germany, England, USA and has hosted her own culinary program in Sicily. Her column appears in the daily newspaper “ La Sicilia “. She has collaborated on editorial articles about Sicily in the Magazine “ Vogue “, “ Maison et Jardin “ , “ Cuisines du Monde “. 

She wrote the introduction of the book La Sicila a Tavola , where some of her recipes are included too. The book is published in Switzerland and German.  Eleonora lives in Viagrande, where she writes, conducts her cooking school and brings pleasure to those lucky enough to be invited for dinner. Recently she opened the adjoining guest house as a B&B . It faces the garden, where guests may stay and enjoy the tranquillity  and flavours found only in this part of Sicily.