Life's Sweetness

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• Sciuggaru

  Sugar (sweetness)

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  Sciuggaru

  /shoo-GAH-roo/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Sugar: the sweetness in everything, from the coffee to the cannoli to the greeting. A pinch more is always better. Sweet enough?

  "Ci mittisti u sciuggaru nto caffè?"

  "Did you put sugar in the coffee?"

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• Coffì

  Coffee

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  Coffì

  /kof-FEE/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Coffee: the black fuel of every conversation, served in tiny cups and never refused. Say no once and you’ll be asked five more times. Coffee?

  "Pigghiamu nu coffì?"

  "Shall we have a coffee?"

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• Picchinicchio

  Picnic

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  Picchinicchio

  /pɪk·kɪ·nɪk·kɪ·ɔ/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Literal meaning: Picnic. The uniquely Siculo-American art of turning a simple outdoor outing into a twelve-course wedding banquet with four thousand calories per bite in a Brooklyn park. It strictly requires aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, charcoal, and pans of eggplant parmigiana.

  "Tony, piglia il cestino e andiamo a fare un picchinicchio al parco!"

  "Tony, grab the basket and let's go have a picchinicchio at the park!"

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• Càic

  Cake

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  Càic

  /KAH-eek/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Cake with a newer accent: the shiny, layered one on the café counter, photographed first and eaten second. Same sweetness, different filter. Fancy a slice?

  "Vulemu na fetta di càic?"

  "Do you want a slice of cake?"

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• Begol

  Bagel

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  Begol

  /BEH-gol/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Bagel: the round New York breakfast that landed in Sicilian kitchens with cream cheese and no regrets. Chewy, crusty and always toasted. Breakfast?

  "Mi pigghiu nu begol cu u furmaggiu."

  "I’ll have a bagel with cream cheese."

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• Cuchi

  Cookie

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  Cuchi

  /KOO-kee/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Cookie: the small sweet with a big memory, with chocolate chips, Nonna’s hands and a jar nobody was allowed to touch. Warm, crumbly and gone in seconds. Want one?

  "Cu si mangiau tutti i cuchi?"

  "Who ate all the cookies?"

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• Tostu

  Toast

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  Tostu

  /TOS-too/

  Noun[Era 3]

  Toast: bread that got a second chance. Golden, crunchy and brave enough to hold avocado, jam or a very serious egg. Breakfast?

  "Mi fai nu tostu cu u burru?"

  "Can you make me a toast with butter?"

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• Maccarunni

  Macaroni + unni

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  Maccarunni

  /mah-kah-ROO-nee/

  Exclamation[Era 3]

  Macaroni, shouted like a verdict. Used the second you walk into Sunday dinner and don't immediately see the one dish that actually matters. Table set, nonna smiling, no pasta in sight?

  Don't say

  "Where's the pasta?"

  Say

  "Maccarunni?!"

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