A land full of talents, of men and women who can adapt and are more and more often forced to leave their homes, looking for their fortune, looking for a source of sustenance that can guarantee a future, for their family. Today we’re having a chat with Michele Barbera, twenty-nine years old from Palermo that has conquered London with Arancine and Sicilian gastronomy, creating his own Sicilian Food Catering company!

Hello Michele and welcome to Sicilian Food Culture, it is a pleasure for us to have you here!

«What can I say, I am a boy who two years ago took the long-suffering decision to leave his homeland and try his luck abroad, precisely here in London. I love catering and my first experience dates back to when I was 14 when I started as a waiter in a pizzeria in Palermo. Now I am almost 29 years old and since then a lot of this happened; In Palermo, I worked for restaurants, hotels and patisseries and that gave me experience and enriched the baggage that I use continuously. Here in London, I have always worked in the kitchen where I acquired new techniques and met so many people, I enriched my English and just 10 months ago, this city and especially my girlfriend gave me the strength to try an independent way».

Where did this idea come from?

«“The Good Rice” was born in July 2017.Initially, the project was designed as a food truck, the classic food van, but due to time and bureaucracy, I have changed the business plan, and I have made it a food home catering. “The Good Rice” as a name starts from the concept of the Arancina itself, of the rice with which I use to prepare them, good because is being conceived with Sicilian mind, not for customers but for the family».

So you are a catering service and you operate in the London area – What kind of customers contact you? Are any of them neophytes of the Sicilian cuisine or do you find many emigrants who want to savour the tastes of our land?

«Our clients are both Italian and English, and I certainly meet many people who want to enjoy the genuine tastes of our land. No new concepts, only tradition».

Which are the most requested dishes and which is the one that requires more processing?

«For me cooking is passion and love, nothing takes away time, if we have to cook we are all able to do it, but if you cook for someone and put love and you can transmit emotions with food, then you have hit the mark. Arancina alla Parmigiana or also at Norma are the most popular».

If our readers want to request your services, how can they contact you?

«You can find our company page on Facebook, The Good Rice, where you can contact us via the “contact us” button, and if you mention Sicilian Food Culture receive 1 free Arancina every 3 Arancine purchased in the same order!»

Is your project to open a shop?

«Needless to deny that the dream is just to open a small shop, a small Rosticceria, where you can eat a slice ofsfincione accompanied by a nice chinotto with a slice of lemon!»

Michele, thank you very much for your availability, we hope to see you again soon!

«Thank you, it was an honour for me to be able to share my experience!»


Article by Sicilian Food Culture
source: https://sicilianfoodculture.com/the-good-rice-sicilian-food-catering-in-london/

Leggi il testo integrale nel link FONTE (qui sopra)