Experiencing Tradition on the Sea

Sicily is surrounded by sea, but there’s something quite special about Messina, where the Food Innovation Summer School Mediterraneo is taking place for the next three weeks and Feat is hosting the Summer School Challenge. On the northeast coast of Sicily and just 3 km wide, is the Strait of Messina that divides Sicily from mainland Italy and brings together the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian seas. With the mix of currents and tidal patterns comes an abundance of migrating fish and sea creatures, including Sicily’s well-known “pesce spada,” or swordfish.

Here in this narrow channel there are just nine remaining traditional fishing boats that still take part in the caccia, or hunt, of swordfish using a harpoon technique. The boats are called feluche in Italian and are easy to spot gliding along the sea with their tall towers reaching 30 meters into the sky. From above the captain and spotter can see these giant billed fish traveling in the water and steer the boat towards their catch. Below on deck is the the spearman who, using variants of a forked spear, walks out on the bow’s extended iron bridge, or passarella, and searches for his mark. The Sicilian method of swordfishing has been and still is a true battle between man and animal. While technology has definitely improved the feluche of today (the traditional boats were small wooden units with masts just a couple meters high) the hunt remains largely the same.

Witnessing this type of food tradition that has continued into present day was an exciting experience for Feat and the Summer School students. It was an opportunity to explore local food culture and get an inside look at components of the Mediterranean diet. Feat works to change mindset when it comes to building a more healthy lifestyle, and part of that means bringing awareness to food and diet. What better way to do this than to experience food from start to finish: from farm to fork, or in our case, sea to plate. Let’s celebrate the food we eat and the traditions, cultures, and people who make it possible.

Where are your steps taking you? Feat steps bring you closer to good food.